Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-04-11

From the Burlington Sentinel
"a BoLD AssERrro, The fact is the evidence
from minute and official returns is overWhelm-
ing that emancipation in the West Indies though
its benefits have in many places been lessened by
the indolent selhshness Of planters,-has, on the
whole been beneficial 10 all classes, far beyond
what could have been looked for in 30 short time
that the productions Of the islands on the aver
age have been largely increased and society i'm
proved instead Of made worse by it.-Buli.gfon
Fr,, Press.
The lloNEsr TRUTH.-EMANcIrATI0N N ia
NAIcA.-ln a work on the Ordeal of Free La
Dor, by Sewall, we find the following de-
scriptiOn OF the results of emancipation at
Kingston
There is not house in decent repair; not a
wharf in good order; no pavement. no sidewalk
no drainases, and scaniy water; no light. There
is nothing like work done. Vre,k and ruin, des
titution and neglect. The inhabitants taken m
ma-Ss are stepped to the eye-lids in immortality.
The population shows unnatural decrease. llle-
gitimacy exceeds Legitimacy. Nothing Is replaced
that time destroys. II a brick tumbles from a
house to a street, it remains there. II a spout is
loosened by the wind, 1t hangs by thread till it
falls if furniture Is accidentally broken, the idea
of having it mended is not entertained.
God-'orsaken place, without life or energy
old. dilapidated sickly, filthy, cast away from the
anchorage OF sound morality, of reason and Of
cummon-sense. Yet this wTetched hulk is the
capital OF island the most fertile in the world
It Is blessed with a climate the most glorious il
lies rotting in the shadow Of mountains that can be
cultivated from the summit 70 base with every pro-
duct OF iropis and temperate region. Il is the
mistress Of a harbor wherein thousand line Of
battle ships can ride safely at anchor
The heaI-''a bold assertion of the
quotation from the FREE Pass, is one Of
the SeVfiaefs make, and is intended by i'm
plicati0n to convey the idea that "thc fact
was the contrary from what we stated. and
to fix that idea in the minds Of its readers
was the object of what follows, in our quo.
tation from the S.nfHcL The most charita-
bic view which we can take Of that is that
the Editor of the Srnhnei found the quota
ton if that can be called a quotation, which
IS made up OF disconnected half lines and
half sentences, picked out Of two entire
pages Of Mr.. Sewells book, and made up
into the two short paragraphs as given
abovcl in some dishonest pr5-slayerY paper,
with an insinuation that the state OF things
there describe was the Consequences Of eman-
cpation. and an index Of what emancipation
must produce elsewhere Taking 1t for gran
ted that the insInuation was fair one. and
without any examination Of what Mr. sew
all actually did say, We suppose he fixed
up-rath Ell carelcs,ly- the Introductory re
mark as it stands, to make the quotation.
such as 1t is, operate as a crusher for the /
remark Of the FACE Pass.
Mr.. Sewell does not speak of the condi-
ton Cf X ingston in 1850. the time when he |
vIsitel it, as result Of emancipation. nor
does he imply that the condition Of that
place, or any other in Jamaica, is the worse /
for emancipation. The entire result Of his /
exploration through the island was power
fully in faror Of emancipation. and we as
sure the Editor of the SHhpd that If he
will carefully read Mr.. Sewell's book, he
will find himself highly interested and
greatly enlightened on the operation OF
in the West Indies.
To Jamaica alone, Mr.. Sewell has devoted
nearly half OF his volume. We have no
room Tor extended quotations; vet we will
give the most If the last two PAGES
IF the first chaptcr-the one in which
he describes the present wrctchcd con-
iition Of Kingston "5ncc splendid island
Inheritance wasted through riotous living
n times past" After speaking Of the mar
'ellOus capabilities Of the Jamaica soil and
he natural beauty of its fcencry now 50 de-
ormed by neglect and dilapidation, and the
upcriOr advances in prosperity in other
Stands where a better spirit has prevailed,
lie adds
" The Jamaica question is prolific Of controver
y, and can not hope that my allegations and in
erences will pass unchalenged | shall. for this
eason, conhne myself as much as possible to state
rents of fact Perhaps may be excused for al |
lding to myself so far as TO say that | came To
he West Indies imbued with the American he, |
hat African freedom had been curse 10 .ve,.
ranch of agricultural and commercial industry
shall leave these islands overwhelmed with a
cry opposite conviction; and if can convey 10
theirs any thing like truthful picture Of ia
aca me- ana oil the civil and social condition of
ne people VINO are so enormously supposed bv I
heir Incidence and improvidence to have plunged .
iemselves and their country in hopeless ruin .
~ task, however imperfectly performed, can not ..
9 prohtess one If can stimulate inquiry on !
subject so important and so widely misunder j
God as the West India labor question. shall I
ave achieved all the success at which | ever a
bought Of aiming. | hope to be able TO show 10 }
hers as plainly the conviction has come home In
yself, that disaster AMI misfortune have followed
not emancipation, but the failure to observe those
reat principles OF liberty and justice upon which
le foundations Of emancipation were solidlv
Id The very highest influence has ever been | =
Ierted, and is still exerted, to support the old
antocratic dynasty and its ieudaiisms-tbinrs
at were meant to die, and ought to have u
e. as soon as the props Of slavery, protection.
ID other monopOlies were removed Everv one S
limits that the sugar interest is a most important
terest. whose expansion should be facilitated bv y
legitimate means; but only evil has grown ont \
the attempt to foster it by system Of auasi-sla- :
ny, and at the expsnse of other interests unon =
hieh the prosperity Of a country must LARGELY J.
pend The people of Jamaica are not cared Is
thcy perish mlserably in country districts for d
INT of medical aid; they a e net instructed. | m
ey have no opportunities to improve themselves ! n
agriculture or mechanics; every effort is made | ~
check spirit Of independence which in the AZ ! :,
an Is united heinous crime but in ALI other u
opie Is regarded as lofty virtue and the germ q
national courage, enterprise, and progress v,
nancipation has not been wholly successful be- b,
use tue experiment has not been wholly tried. N
1t the success Is none the less emphatic and de- =
led. The crop appears ia patches, even as il =
$ sown, forcing itself here and there through
ruins OF the old fabric which disfgures still VI
political complexion Of the island and sorely Gu
mps the energies Of its people" m