The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1862-04-03

n Kingston; and the rich produce


Of the mines of Mexico now goes
direct to its destination in the cof-
fcrs of the banks of England,
France and Spain"
Trinidad has also had to pass
a terrible ordeal:
"Three years after emancipation,
in 1841, the condition of the island
was most deplorable; the Iaborers,
had for the most part abandoned
the estates, and taken possession of
plots, pf,Yaeant land, especially in
tie vicinity of'towns, without pur-
chase or lawful right. Vagrancy
had become an alarming habit Of
great numbers every attempt to
take a census of the population
was baflcd by the frequent migra-
tions which took place. Criminals
easily evaded justice by absconding
to places where they were un-
known, or by hiding themselves in
the dense forests which in all parts
edged so closely on the cleared
lands. Drunkenness increased to
an enormous degree, assisted by
planters who freely supplied rum
to the laborers, to induce them 20
remain as cultivators on their cs-
tates. High wages were obtained,
only to be squandered in amuse,
ment, revelry and dissipltion at
the same time these high wages
induced a diminished cultivation
of food, and q corresponding in
crease in price and in the import
of provisions from the neighboring
islands and continent. The labor
ers steadily refused to enter into
any contracts which would oblige
them to remain in the service of a
master: this would too much have
resembled the state of slavery from
which they had but just emerged,
1t was with reference to this state
of things that Lord Harris wrote
in 1848-'One of the many errors
which have been committed since
the granting of emancipation, is
the little attention paid to any
Legislation having for its end the
formation of society, on true,
sound, and lasting principles. AS
the question at present stands,
race has been freed; but society
has not been formed. Liberty has
been given to a heterogeneous
mass OF individuals, who can only
comprehend license a partition in
the rights and privileges, and
duties of civilized society has been
granted to them; they are only
capable of enjoying its vices
With the help of vagrant acts
and other legislative enactmentS,
something like order was estab-
lished; the Introduction of Coolie
labor has enabled Trinidad to re-
cover from the state of poverty
into which it has been plunged
At all events, the planters have
now labor, upon the steady supply
of which they can depend, which
was quite out of the question with
the free negroes left on their
hands. AS yet, however, the sue
cess of the new immigration scheme
must not be regarded as absolutely
established. The Coolies, both
Chinese and East Indian, seem to
be pleased with It, and exhibit few
signs of availing themselves of the
free possage placed at their dispo-
sal after they have served their
time. They have even in some
instances sent for their families,
and become independent propne
tors. But in order to put the
scheme in motion, Trinidad has
been compelled to burthen itself
with an emigration debt of $685.
900. OF course this entails taxa
tion, and to that extent becomes a
burden on industry, and render,
a competition with other countries
more difficult. On the other hand,
the export of sugar alone since the
introduction of Coolie labor has
risen from 20,505 to 10000 hhds,
whilst that of cocoa now reaches
100000 hhds, against 100000
pounds-the highest ever obtained
before emancipation.
In the time Of the French occu-
patton (Hayti, before the revoIu-
ton Of 1898, thousands Of hogs
heads of sugar were produced !;
now, not one. All is decay and
desolation. The pastures are de-
serted, and the prickly pear covers
the land once laughing with the
bright hues Of the sugar cane
The hydraulic works, erected at
vast expense, for irrigation, have
crumbled to dust. The plough is
an unknown instrument of culture,
SO eminently adapted to
the great plains and deep soil of
Hayti."
pm.Secrtary Chase said to-day