New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-11
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
COCHIN ON EMANCIPATION.

Walker, Wise & Co.
The work. of which translation is here presented
to tho American public, is no less valuable for the
completeness and accuracy of its historical de'aiS
than opporune by tie relation Of its discussions
the present crisis in our national affairs. Hfor,n'
the first volume Of the admirable treatise on ',''
Abolition of Slavery" which was honorsd WIN 'u'
highest prize Of the French Academy Tor tue year
1862 and which has won other briian' 'e'''''0HA'''
from eminent European authorizes
The author, NJ. Cochin, occupies q disl'nguN'n'u
poston among the champions OF liberty In rancc'
lie ia a lesitimst in politics, and Roman oaInon'
in religion. but with Montalembert and other cee-
brsed disciples Of that faith friend OF Repupican
sentiments. and devoted to the cause OF universal
freedom. Although declining political office, he Is
nromilent as q writer on public Affairs, and has won
an spyisbe reputation in this department OF litsra'
ture BY the moderation and soundness OF mis- views,
his extensive and careful research and hs force and
dignity Of expression. no less than BY the prooi'y
and elevation Of his character.
The first part of this volume is devoted to the his
tory of emancipation in the French colonies; this 10
followed by an exposition Of the movement IN the
English colonies; concluding with the colonies OF
Denmark, Sweden, and Holland. 80 b. pan
According to NJ. Cochin, when the plan OF sman'
cipation was frat announced in the French colonies
it was universally predicted that il would be fol-
lowed by the cessation Of labor and the ruin OF the
colonies the return of the blacks TO barbarian, and
general pillsge and murder. What was the actual
result At the date of emancipation IN 1913, the
colony of Martinique was not in o thriving condi-
ton. 1t was debt to the mother country; the pub
lie defenses were weak and the prospect Of freeing
IS 600 slaves in a population Of 10000 whites occa.
stoned general panic. In spite Of these circum.
stances, the announcement of emancipation at hrst
caused no disturbance Mutual concessions were
made, and the elections passed of peacesbly. lem
porary disturbances afterward ensued, but in few
months order was restored, labor was everywhere
resumed, and the island rejoiced in its new-found
prosperity. In Guadeloupe, the change was still
more auspicious solemn mass was celebrated on
the OCCASION and the joyous crowd dispersed without
disturbance. Political disorders subsequently sprung
up, and considerable period elapsed before tran.
quility was restored But, argues NJ. Cochin, these
troubles were due not to emancipation, but TO revolu.
ton. At Martinique and Gusdeloupe, q less degree
Of violence was experienced than in thirty depart
ments Of France At Guiana, there was no dis
turbsnce at ALI at Bourbon, there not an act OF
vengeance, not case of incendiarism. not q bank
lruptcy. The elections indeed were everywhere
noisy, but everywhere conservative.
1t 10 admitted tina, production has been reduced,
but it has never been annihilatsd; labor has been
diminished, but has never wholly ceased; and the
eonvusOns Of properly have been fatal to deeply in
debted proprietors but these suerngs were felt in
France and the rest of the world at the time
in the colonies. They were Of long duration; but
STILL within five Year,, the aggregate Of commerce in
the four colonies exceeded The amount anterior 70
1913; after ten years, the amount Of expectation
alone was triped ut Bourbon, exceeded at Martinique
}. and equaled at Guadeloupe.
L Undoubtedly many Of the blacks refuse 10 labor
fee TO the mountains, and regard freedom as the
right do nothing But the number Of laborers has d
inished less than is usually supposedly and besides Ia.
Dor has been hertransformed than diminished The
peasant has become an artisan rather sreehoder,
but has not always become svagabOnd. These pre-
tended paupers it cannot be denied, are large con-
sumers; these pretended idIeS large producers.
Nor has the labor Of the white population improved
less than that Of the black. At Bourbon implements
have been changed; manufacturing processes ad-
vanced; the income is doubled; twice the former
price of slave is paid for five years hire Of Ia.
borer The purchasers Of plantations In l8i8 have
realized immense fortunes; progress has followed
wealth; the sugar from Bourbon ct the last agrcul
tursl exhibition could not be beat At Martinique
and Guadsloupe, they have established central
works, introduced machinery and mspures attempted
drainage, and enlarged the operations OF industry
and commerce.
ID al H..
emancipation has boon complete. The number o.
marriages has been enormous, although concubinage
has no. altogether disappeared. But children nc
longer sbandoped the family is constituted the love
Of property consodates the family; the small FREQ
bold extends; the negro pays taxes, enters into M
tual aid societies, and would make deposits in saving,
banks If such were established. The schools are
full, though instruction is neither compulsory mol
gratuitous. Religion ia respected, and extends il.
. benefcent influence. The class Of sober, married
and Industrious slaves has become much more nu
merous; that of drunken and Gcentious slaves has
diminished, and though the constitutionally idle
slaves remain idle they do not beg or die Of hunger
The experience of the French colonies, in The
opinion of III. Cochin, confirms the policy Of imme.
date and Simultaneous emancipation. Nothing /.
gained by delay. The colonies waited for two cen.
turtles for the hour to strike, but 1t never came,
Freedom was at last brought in by revolution, and
With it, the excuses which always follow in its train.
But the negro is 90 gentle, that under the yoke
it makes no resistance, and free from the yoke, i;
commits no abuses.
The history of emancipation in other European
colonies In tho West Indies is treated at considerable
length, with imposing array Of facts and statistics
which tend to confirm the general conclusions Of the
| yolnma The remainder of H. Cochin,s work we