Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-06-05
West India Emancipation.


Islands, subject to Great Britain.
A locial revolution has been attempted
at once in nineteen countries, dispersed
between the Caribbean Sea, and th'
southern extremity of Africa. and th'
entrance to the Indian Ocean, having
neither the same climate, nor the same
institutions, nor the same social states,
and placed many thousand leagues from
the handful of legislators who wrote their
fate in daring law. In the most ex-
tended CT those countries, Jamaica, 300,-
900 slaves were face to face with $4,000
whites. Since the commencement OF
this century, five formidable instructions
had spread incendiarism and slaughter,
the last of which, only two years before
emancipation, had been followed by the
execution of more than 500 negroes
Another, Guiana, occupied by only 49,,
600 whites, offered G,400 square miles
as refuge to more than $4,000 negroes.
"This event, so formidable at first sight"
wrote nj. de Broglie, and we can repeat
it seventeen years after him, "the sum
mons to freedom of 100000 slaves on
the same day, at the same moment, has
not caused in all the English colonies
the tenth part of the disturbance ordi-
narily caused among the most civilized
nations of Europe by the smallest poll
teal question that agitates minds ever so
little"
The harm produced by emancipation
is reduced to the incontestable rrin of
certain number Of colonsts, and the mo-
mentary and inevitable suffering of ALL
1t is worthy of note that the colony
which resisted most, Jamaica, suffered
most. The colony which most promptly |
resigned itself, and made efforts to renew
the methods, stock, and personnel of man
Observation-Disclosures suffered
at all, and its wealth is to day double,
nearly triplcd. The aggregate produc-
ton of the other colonies has again
reached the amount prior to 1851
There is no doubt that it would have
surpassed it if the commercial reform
had not complicated the results of the
abolition of slavery.
But, while according to these evils
the regret which they deserve, how com
pare them for an instant with the bless
ings which date from these two great
measures for England, for the colonies
and for humanity?
Nearly million of men, women and
children have passed from the condition
of cattle to the ranks of rational beings.
Numerous marriages have elevated the
family above the mire of a nameless pro-
miscuousness. Paternity has replaced
The churches and schools
are opened. Religion, before mute, fac
tious, or dishonored, has resumed its dig
nifty and liberty. Men who had nothing
have acquired property; lands which
were waste have been occupied; mad
equate populations have increased; de-
testable processes of culture and man
fracture have been replaced by better;
race reputed inferior, vicious, cruel,
ascivious, idle, refractory to civilization,
eligion, and instruction, has shown itself ,
honest, gentle, disposed to family life, ac- r
'essible to Christianity, eager for instruc- !
ion. Those Of its members who have
eturned to vagrancy, sloth, and corrup. /
ion are not reproach to their race AS ,
much as TO the servitude which had left I
hem wallowing in their native ignorance
md depravity; but these are the minori- :
Y. The majority labor, and show them I
elves far superior 10 the auxilaries which
jh;na and India sends to the colonists. ,
n two words, wealth has suffered little. a
utilization has gained much; such is =
he balance sheet of the English expert. r.
lent.
BY an indirect effort of the same event. =
he colonial policy is wholly transformed. |
he first statesmen O. England have d
hanged their opinion on the utility Of o
he colonies and the manner of govern. d
'g them. The freedom of labor has =,
cen followed by freedom of trade, and n,
ven by political freedom. OF all the b.
sasons which caused the settlement of A
10 colOnies,-gold, the shipping, COM b.
lerce, 2ower,-a single one sub,ists. or n,
least prevails,-,he interests of civil T
alton. The colonies were destioed for ID
he wealth, they serve above all the if
reatness, of a mother country. al
To whom reverts the honor of hay. al
g abolished slavery in the English col. m
HES e,
The government, the different minis -
rs without distinction of party, did
ueh. But says the Duke de Broglie
I'VE do too much honor, in fact. to the 'r'