New-York daily tribune., 1865-11-08
A FALSE ASSUMPTION EXPLODED.


FALSE ASSUMPTION EXPLODED.
Allusion is now frequently made by section
of tho press of this city to the results OF Eman'
cipation in the British West Indies, and, espc-
cially in the island of Jamaica, as furnishing
good and sufficient reason why the suffrage
should be withheld from the Freedmen OF the
Southern States. We are continually pointed
to Jamaica rs a warning example to the people
of the United States in this matter. We are
told that that fine island has been utterly
ruined, and that its ruin is owing solely to the
Acknowledgement of the colored inhabitants. II
its exports have fallen off, if its wealth has de-
parted, if its Importance has declined-ail, we
are assured, is attributable to the fact that
negroes are permitted to vote, by which means
they have obtained the control Of society, whose
every interest has suffered mortal injury at their
hands.
Now, nothing can possibly be further from
the truth than the assumpton-for 1t is really
nothing bctter-that there is connection oi
cause and effect between negro suffrage and the
decline Of Jamaieas prosperity. or, rather, the
decline of the sugar interest OF that Colony.
IT i. true that shortly after emancipation the
blacks were admitted to tho privilege OF the
franchise but they have never been in posi-
tcn nor have they ever made the attempt, to
obtain political ascendancy in the country. Inc
electoral laws Of Jamaica know 10 distinctions
on The ground Of the color Of the skim but, IN
accordance with English policy, ~ regards the
franchise they recognize other distinctions,
and, practically, they place tho controlling
political power of the country in the hands OF
the large lsndbolders. 1t il quite mistake to
suppose, a. some do, that the Jamaica Legisla-
ture consists in great part Of colored men,
elected by negro constituencies, and that most
of the public Offices on tho island are held by
negroes The very opposite Of this is the case
a. the following statistics-der,yed from trust
worthy sources, the island records, and not
from the publications Of romancing tourists,
Ike Anthony Trollopo-will make evident:
There are two legislative chambers in Ja-
maica; the Legislative Council, consisting OF
l. members, and the House Of Assembly, count
Ing L. members. In the former body there are
two colored members, gentlemen of mixed
blood, one of whom has seat there in virtue OF
his office az Attorney-General. The other
members are all whites. OF the AZ members OF
Assembly, II are colorod. all of mixed blood,
but nearly white. Since emancipation, only two
black. have sat in the Assembly and at present
there II not ono there. as We have seen. The
island judges are four in number. all Of them
white and not more than one colored msn-not
a negro propcr-has ever sat on the judicial
bench IN Jamaioa. If We take the magistracy,
We shall find the whites vastly in the majority.
! According to a return made last year to the
Legislature, there arc 7S4 magistrates in Ja-
maca, Of whom zoo arc white, ~ of mixed
,blood, and only four black. OF the Custodes,
or chief magistrates OF the parishes and pre-
cincts into which the island is divided,
We find l. white and but ono colored.
OF tho Clergy Of the Anglo,Jamaican Church,
supported al the expense Of the Colony, Is are
white, seven OF mixed blood, and only one black.
Not a single public Office of importance is held
by black and but comparatively few by The
brown. The office Of Governor and Island
Secretary, Of Attorney-General, of Registrar
in Chancery, aud Of Clerk Of the Supreme Court
and the Crown, are filled by men Of the mixed
race: but those Of Receiver General, Auditor
lGoneral, Postmaster. General, Agent. General OF
immigration, Inspector of Prisons Island En-
gineer, Provost Marshal, Collector Of Customs.
Controller of Customs, Commissioner of Stamps,
Inspector of Hospitals, and Crown Solicitor,
are all held by whites OF the IL Inspectors of
Police, only two are colored. Appointments to
all these offices are made by the Governor OF
the Colony, but in filling vacancies as they
great measure by the comparative strength OF
political parties in the Colony. 1t is proper to
add, that of the sc white members of Assem-
bly, at least three-fourths are leading planters
These facts and figures will give some idea
of the extent TO which the blacks "control
society in Jamaica, and of the part which they
have played politically in bringing about the
decadence Of the Colony. So far il It from
being the case that the enfranchisement o.
the freedmen of Jamaica has given that elias,
a controlling influence in its legislation, ant
handed the country over to negro rule, thai
we find the blacks in that island--growinl
r wiser from experience-now complaining loudly
of the restrictions imposed upon tn,
exercise of the franchise, as operatin,
seriously to their disadvantage by en-
@ abling a House Of Assembly. consisting