The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-09-13
The Freedmen of the West Indies.

Some years ago, Blackwood's Magazine reviewed q
book by c. w. Day, Esq entitled give ears IN the
West Indies and, among other things said: I'VE
must either wholly discredit Mr. Days book and setl
down mere malicious fabrication, must agree
with him that negroes are only fit for servtude, and
that it mistaken philanthropy that ever admitted
them to equality of privileges with ciYsed men, and
to the enjoyment of liberty which with them is only
another word for dIeness license and depravity" As
to Mr.. Day himself, he gives his testimony on this
wise "0ncefor all, dsclam any party. am neither
an emancipatonist nor upholder of slavery have
no interest in the matter either way but from obser-
yAuOn feel assured for negroes restricted freedom
IS necessary for they have not the judgment to con-
duct themselves properly white freemen would do,
nor are they, IN consequence, entitled to the came
privileges. And again: "Al that is here written is
the result OF unbiased observation the author is of
no party although rejecting the Utopiau absurdites of
Exeter Hail. No one Judge of the negroes but
those who have lived among them" In the best dis
tricts OF BardadoeS where the free labor system works
better than in most of the other islands the negro will
not work, Mr. Day says more than four DAYS a-week-
at a shilling day. for nine hours labor This how
ever is wonderful industry compared to what occurs
elsewhere ID-Trnidad, according to the same testi
mony 'the dolce fur aieate of Naples is PROMPT ac
tivity compared with the incidence of the negroes
never witnessed elsewhere ANYTHING like it, indeed #
is incQmprehensible to all who have not been in the
West Indies. Swapping negro wenches, thrice as
strong any European female will scarcely take the
trouble to move except to receive money! A doctor
a long resident of the island, said: ''No matter how
much prejudced person may come out in favor of the
negos or may have believed them to have been wronged
or to be capable of Improvements no sooner does he
see the innate brutality of their nature and their end
ISL malignant yindctive disposition than he changes
his tone for one of bitter disgust" 4 major of a
British regiment told Mr. Day that at Demerara parties
Of soldiers were constantly employed 90 about and
prevent the black women from iuhumany beating
81 4
the free black servants says Baciwood are such as
would net for instant be tolerated in white domes
tics in any European country" In Trinidad the wages
liberal nevertheless remarks our authority ''the
negro grumbles loudly and unccasn9lY is nsoent and
lazy, and will seldom remain a-hed more than five
hours day. Domestic servants are as bad or worse
Their cool impudence or independence of tone and
conduct would be excessively amusing were it less
productive Of annoyance and positive loss to their
employers. Incredible as it may SEEM the NEGROES
have profound conviction of their superiority over
dem low whites The pretcnSiOns of Yankee
help, who expects to dine at her masters table and
slks if not allowed to practice on her mistress piano.
matched by the ludcrous conceit of the negro
ladies and gentlemen who condescend to mental en-
pigments" Mr.. Day informs US that by calling his
female negro servant Lady" every time he spoke to
her, and paying her enormous wages he got her to
"condescend to do what to be done at her own
lesure-naking the bed, and clearing away the break
fast thing towards the evening Any remark upon this
would only have subjected me to impudent answer
The coolies imported from Calcutta have less phys-
cal strength than the negro but said be infinitely
superior morally. Their conflicts with the negroes
however, are very annoying. Besides, the negroes
fear and hate the whites and hate and depse the mu
laoes, while thesen their turn hate both parties and
the whites on their side, return the twoedgcd cOmpi-
ment. Consequently, says Or. Day. Con the slightest
p?etext the animosities of the various races breaks
out in furious manner and scenes Of unbridlcd fe-
rnrity which thn
to check"
Mr.. Day gives an account Of a negro grievance and
its results: An American had difficulty with negro
growing out Of mpudent theft perpetrated by the
latter. Nothing but 'the resolute conduct of the
Americans backed by the police" saved the white
gentleman from being moobcd. As it was. it was
thought better to allow him. for TIE sake of his safety
to be imprisoned. "And he taken to prison, pet-
ed on the way with stones and gass-boes and beaten
over the head by the slaves OF the negro policemen
under the pretence of protecting him." The mob
spirit among the blacks ncreased-the governors
carriage was actually stopped in the STREET and he
was threatened by ruffauly negro that the blacks
would take the law into their own hands" Mr. Day
declares his opinion that for time the lives and
property of all the white men on the island were in
imminent peril" To satisfy the negroes the Ameri-
can was brought up, handculted, to the police Office
and was again saved only by the presence of deach
ment of soldiers marched into town for the occasion
all prepared for Pou1aacc The following is
Mr.. Days account of the trial
The examination was very long one occupying
two days, most Of the negroes volunteering to swear
to that which, at most only two three could posi-
bly, have Witnessed and these contradcted each other
in so outrageous manner completely to invaldate
their oYn testimony" The prosecutor swore tobaviDo
witnessed the assault when was proved by the next
witness that he could not by any probability have been
present. This was sooner said than the prosecutor
himself turning round before the whole court observed
Yes dat all true dat Misser Darceuil saw thereby nd
hitting the utter falsehood of his own evidence"
The result of the first examination was that the {
American was committed to Jail to await final trial
TINS did not come on for three months In any place
out Trinidad" says Mr. Day. 'the poor man. instead of
1eing ncarcerated for three months would not have
1een detained even for siugle day" When he was
acquitted, the verdict was received by the whites ont
de with cheers, and forty Scotchmen well armed with
ticks, volunteering to escort him home as all the ne
sroes Longing about were furnished with sticks y
Such says our author are some of the effects of tbn
naudIn, Pseudo-philanthropy of Exeter HalI'-and .
5lackwood echoes, Can such things be- in any land
'ver which waves the flag of BritaiE?n
Far be 1t from us to seek The harm of any race
much less that the negro to which we feel attached
rom long association Nor do we attempt 20 undo
nythng that has been done But these facts will show
ne necessity OF guarding the freedom of the freedman
or while, at least and may afford some reason for
making haste slowly in comforting upon him the fin
enefts OF citizenship. We most sincerely wish him
'e yet cannot but regard his supposed privileges as
lterior to the actual public safety and welfare. Nor
ave we doubt that the experience and observation
the white officers and soldiers of the United States
rmy stationed in the south, will convince them,
of the extreme character of the views
ntertained on the subject of negro privileges by
.essrs Chase, Sumner, Beecher and the party which
icy represent Any one accustomed to the race re-
FRED to, and acquainted with his character, can
'sily see that It is already giving out signs of brew
g trouble, which may manifest itself any time in
enes that will make an unpleasant record in the his
Try of the times
The reputation Of the government, involved in its
pertinent with the colored race, is of itself, We
ould think, sufficient consideration to justya eau
on which would be quite as favorable to the final
terest of the blacks to the benefit of society at
r8e That what is best for one class is best for ALL