New-York daily tribune., 1865-09-28


WHAT MAY BE DONE BY FREE
NEGRO LABOR-A LESSON FROM
JAMAICA.
Those of our friends who imagine that the
Negro cannot work when free, nor unless
goaded by the lash, should read the lesson fur
uished by Jamaica. This island is by far the
most important English Colony in the Caribbean
Sea, and has Black population, according to the
census taken four years ago, of BAG, 600, being
nearly one-haf the entire negro population OF
the British West Indies The same census re-
turned the Brown population, or the people OF
mixed European and African blood, at Il ,OOO
and the Whites at l4,0O0-we quote in round
numbers. From these figures it will be seen
that the Blacks form 20 per cent of the popula-
ton OF Jamaica; the Mixed race il per cent,
and the Whites, 3 per cent Of the former,
about 80 900 are resident in the several towns
throughout the island, and about the same
number are employed as laborers upon the 300
sugar estates that are still in cultivation. The
Others live upon small settlements of their own-
which they cultivate, and out of the products o
which they live These homesteads have all beer
purchased since the Emancipation. The public
records show that there are about 80 900 o
e these, averaging at least three acres apiece
h Here, then, are 24O, 600 acres of land owned by
the emancipated blacks, nearly all Of it in cult
walton either in coffee, sugar cane, ginger arrow
root or ground provisions. Each settlement
of course, has its cottage, some Of them rude
structures enough, but a large number neat anC
comfortable dwellings. AT the lowest computa
ton, the money value Of these settlements al the
present prices Of land in Jamaica, cannot be
less than e5 sterling (S25) per acre, which
for 2iO, 900 acres gives the sum Of six mil.
lions of dollars. The cottage furniture, and other
movabIes Of this peasant proprietary, may be
safely estimated at one third at least Of this
sum, which is two millions of dollars more.
Then large majority of the settlers own one OF
twO-sOmetmes three-hOrses or brood mares
or mules; but assuming that only half of the
eighty thousand own one such animal each, and
fixing the price at fifty dollars lead, We
have another two millions of dollars in working
and breeding stock. Beside this they own
among them at least four thousand carts,
drays and donkeys, and pigs without number.
Thus, then, it appears that in a little over a
quarter of century the blacks Of Jamaica,
commencing with nothing have become the
owners Of property in houses, lands, live stock,
&C., amountinSin value to over ten millions OF
dollars. But this is not all. Since the emancipa-
ton, in seven parishes out Of the twenty-five into
which the island is divided, savings banks have
been established, one in each parish, and most
of them only within the last ten years; and
from late returns we find that the deposits OF
the people in these few institutions already
amount TO close upon half million Of dollars.
Some of the largest and most populous parishes
are still without savings banks; but judging from
what has been accomplished in this direction,
there can be no doubt that had such institutions
been established in every parish years ago. they
would have by this time represented another
two millions Of dollars to the credit Of the
negroes
90 lDUcU lDT lDt ClttllDU VI NtOIli. IstL US
look now at another phase Of the subject, which
will be found hardly, if at all. less important
than the foregoing facts. The public revenue
Of the island Of Jamaica amounts, in round num-
bers, to f25O,O0O per annum, a sum equivalent
70 81 100000 in gold. This revenue is raised
partly BY direct and partly by indirect taxation,
bat principally by the latter the direct taxation
not amounting to more than Sl25, 900 Of the
whole sum. OF the direct taxes the large cs-
tstes contribute about $5O, 900, and the balance
is paid by the small settlers. The other and
principal portion Of the revenue Is derived from
import and excise duties upon articles largely
consumed by the blacks. On the lowest esti.
mate, At least three-iogrt Of the dutiable ar.
iieles are absorbed by the negro population, who
consequently pay that same proportion Of the
revenue derived from the indirect taxes. Or,
taking poll of the entire popvla,ion, the taxa
tion viii be fouDj 10 be something over three
dollss head per snuuw. and supposing that