New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-01-20
TIRE TENURE OF LAND IN IMI
WEST INDIES As AFFECTING
THE FREEDMEN.

WEST INDIES As AFFECTING
THE FREEDMEN.
! 4 few DAYS since, The Ntw- Yoh Times, with
reference to report that some Of the legisla-
lures of the lately inSurgent States have passed
laws TO prevent the freed Blacks from holding
real estate. devoted an article to the subject OF
the right of the freedmen to oYn land showing
the impolicy OF such a course Of legislation
and pointing out the happy effects that might
be expected to follow the possession OF land by
the Blacks of the South. There is much in that
article with which we cordially agree; but the
argument of The Time, is materially weakened
through the errors into which il has fallen with
reference to the state Of things existing in that
part Of the world from which il drew It's Illus
traton. viz the British West Indies. 50 lar as
the island of Jamaica is concerned. it is Ear from
being the fact that 'the freedmen are not IN
general landholders." Indeed the very opposite
of this is the real state Of the case. II Is
true that the planter policy by which that
colony has been hitherto ruled, is not favorable
to the negroes becoming owners of land Leg
islation there has clogged The conveyance o.
land with heavy expense and endless trouble
But in spite of these difficulties the Blacks have
been steadily acquiring real estate through their
industry; and il il computed, on Trustworthy
statistics, that at the present time there cannot
be fewer than $4,000 landholders among the
negroes Of that island. At an average OF three
acres for each holding, this will give an aggre-
gate Of 2i0, 900 acres owned by the peasant pro-
prietors Of Jamaica. In this respect there H.,
contrary to the statement of The Times, quite a
contrast between Jamaica and Barbadoes. In
the latter island there are very few pea5ant pro-
pretors--yery few homestcads answering 70
the "small settlement" 70 numerous IN
the former. Barbados is parccled out into
sugar estates;" the majority OF them
over one hundred acres piece, and
| almost every foot Of ground III sugar cultiya-
ton belongs to these estates, the independent
agricultural industry of the Blacks being
confined entirely TO the growing OF corn,
pulse and potatoes in garden patches rented
from the large landed proprietors. Borbadoes
is small island With dense population-quite
AZ dense as the population Of China; and being
a purely agricultural country, tand Is very dear.
Jamaica, on the contrary, is sparsely peopled,
and land there is comparatively cheap, al
though, owing to the impediment' which
short-sghted and selfish legislation have thrown
in the way of poor men becoming iandholdera,
Il is not by any means 30 easily obtained Is
some people have imagined.
Tn, Times connects The poverty Of Jamaica,
the distress mfently prevalent there, and the
late "Slavery outbreak" with the tenure OF
land in that country; but fails to point out
wherein lies the connection. Itisnet, however,
80 much III "the tenure Of the land strictly
speaking, that the cause OF The present dep!ora-
be state Of things in Jamaica, especially rs re-
cards the antacOnism between the planters and
the Blacks, is to be found, u IN the impolitic
and unjust distinctions which legislation has
made between the large landed proprietor
and the small settler, in their capacity OF land
holders. This is seen in the way N which the
two classes of agriculturistG are respectively
taxed. The owner Of the sngarcstaie Of several
hundred acres enjoys immunitc' and privileges
which are denied to the peasant Nth bis five or
ten.acre lot The former is OF liberty to work his
heavy wagons on the public roads intersec,ing
his plantation without paying any tax on wheels.
The light cart Of the latter is taxed - year.
The agricultural stock Of the former is taxed
at The rate OF - cents head. TIE small settler
has 70 pay 50 80 for every horse and mule be
owns, and 81 for every oss. The former may pay
his taxes by installments. The latter must
pay them in full at once on liked
day, under penalty Of having his good
levied on and sold at auction. Az an
agriculturist, the small settler labors under
these disadvantages as compared with the
planter, simply because his poverty compeli
him to be producer on q small scale. II, fol
example, he is sugar-grower, not until he.suc'
ceeds in producing 40 barrels Of sugar per an
mum does legislation recognize him as in the
same class with the planter. and grant him the
same privileges with his wealthy neighbor.
j Thus. instead Of helping the Door and stTus