, 1866-07-27

engagements, and even to commit acts Oh
burglary and theft ere quitting this Island
In all countries, which have a claim 10
civlisation voa will find, that the Police
is not only we'll informed about the resi-
dence of every individual, but also always
ready to afford assistance in bringing
transgressors of the laws and OF municipal
regulations to answer any charge brought
against them. We travel yet in these
Colonies with the old stage coach system,
viz: if we do not arrive to-day, we Will
arrive tomorrow, and ii is therefore not
astonishing, that in a city like Copenha-
zen. immediate information of the resi-
dence of every individual, can be obtained
much to the annoyance of many country
folks, who pay occasionally short visits
to the metropolis on business and are aC-
cused by their friends, of not visiting
them, whilst in st. Thomas every body
can come and 90 as he likes, without the
Police being allie to afford any informa-
ton oftheir whereabouts. 1t is therefore
impossible to imagine how such a state OF
security can he improved by ahoIishing
the passport system.
Without going as far back as 10 the
characterization we would ask the question
only for the time, that cur Gracious
Sovereign has granted a separate Colo
NAL Council for discussing and carrying
out measures for the welfare of these
Colonies what has been done for the
benefit Of this bereavcd Island 1t IS
very easily seer, that beyond the propo-
sition for a mail boat, the want OF which
was to serve as an excuse tor the repeat
ell absence Of the first member OF his
Island during the Councils earlier meet
iugs, nothing else has been done. Yea,
-rA-ea -one-of tho other members of the
Council spoke in favor Of reducing The
Sugar and Rum duties from four to one
and Il quarter per cent. aQ UOtOrem, so as
10 put the importatiOnS into st. Thomas
on an equal footing with other Sugar
producing Islands, we heard no voice
from st. Johns in the Council in favor of
such a measure and thus this Island was
allowed to be compared by one Of the
Councils members to Porto Rico, the
one a free labor, the other q s~laye-grow-
ing Island. the former as intimately con-
neCted to St. Thomas as a sister, the lat
ter at present a formidable competitor
in Commercial pursuits. 1t is not strange
therefore, that no more interest should
be shown for the welfare of this Island,
especially when one considers, that q
majority Of voters can always be found
ready either 10 accede to the wishes of
selfish persons, whose principal aim is to
gain by their electors a position, or nolenS
r0lens TO force the election on a St. Tho
mas Burgher, who under such circum-
stances very naturally cannot be expect
ed to take as lively an interest for, nor
to understand as well, the requirements
of the Island, as one, who accepts voIun-
tarily the election or whose Individual
interest is so wrapped up in its success.
The question Of labour has become one
of vital importance for the Sugar Estates
of this Island and by continued emigra-
ton to st. Thomas the number of efec-
tive laborers has become so diminished,
that several Estates have already been
obliged to abandon the Sugar cultivation
much to the detriment of their value and
the yearly revenues, and others will have
to follow, if no speedy assistance is offer
ed to bring laborers from Islands to
Windward, who standi in want of employ
ment and would besides their monthly