The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-02-14
The Insurrection in Jamaica.
The state OF the Island Before the Late
Riots. GOrdOns Character. The OPtn-
ion OF Missionary stationed There

The following Interesting letter is from the
pen OF Rev. F. J. Douglass. who has been
a Missionary tor the past SIX years IN the
Island OF jamaica under The patronage OF
OF the American Missionary Association.
II Will be read with great interest. and gives
many statements not before made public:
LOWELL KENT Co. Mich,
Feb 9Th. ls66.
I have, for the last six years. been labor
ing a. a Missionary. under the American
Missionary Association in tie island u ia
maica / leit that island last sept about
a month previous 70 the recent riot IN tAe
eastern part Of the country. ] heard Moth
ing. while IN the island. indicative Of any
outbreak iu the region where Il occurred.
There was last Aug, rumOr u = pros
pectIve outbreak IN the sOuth-Wes- pa-- of
the island. owing 10 some distress among
the people, for which they blamed the plan
ters. and a military force was sent into tna-
district I'D anticipation Of such an outbreak.
But collector Of custom dues ID that dis
strict, who came 70 New York boz the same
steamer with me- said there vas DO fouuda-
ton for any such rumor.
! have read. with interest. the accounts
from various sources. OF the late disturbance
in Jamaica and also the remarks and criu-
cIsms OF the American papers with refer
auce 20 those disturbances. ! am I'll Amer
lean, claim 10 be Thoroughly republican 10
sentiment, q friend Of the negro. deeply IN
teresled lE the welfare OF the common peo-
pie Of Jamaica. and a deprecatOr VI Tie
wrongs which they have received from the
whites. anu Of the neglect Of their interests
Oy the island government. - / think the
criticism Of the American papers, upon the
measures Of that government IN the sup
preston or lie recent riot. uululy severe
lere Is no doubt that both the rioters aud
the government are 10 blame Doubtless
there was riot Of considerable proportions
that needed prompt suppression. Ou the
other hand. the government appears 10
have been ueedie--iy severe in TIE sup
preston OF the riot. Yet / believe that the
condemnation 0f the government on the one
hand aud the sympathy 0i tho people on
the other. and especially with Geo. IS. Cor
don, expressed by the American papers. r.
very unduly balanced against The former
and ia favor OF The latter.
From all the accounts / have seen. and
from Hhat / know OF the people, and OF Tie
stale of things in the island generally. /
doubt whether the recent disturbance was
merely u local riot excited by local cause.
or whether IL was "A disturbance prema-
turely preciptatei. a part Of al extern
slse plot-as has been alleged-On the part
OF Tie blacks, 10 rise en- masse. and destroy
the whites and browns on the island
II there was such plot, DO not. by any
means, believe that all The blacks were con
cerned in IL. or that they were all even
qurnra "a 1 f.af-ara fr1..l fhaf mann
of them would deprecale II. and do all IN
their power against 10; or Il they particI-
patcd iu IL ~ all, would do SO only from
Tear a. Jil many southern unIOnl-t- n our
late civil war. That there are some restless
spirits IN the island, and would be dema-
gogucs, Is true. That there are those VINO
are capable 90 leading Ina Tie couc0ctlng of
such plot as The one alluded %, and that
there are u multitude OF blacks WHO. i.n0-
rant OF the best way Of promoting their
highest interests, might bee readily duped
into joining in such a plot, l. lar from being
incredible.
There are some facts that might operate
as inducements and encOuragements TO The
forming OF such plot There has, especi-
ally within the last Two or three years, eX-
listed more or less of discomfort amOng the
common people, owing 10 a variety OF
causes.
The American war has OccasiOned i rise
in the price OF imported provisions aud dry
goods OF which the people are consumers
OF considerable quantities. Last year and
two years before that, there were excessive
drOuths which Impoverished the people
more or less. and helped 10 produce distress
IN some parts OF the island. The interme-
date year was a fruitful one There have
been some laws and regulations which have
pressed unduly upon the common people.
-'''i --...-t ~ prooo,,re,I ,siJ.st. and tb, 81,
wrongs have been magnifed In The lmu.i-
nations OF an ignorant pOpulace, and those
lmaglnauOns nave been unWisely. IL Not
crlmnally- ntlamed by some OF their pre-
tended friends and svmpathZers
There being some Inducements TO an IN
surrectiOn Of the blacks. their superiority
IN number would offer tO them encourage
nent 10 this. According 20 the last cen
sus OF the island. taken Jan. lst. leG0 there
was al that time IN the island whites IS
SIC: browns. mixed hoods ~ O65. blacks .
3f6.374. The number Of whites has prob
ably diminished some since then. 10 is So
estimated, and the number OF blacks and .
browns has increased
There Is little prejudice against color on
the parts 0f The whites though there is a
good deal between the blacks and browns.
A mans color, IN Jamaica. j. no obstacle
10 bis rising 10 any emnence which he Is
qualified 10 occupy. Il is true there is not
luch sympathy existing between the whites
and blacks, especially between the planters
AMI the blacks, or rather. should say. be-
-ween the higher and lower classes. for
here IL white and black blood in both.
Not much care has been manifested bv the
government Tor the real Interests % the
people.
me government has been mostly man
lged for The interest of the planters
hnS tie government Il more 10 be blamed
OF neglect of the people, than for lis pos
tive and intended oppression. 10 is not
hat II has tried 10 keep the people down 50
much, as that IL has dOue little 10 help them
Use. The government does not throw OBJ
tacles in the way OF those who make efforts
DIT the mental and moral Improvement Of
he people but rather iavOrS them. vet IL
lanIiests very little care for their improve {
lent.
| consider the government indirectly re- {
pOnslbie Tor such riots as that which broke .
at last October; because At they had done
hat they might 10 diffuse intelligence and {
irtue among the people il would have re- I
llted in such state OF things as would be 7
with such an outbreak. Ii Is
Orthy OF remark that the recent riot &C.
lrred in the most lgnOran; and degraded
arish in the whole island. According 10 n
he last census there were only so. - Of C
ie whole population Of the island VINO n
)uld read. and only 20, go who could both
,ad and write.
With all the obstacles which lie in the b
ay OF the mental, moral and temporal n
-0sperity Of the people l DO not think they i,
e insurmountabe; that they are not 50 -.
-eat but that, if they were disposed 10 ev- :
else that degree OF industry and virtue. q
hich IS in their power, they might. ia r
rte Of the misruie that has existed. and Of p
her bindranceS. rise in the scale OF being. y
If make their condition comfortable.
ough this. perhaps, could hardly be ex- =
,cted OF u people SO terribly dem0ralizeI ir
50 many years degrading survitule. y
st, while not a jot il 10 be abatei from
G real guilt Of the government anu tie
anters: while that guilt is grea. and p
L 20 be excused or estimated. It must not III
overlooked that the people are depraved r.
"a wicked and in great measure them =,