New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-06-15
JAMAICA.

TlIE LAND TAX AND TIE PIAN1EEs-lEw hfrokms
INDUSTRY OF SMALL sETTLERs-DEATH oH A
NEGRO CELEBRITY.
From On SPECIAL Correspondent -
KINGSTON, la, May -, 1851
The policy and the measures of the new Govern"
ment are creating good deal of excitement through
out the Colony especially among the planters. The
determination of the Government "a insist npon the
payment of the land tax is especially distSefn To
the plantocracy, whose newspaper organ il counsel
ing the masses 10 resist the collection of the new
taxes There are men owning hundreds-some OF
them thousands-of acres who. for many years past,
have not paid single penny OF land tax, white they
have been deriving large incomes from the lands by
renting portions of them 10 the negroes, AZ tne rae
of four or five dollars per acre per anDuIn 1ness
persons are called upon 10 settle their arrears
which they are, of course, unwilling 10 90; nut ~
they find that the Government cannot be THRILLED with
in the matter they are endeavorng TO get the small
freehOldeTs to them in resisting the collector OF
the tax hoping thereby to create trouble and com
pei the Governor to beat retreat. in this however,
they arc doomed to be disappointed as the Executive
has lust issued an order TO the Collectors of Dues
throughout the island requiring them on pain or
dismissal from Office, to take the necessary steps
forthwith for enforcing the registration oi All lands
and houses according TO the provisions OF the aGf
which has recently passed the Council ana ~, COT
lecting the taxes " 10 the uttermOst IafthihF Inc
MORNING Journal. which represents the colored ciass
tannts the planters paper with It's inconsistency
in this matter seeing that II has always Deeu'
preaching the duty of loyalty But that loyalty, ~
seems meant passive submission TO the arbitrary
will of the planters and the unjust measures of mo
old Jamaica Legislature. The tables nave DeeiN
turned and the planters are now foremost III lhe.ing
the people to insurrectlon. There is no fear now
ever that the black freeholders will follow the per-
ncioIs advice of their friends. They viii cheer
fully paw the tax their lands, which most OF them
keen in high state of cultivation very profitable to
their owners So dissatisfied are the planters WITH
the new government, under which they can no.
longer have their own way, that one of them has
written letter to the newspapers IN which he pro-
noses the emigration of that class 10 the Southern
States. The merchants oppose the tax Inc house,
of Meert a. Co.. in Havana have protested against
IL and many other foreign houses VIII aisO 40 No.
Hundreds OF dealers intend TO return their licenses
The measures OF the GoveEnmeh. 'T ns ~ th
administration of Justice are hardly less OBNOXIOUS,
10 the old dominant class than those relating 10 TAX
alton Under the existing system Justice has O1efl
little better than name III Jainaica, IN eases
where the poor man was concerned. a man damaRet'
to the extent of say Sl2, was compelled 10 seek re-
dress in the Supreme Court al very heavy expense
and nj intermnable trouble: and TINS tor the poor
blacks and especially for those OF this class vIng In
parts of the island distant from spanish iqw; wheie
the sttings of the Supreme Court Were held there's
was In fact, no justice. The new Governments pro-
poses to remedy this state of things by dividing the
island into districts for judicial purposes, giving ths
District Courts limited jurisdiction IN evil ana
criminal cases. and in equity likewise. These courts
are to he formed the plan OF the Comfy o"urts
England which have worked well. and the Judges
are 10 have the same power in the Sherifs a0urts
of Scotland. In introducing the several DllIs icr
giving effect to these contenipiaea a., FL
present vicious system of law procedure aao said'
among other things, that 1t was innnteIy more III,
perfect Infinitely more expensive innntey mo' s
cnmbDus. than any system that has been perinltteo
to remain in any civilized country i0r generations
While the planters are denouncIng me 1oserh'
ment and aQitating TO throw the ahars OF the
country into a state of confusion, the DscS are
diligently at work, laboring hard tn increase the
nroducts of their small settlements Lass year some
IF them in the outh-wesern part OF the islo sent
delegation TO England with the view OF making
to have their produce shipped direct ~
The Mother Country, and sold there 70 the best ad-
uaotacs company was formed 10 promote this
object and the first shipment of produce. consisting
ohiely of coffee and ginger has inst been made Ia
Iondon There was great deal more produce than
the vessel could take and another ship will shortly
be loaded by the people of the same district. The
movement SO auspiciOusly begun VIII doubtless
suread throughout the country. ~,
man of some note in the Island has inst dIed-En-
ward Vickars the first black who ever vat M the
Jamaica House of Assembly. Many years ago he wac
elected member of Assembly for the parish Oh 81.
Catlarine and il created great exc'tenent wheh tn
negro took his seat-as o representative VI "s peope
among the old planter magnates OF the I,o IRE wa,
a frequent guest at Kings House during TIE anmhis-
traion of both the late Lord Metcaiie anu u,e ise
Earl of Egiu and was an especial favofi6 WIN OF,
Charles Grey who Governor rom 1870 va iSr.,
He was n man of excellent natural parts and ms
mother wit was of the most racy kind lie was an
Alderman of this city and Justice Of the fe'"e iof
,aI narishee