New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-03-11
THE CHINESE IMMIGRATION SCHEME
EVILS OF SLAVERY TO BE RE-lNTRODUCED
SUGGESTIONS FROM THE BRITISH ANTI
SLAVERY SOCIETY.
Essex HALL, .
Walthanstow. February l6. 1871. }

EDITOR REPUBLICANS:
On behalfl of the anti.slavery CON-
mittee, I take the liberty to send the
inclosed minute on immigration from China
into the Southern States of the Union.
The facts which have at various times been
brought before the committee dnring the
last twenty years, arising out OF immlgra'
ton, especially into countries where slavery
had previously existed, have been OF the
most narrowing character.
Many rules and regulations have, from time
to time, been laid down by the British gov
ernment, both in. its imperial and colonial
capacities, and immigration agents have been
appointed to prevent abuses, but all efforts
have, at least in many cases, go far, proved
Intellectual to prevent the perpeIation of
very grievous atrocities. kidnapping and
fraud are still practiced to large extent
previous to embarkation, while as to the
sea passage, the fearful mortality often IN
dicates the grievous sufferings TO which the
immigrants are subjected. The last mail
from Demarara announces the arrival OF
the ship Shaud, which left Calcutta with
46S Coolies on board, and only landed
364 alive.
In Cuba, Chinese immigrants have long
been bought and sold like cattle in the open
market, and there is abundant testimony to
the fact that this condition is as bad as that
of the slave himself.
In a parliamentary Blue Book, published
a wear ago, it is stated that SO, 5Sl Chinese
were imported into Cuba within a period Of
one year aud eight months.
We do not know what the mortality of the
Chinese in Cuba is. but We do know that out
of more than 100 900 taken into Peru within
twenty years, less than 10, 0G0 are now liv-
ing, and that not more than about 100 have
ever returned to their native land.
As to Jamaica, in a paper presented to the
International Anti.Slavery Conference, held
in Paris in 1867 Henry Clarke. an esteemed
clergyman of the Church of England, who
has resided twenty years in Jamaica, bears
striking testimony both to the condition OF
the immigrants and the causes which have
led to their importation.
He says the suicidal policy OF many OF the
planters in making the native laborers as
uncom Portable as possible has driven them
from estate labor to other occupations, and
that this policy is still continued-another
proof that the spirit of slavery long survives
its existence as an institution. AS to the
condition of the immigrants he writes "
know this Coolie immigration to be the most
| atrocious and cruel form of the slave
trade and slavery that has ever existed,
since it is worse to capture people
by fraud than by force, and a slave
| for life is in far better position than
a slave for short period. because in the one
case it is the owners interest to care for him
| when sick, in the other to let him die off as
soon as possible. The negroes themselves
say the slaves were never treated as badly as
| the Coolies.
The subject appears to be of so much i'm
portance to the United States at the present
time, that 1 hope to be kindly excused fol
| thus pressing it.
May be allowed to suggest as one mean;
| of attracting public attention to it, that the
minutes of the anti slavery committee bt
published in your newspaper as early as ma.
| be.
Sincerely and very respectfully,
JOSEPH COOPER.