JAMAICA. 



447 



the white population was 13,816 in number, 

 being in the proportion of one white to thirty- 

 two black or colored. Since that time some 

 thousands of Indian coolies have been introduced 

 into the island as laborers. Tho total popula- 

 tion in 1861 was, 441,264, while thirty years 

 ago it was only 35,000. The number of children 

 in schools was returned at 26,167 in 1863 ; the 

 returns for 1861 had shown the exceptionally 

 large number of 40,670, but that was the census 

 . year, and it is supposed that returns were taken 

 in that year which included Sunday schools. 

 The island is the seat of an Anglican bishop, 

 whose diocese extends over the Bahamas and 

 Honduras. Commerce is not in a flourishing 

 condition. The cultivation of the staple ex- 

 ports has fallen off from six hundred sugar 

 plantations to three hundred, and the 60,000 

 hogsheads of sugar formerly produced, have 

 decreased to 30,000. 



Jamaica has been several times the scene of 

 negro insurrections. On the 22d of February, 

 1745, about 900 negro slaves were detected in 

 a conspiracy to destroy all the white inhabitants 

 of the island. In 1795, the Maroons, a commu- 

 nity of fugitive slaves who had obtained permis- 

 sion to settle in the northern part of the island, 

 revolted and were not reduced to subjection 

 until March 11, 1796. The most alarming out- 

 break, however, took'-place on the 22d of De- 

 cember, 1831, when the island was placed under 

 martial law, and most stringent measures and 

 numerous executions followed. 



A fourth insurrection broke out in October, 

 1865, and, though it was at once suppressed, was 

 attended by circumstances which produced an 

 intense excitement not only in the island, but 

 in England and the whole civilized world. For 

 several years the condition of the majority of the 

 people in Jamaica had been very wretched. In 

 1864, the Baptist Missionary Society of England 

 sent their Secretary, Dr. Underbill, to Jamaica, 

 to make a report on the decline of the Baptist 

 missions. Dr. Underbill extended his researches 

 to the condition of the island in general, and in 

 a famous letter, dated January 5, 1865, and ad- 

 dressed to the Colonial Minister of England, 

 described the pitiful state of affairs, and pointed 

 to those reforms which, in his opinion, were 

 indispensable to save the island from ruin. The 

 Colonial Minister, Mr. Cardwell, sent the letter 

 to Gov. Eyre, of Jamaica, who had it published 

 in the papers of the island, together with a re- 

 quest to all local authorities to report to him on 

 the condition of their several districts. The 

 agitation produced by this publication was in- 

 tense. Excited mass meetings of the colored 

 population were held in a number of places, to 

 give expression to their grievances and de- 

 mands. The most prominent leaders of this 

 agitation were Mr. Gordon, a colored member 

 of the Colonial Assembly, and Paul Bogle, a 

 colored Baptist preacher. Mr. Gordon stated 

 the grievances of the native population in a let- 

 ter to Mr. Cardwell, the Colonial Secretary, as 

 follows : 





JAMAICA, March 24, 1805. 



To the Right Honorable Edward Cardwell, M. P., 

 Secretary of Staff for the Colonies, &c. . 



SIR : I have to bring to your notice, on behalf of 

 the people of this country, tne following facts, which 

 are submitted as grievances : 



The House of Assembly, as at present constituted, 

 by reason of the restrictions in the election law (which 

 has been amended only to a very limited extent), 

 cannot be said to be a fair representation of popular 

 rights; therefore it becomes more for the mother 

 Government to exercise that vigilance which in former 

 times so greatly tended to the protection of the lately 

 emancipated classes, and it is much to be regretted 

 that such is not continued to be the case. 



From gross mismanagement, and for wasteful pur- 

 poses, the taxation of the country is increased, with- 

 out corresponding benefit to the general community. 

 A flagrant illustration of this may be found in tho 

 history of the "Tramroad" affair, which besides 

 having involved the country in a heavy expenditure 

 of money, creating additional taxation, has also, by 

 interfering with tne principal public road, caused 

 serious loss of stock to the passengers, and irritated 

 the minds generally of the people who traffic on this 

 thoroughfare. We here find a sample of the ruinous 

 consequences of misconducting public affairs : but 

 ere this is got over, the Governor, in his opening 

 speech, recommends a project for a "slip dock, 

 which work, if at all necessary, is of a speculative 

 nature, and such as a company may be encouraged 

 by the Government to undertake, but certainly it is 

 not for the public to adventure, nor one for which 

 the people should be taxed. The island has no navy 

 which requires such an undertaking, and therefore 

 it can only be considered as a strictly commercial 

 enterprise. But how then are the people to be taxed 

 for this purpose? As well may any other company 

 more necessary and likely of success be taken up by 

 the Government, such as a "soap manufactory,'* "a 

 sugar refinery," an "agricultural bank," or a "rail- 

 road to Old Harbor." 



The great question is, is it constitutional to tax the 

 people for speculative enterprises? and is the island 

 prepared to undertake the duties of private compa- 

 nies, and to conduct a slip dock, with all its contin- 

 gencies and doubtful results, in the face of absolute 

 expenditure likely to involve not only a present but 

 a future loss and increased taxation upon the people ? 

 It is a laid down principle that no government is jus- 

 tified in acting in this manner. It is contrary to 

 sound political economy, and its tendency is evil; 

 yet we find that, even without detailing estimates or 

 statements of annual expenditure and income, the 

 Governor has sanctioned such a measure, which 

 having been opposed when first introduced into the 

 Assembly, was withdrawn, and subsequently brought 

 forward at the end of the session, when the quorum 

 was reduced to nine hardly that number being pres- 

 ent and passed, as it were, to the surprise ot the 

 good sense of the country. This is a measure which, 

 if allowed to take effect, will create new heart-burn- 

 ings in the minds of the inhabitants generally, and is 

 a great public wrong. 



A bill of a most objectionable nature was passed 

 under circumstances similar to those stated above; 

 it is to inflict corporal punishment for "petty of- 

 fences." This is a measure unparalleled in the pres- 

 ent history of British legislation, and is so degrading 

 and wicked in its tendency as to create feelings ot 

 alarm. A public meeting has already been held 

 against it in Kingston. A copy of the resolutions I 

 shall send, and I believe other meetings or memorials 

 are intended. The penal clauses of this bill are con- 

 fined to second convictions but for what offence? A 

 shrub, a reed, or plant, in an unenclosed or enclosed 

 land, etc. It will not be hard in a country like this 

 to find a second offence, which may be of a compara- 

 tively innocent nature, tortured for malignant pur- 

 poses. While this is intended to operate for minor 



