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Show 238 APPENDIX· and thougltt of only as a colony of free men, of different complexions indeed, but of equal rights and pr.ivile~es, as citizens of the British empire. This grand truth bemg m the first place settled-fully and freely acknowledged and appreciated-it follows, as a clear consequence, that all classes of the community ought now to unite, heart and hand, in promoting the prosperity of this noble colony. Prosperity is a word of large meaning ;-it embraces tl>e intellectual, moral, and spiritual, ns well as temporal welfare of the people ; but for the present I confine my remarks to temporal welfare. All parties ought now to unite in promoting the coming of the day (as I believe not far distant, for we already see the dawn of it) when the merchantmen which frequent the harbors of Jamaica shall he multiplied-when her staple productions of sugar and coffee shall more than recover their former amount-when abundance of free-grown cotton shall be added to the list-when vegetable provisions shall be poured forth, at a cheap rate, from the mountains into the towns-when flocks of sheep, as well as yet larger herds of oxen and kine, shall cover the pastures-when, in fact, one of the most favored and delightful spots on the globe, shall be distinguished by a corresponding superiority in the wealth and substantial comfort of its inhabitants. This great object cannot he otherwise than interesting-First, to the planters, whether residents on the island or absentees, whether proprietors of the soil, or tenants of estates, or managers only of the property of others. Their profits obviously depend on the success of our great experiment-on the realizing of the desired result. Secondly, to the merchants and storekeepers. The thrift of these persons depends on the thrift of others-their increase of wealth, on a corresponding increase of it throughout the population. RECONCILIATION. 239 T!tirdly, to the laborers. To speak of the ros . maica, is chiefly to speak of their pr . r P penty of Ja- . . . . ospenty, •or they and th . fam1hcs constitute nmc-tenths of the 1 I . e~r . . w 10 c commumty. It is delightful to behevc that their domestic £ . . . com arts are mcreased and mcreasmg, or rather multiplied and m If 1 · . . . . . u 'P ymg, under free-dom- most grat•fymg to VISit their little £r ee h ol d s m· many parts of the island, and. to know that even now ' as a bo dy , they are by no means destitute of wealth. But expe n·e nce amp Iy proves that by far the sur. e.s t resource, for the mainte nancc an d 1. mprove-' menl of these priVIleges, is regular wages fior regu 1a r worlt Upon the prosperity of their employers, therefore, essentiall • depends their own. Y Fourtl!ly, and lastly, to the abolitionists-to thos c of every rank and class, who long, pray, and labor, for the extinction of slavery all the world over. The eyes of France, Denmark Spain, Portugal, Brazil, and above all ' North A men·c a, are fi xed' on the British West-Indian colonies, and chiefly on Jamaica. It is of primary importance to the cause of freedom under all these gover.n ments that Jamaica should prosper· 1 mean, prosper pecumarily. It is in vain that we address arguments on the plea of moral or religious principle alone, to persons who have lo. ng been habituated to slave-holding' as p•a rt and parce ] of t h el·l" mrcumstances, and almost of their existence. We must at the same time make an appeal to their self-interest. We must prove, by the example of such a region as Jamaica, that free labor ~s more economical and productive than slave labor, and that the JUst and equal liberty of all the citizens of a state, has an unfailmg tendency to increase its wealth. If the view now taken is correct-and I believe it cannot be didsp ut·e d-it certainly follows that planters' merchants, Ia bo rers, an philanthropists, arc bound by the most obvious principles of reason ~nd common sense, to unite their efforts in promoting the prospenty of Jamaica. |