Sooner or later comes the penalty which the infinite justice
has affixed to sin. Partial and temporary evils and inconveniences have
undoubtedly resulted from the emancipation of the laborers; and many
years must elapse before the relations of the two heretofore antagonistic
classes can be perfectly adjusted and their interests brought into entire
harmony. But that freedom is not to be held mainly accountable for the
depression of the British colonies is obvious from the fact that Dutch
Surinam, where the old system of slavery remains in its original rigor,
is in an equally depressed condition. The 'Paramaribo Neuws en
Advertentie Blad', quoted in the Jamaica Gazette, says, under date of
January 2, 1850: "Around us we hear nothing but complaints. People seek
and find matter in everything to picture to themselves the lot of the
place in which they live as bitterer than that of any other country. Of
a large number of flourishing plantations, few remain that can now be
called such. So deteriorated has property become within the last few
years, that many of these estates have not been able to defray their
weekly expenses.
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