The former are exposed to the inclemencies of the weather, and the hardships of toil—­the latter are cruelly dragged away from their infants, that the master may not lose the smallest portion of time,—­and both are liable at any moment to be incarcerated in the dungeon, or strung up on the treadwheel.  In consequence of the cruelties which are practised, the apprentices are in a disaffected state throughout the island.

[Footnote A:  All children under six years of age at the time of abolition, were made entirely free.]

In assigning the causes of the ill-working of the apprenticeship in Jamaica, we would say in the commencement, that nearly all of them are embodied in the intrinsic defects of the system itself.  These defects have been exposed in a former chapter, and we need not repeat them here.  The reason why the system has not produced as much mischief in all the colonies as it has in Jamaica, is that the local circumstances in the other islands were not so adapted to develop its legitimate results.

It is not without the most careful investigation of facts, that we have allowed ourselves to entertain the views which we are now about to express, respecting the conduct of the planters and special justices—­for it is to them that we must ascribe the evils which exist in Jamaica.  We cheerfully accede to them all of palliation which may be found in the provocations incident to the wretched system of apprenticeship.

The causes of the difficulties rest chiefly with the planters.  They were originally implicated, and by their wily schemes they soon involved the special magistrates.  The Jamaica planters, as a body, always violently opposed the abolition of slavery.  Unlike the planters in most of the colonies, they cherished their hostility after the act of abolition.  It would seem that they had agreed with one accord, never to become reconciled to the measures of the English government, and had sworn eternal hostility to every scheme of emancipation.  Whether this resulted most from love for slavery or hatred of English interference, it is difficult to determine.  If we were to believe the planters themselves, who are of the opposition, we should conclude that they were far from being in favor of slavery—­that they were “as much opposed to slavery, as any one can be[A].”  Notwithstanding this avowal, the tenacity with which the planters cling to the remnant of their power, shows an affection for it, of the strength of which they are not probably themselves aware.

[Footnote A:  It seems to be the order of the day, with the opposition party in Jamaica, to disclaim all friendship with slavery.  We noticed several instances of this in the island papers, which have been most hostile to abolition.  We quote the following sample from the Royal Gazette, (Kingston) for May 6, 1837.  The editor, in an article respecting Cuba, says: