The Express.
London, England, 1866-10-06 00:00:00

(By Atlantic Televaph.)

NEW YORE, Orr. 4.
Intellipnce received here from Mexico states
that the Emperor Maximilian had made a speech,
in which he declared that he would not abandon
Maxiee.

THO SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION.

(vim ova 00111111PONDINT.)
MANCHESMR, Om. 5.

The prooeedings oommenced this morning with
two Addamss in the Civil Court; the first by the Hon.
Geo. DISMILD, Q.C., M.P., and the Mbar by Mr. Dudley
C. Field, on "An International Cods," The mart wag
crowded.

In Section A—lnternational Law—the 'pedal question
warß hat is the duty of the mother country as regards
the protection of inferior races in her colonies and depen-
dencies. The papers read were by Mr. R. N. Fowle, Mr.
C. B. Bounden, and Mr. John Gerrie, the two latter
having been prepared by request. Sir V. BERTH= pre-
rided in the absence of Mr. Dudley Field. Mr. Fowler's
paper was on the " Treatment of Inferior Races by Great
Britain (rehiring to the gradual extinction taking Rlste in
the Hudson's Bay territory of the Indian aborigines),
the British Poeseesions in South Africa, and of the hoarier
in New Zealand. He cenelndedby saying that England had
not shone in her treatment of subject races, and that the
Emptier of the French, in his wise and just protection of
the Mobs of Algeria, had set us an honourable examnle,
which it was to our disgrace we bad not imitated. It was
well worthy this association's inquiry if something could
not be done so mecum the rights and privileges of the
natives of war diffmant colonies. Their leads should be
tand and when required for colonisation acquired by
p en fair terms. Proper eficers should be
I. look after their intereete and to protect them
in the enjoyment of their rights. Above all, every facility
should be given to those devoted men who strive to bring
them to the paths of Christianity and ciraisation. In
reference to the Hudson's Bay Company's territories, it
was suggested that the charter should be withdrawn and
the aborigines placed under the protection of Canada.
Mr. RounDlthk, the Secretary of the Jamaica Commis-
sioners, read an able paper. The portion of it directed
to the condemnation of recent events in Jamaica called
forth applause ; and his inquiry into the question hoar far
the negro is capable of civilisation was listened to with
much interest. He concluded in the follow...rig terms:-1
cannot close this paper without referring to the verdict
of public opinion upon recent events in Jamaica. In what
I have written I have advocated the supreme exercise, at
all times, and towards all—even the most lolly—races
1 subject to our dominion, of a motel and humane national
as
influence. But if indeed, is alleged, there is one law
for the European and another for the African—if, indeed,
public opinion reverses the rule of Christian morality, and
acts towards the humble negro, not as it would act, or be
soled towards, in the case of a civilised nation—then all
that Flume written has been written in vain. (Hear, bear.)
The capital question, then, before us at the present time is
thie— Is the heart of the nation right in this Jamaica
matter, or is it not?' Notwithstanding appearances to
the contrary, I venture to think that it is right and sound
to the spore. (Cheers.) I will gcfurtirwr, an evcs ;mune
that those who err, err Mot so much from degeneracy from
the old En-05h spirit, as from ignorance of facts, culpable
ipbrance it may be, but still ignorance of the common
facts which a royal commission has authoritatively esta-
blished. (Cheers.) Those facts are before the nation; and
the ultimate appeal in this great national inquest lies, not
to a few literary cynics, but to the warm heart, and rough
but true instincts of the mass of the people. If Ido not
read the national verdict amber, I read it in a record of
burning indignation, and shame unutterable at the deeds
of blood which, most unnecessarily, were perpetrated
against an inferior race during the hell-like saturnalia, of
martial law. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. CONSTANTINE BURKE, late member of the Jamaica
legislature, opened the discussion. The island, he said, had
suffered from local grievances, never redressed for years.
Its decadence was attributable to other causes than eman-
cipation, such as the removal of Spanish commerce, the
operation of the Sugar Duties Act of 1846, its sparce popu-
lation. He warmly thanked Mr. Bounden for his adoura-
' ble paper, particularly for its just views of the position of
the negro. The idea that the negro would not work he ridi-
culed, and pointed out that the commerce and condition of
the whole island, giving evidence, as it did, of their skill
' and industry, was at direct variance with the frequent
cbarge of laziness against the blacks. In a lack of sound,
healthy education. he saw a fruitful source of Jamaica
evils, and recommended, as a first step towards a firm
government Ia the colony, the establishment of a
renal schooL Combined with this be urged reli-
gious teaching, and stated that although a churchman
I himself, he was bound to regard the apathy of the este-
I Misted clergy as a curse to the island. if the new sys-
tem of government was to be of that paternally despotic
character that it would take care of all classes alike, great
good would result; but we Jamaicans feared that when
I the 'medal attention to jpostica no longer existed, the old
disastrOus state a things would return. tir..Br.rke%
speech was loudly cheered.
Mr. ERNEST Nov. said the chief question to be consi-
dered was, not so much the present state of Jamaica, as
what was to be done for it in the future. From his own
experience in Jamaica, he had no limitation in saying that
Governor Eyre was properly dismissed from his met, and,
deficient as he was in morel character, had been rather
harshly judged of. (No, no.) He had done honestly what
he slid. (Loud cries of "No.") The speaker denounced
' our neglect and ill-treatment of the emancipated Jamaica
negro with much warmth. Sir S. Baker's letter had
amazed him, as showing absolute ignorance of the negroes
in the West Indies. (Cheers.) At the same time, the
black man trained in slavery was not like a man in a
country having to look back upon centuries of civilization.
It was not capital, but a just understanding of the negro
character, and that respectful treatment that a negro so
particularly coveted. The bounden duty of England wan
to keep its eye upon Jamaica, and mete out even-handed
justice to the people. (Cheers.)
Mr. JAMES HEYWOOD, banker, said the whites were not
competent to have the management of the island, and
nothing in the way of improvement would be done until
whites and blacks were on an equality. His own deer.
vation was that there was great difficulty in getting the
blacks to work. He thought Governor Eyre ought to be
thanked for his promptness—(" Oh, ob")—although he was
too severe, and was a participator in the panic that pre-
vailed.
Mr. WILSON thought too much prominence was being
given to the question about Jamaica. He strongly con-
demned our treatment of native races, on the ground that
a nation that assumed the government of a country should
also care for the wants and condition of its peoples, with.
out waiting for martial-law hangings, and mutinies to chal-
lenge our thoughts. Our treatment of subject races was
often characterised by meanness, cowardice, and theft, and
although Jamaica was the uppermost topic just now, there
was not a dependency we had that was not scandalously
ill-treated.
I Mr. Formers, an Australian colonist, spoke highly of
Governor Eyre, and said he was a man who would not
do an unkind act willingly. The speekerthen defended the
colonists from charges of neglect, and complained of our
sending convicts to Australia. He argued that it was
' impossible to reclaim Australian aborigines, who, he said,
were not capable of submitting to the habits of civilised
life. Mr. Foster created hearty laughter by recommend-
ing the whites to show their love for the blacks by inter-
marrying with them.
IMr. WESTLET, foreign secretary to the association, said
' we ought to send out to our colonies not only a governor
but English officials of every class, particularly judicial
functionaries, so as to surround the governor with an
, English atmosphere, and protect him from being swept
away (ss in the case of Mr. Eyre) by a gust of mere colonial
passion and prejudice.
Mr. J. R. EaTCOURT expresses' his satisfaction that the
papers had not introduced the name of Mr. Eyre ; the'enus
of introducing it rested upon the speakers who had sue.
ceeded the essayists. Upon the general question of dealing
with our colonists, he said we should insist upon a due ad-
' minis.ration of justice, should protect natives in their
property and persons against the • superior" races as the
superior individuals protected each other, end should have
apportioned out of the revenues a sufficient suns to establish
a sound secular education for the people. (Cheers.) He
warmly defended the character and worth of the negro,
and stated that in 1865 there came from Jamaica 946,000/.
worth of produce. The work was not done by whi es but
by negrues, who bad been accused of being too indolent to
work.
Mr. FOWLER said, in answer to the charges brought against
the country, it was a historical fact that no other country
had done so much as Great Eh itain for its subject races.
The discussion closed with a remaek from the CHAIR-
MAN that it would be better then carting blame if they
could direct their attention to suggesting a remedy for the
evils sought to be remedied.