The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-13 00:00:00

THE JAMAICA NEWS.

The Times attributer the failure of the Jamaica constitu.
tion, which was in force when most of our colonies were
pathless deserts, to the reckless manner in which politic!
warfare has been carried on—to the absence from the
society of the island of influences strong enough to keep
politicians within those bonds of moderation and generosity
without which responsible government can hardly be
conducted. The act which Governor Eyre has introduced
to transfer the whole control of the island directly to the
Queen, seems not unlikely to be accepted by the Janiriel
legislature. All parties seem to unite in the desire to get
rid of a political machinery which can no longer be worked
without difficulty and danger. Executive and people,
planter and negro, churchman and dissenter, the few rich and
the vast multitude of poor, would all apparently be glad to
substitute the paternal despotism of the British ministry
for such liberty as Jamaica has possessed in these days, yet
the Times would encourage the hope that the constitution
of the island will not be permanently abrogated, end that
if the home government be entrusted with the task of
framing new institutions it will bear in mind that the
failure of the present constitution has been due to certain
well•understood causes, which may be removed by a short
perind of firm rule. Till Sir Henry Storks arrives, there
is little news now to be expected. Mr. Cardwell's despatch
gave general satisfaction, though, of curse, it was only a
formal official reply to that of the Governor. The Jamaica
people were, up to the last adrices, perfectly satisfied with
their own conduct and that of the authorities during the
rebellion. The island was quiet, and business fully re.
stored. The first pert of the drama was over, the second
had not yet begun.
The Daily News finds in the extracts from Mr. Card.
well's despatch to Governor Eyre communicated by the
latter to the Jamaica Assembly, not a full and absolute
approval of the Governor's conduct, as the first intimation
of the telegraph led many to suppose, but the mere
expression of sentiments which everyone must share—
the thy formalities of official intercourse. So much should
be admitted in mere justice to Mr. Cardwell, who, how-
ever, is doing small justice to himself by withholding the
official intelligence which has reached him since he received
Governor Eyre's published despatch. Far more decisive
is another piece of intell igenee which thesame packet brings.
Mr. Lieven's arrest and imprisonment for writing an article
which, though strong as regards Governor Eyre, and dis-
figured by personal allusions to his private habits, such as
are to be found sometimes is provincial prints in agricul-
tural counties, was thoroughly loyal as regards the sove-
reign and supreme authority, has been decl►red illegal by
the Chief Justice, who thus indicates his opinion that such
an act of the legislature as he had before him condoning
the arrest must be disapproved by the Sovereign because
it was contrary to those constitutional securities in virtue
of which she holds her sceptre. He has, therefore, dons
well, es representing her in her curia of justice, to declare
that it could not be enforced. He has taken that stand
against arbitrary power which our annals show to have beea
taken by not a few of our most honoured judges in the
most corrupt of timer—happier than they, in that the
whole nation 'will support him in his resolution to check
the momentary madness which would convert the govern-
ment of an English colony into the likeness of that of an
African tribe.

)1:113 TOPICS,

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