The Sun.
London, England, 1839-06-05 00:00:00

JAMAICA.
AT a MEETING of PLANTERS, MER-
CHANTS, and others interested in JAMAICA, con-
vened by Public Advertisement, " To take into consideration
the New Bill now before the House of Commons to provide
for the enactment of certain Laws in Jamaica," and holden at
Willis's Rooms, St. James's, the 4th of June, 1839,
The Right Hon. the Earl of HAREWOOD in the Chair,
It was unanimously resolved
1. That this Meeting heard with great satisfaction that her
Majesty's Ministers had abandoned the Bill introduced into the
House of Commons, intituled " An Act to make temporary
provision for the Government of Jamaica."
2. That this Meeting considered that its provisions were
subversive of the Constitution of Jamaica, dangerous to the
welfare of the Colony, and most injurious to the interests of
those interested in Jamaica.
3. That it was and is the opinion of this Meeting that by
evincing a spirit of conciliation towards the Assembly, and a
respect for the constitutional rights and privileges of that body,
and by abstaining from Parliamentary legislation on this occa-
sion, a course would have been pursued better calculated to
acquire the confidence of the Assembly, to induce them, if her
Majesty's Governor were directed to convene them, to exercise
their legislative functions, and secure that legislation which
would best promote the welfare of all classes in the Colony, and
satisfy the just expectations of the Parliament and people of
Great Britain.

4. That this opinion was communicated to her Majesty's
Ministers, and was accompanied by the assurance that this
Meeting would cordially co-operate in promoting these objects;
and the communications of this Meeting with their corre-
spondents in Jamaica have been in accordance with that assu-
rance.

5. That this Meeting have heard with surprise and alarm
that a second Bill has been introduced into the House of Com-
mons, intituled "An Act to provide for the enactment of cer-
tain laws in the Island of Jamaica."
6. That in the opinion of this Meeting such second Bill, so
far from tending to promote, according to the expressed antici-
pations of this Meeting, the confidence of the Assembly or
People of Jamaica, cannot fail to excite the greatest dissatisfac-
tion amongst all classes in that Colony, which dissatisfaction
will be much increased by the consideration of the effect of the
Bill, which enables either the Governor or Council, by dis-
agreeing to the measures proposed by the Assembly, to suspend
their functions, and transfer them exclusively to themselves.
7. That the grounds stated in the preamble are wholly un-
tenable. That the second Bill is utterly subversive of the
Constitution of Jamaica, inasmuch as it places the Assembly in
a position wholly incompatible with the enjoyment of its pecu-
liar and exclusive rights and privileges, as the popular branch
of the Legislature, and even with the free and independent
exercise of its legislative powers.
8. That its evident tendency is to degrade the Assembly in
the estimation of all classes, and must render inefficient the
exercise of its legislative functions.
9. That nothing could be more calculated to raise the jea-
lousy and offend the feelings of the colony of Jamaica than
adopting as models for legislative interference with them Orders
in Council made for the regu'.ation of the Crown Colonies, where
another system of government exists, and not the common law
of England, but codes of foreign law prevail.
10. That these resolutions bt transmitted to her Majesty's
Government, and that they be printed in the public news-
papers. _

)1. That these resolutions be embodied in a petition, and
.46.* ....sivr.seeh.iwa. -rliessair et Lords 1:3. the
Earl of Harevrood, and to the House of Commons by Mr.
Godson. , _

(Signed) HA REWOOD, Chairman.
Resolved,—That the best thanks of the meeting are due to
the Earl of Harewood for his conduct of the business of the
day, and for his kind attention on all occasions to the interests
of Jamaica.

( A true copy.) GEORGE SAINTSBURY, Sec.
The petition to the House of Commons, embodying the pre-
ceding resolutions, LIES for SIGNATURE at the Jamaica
Coffee House, St. Michael's-alley, Cornhill ; and at the Office
of Alessrs. Sweet, Sutton, Ewens, and Ommaney, 6, Basing-
hall-street.