The Sun.
London, England, 1839-05-04 00:00:00

EVEN' 1 N'er

the faith of the public was pledged to the planter, that the
apprenticeship should continue to the year 18-10.
What (lid the Legislative Assembly of Jamaica do ,
upon receiving intimation of the course intended to be
pursued by her Majesty's Government ? Why- they
themselves curtailed -the time of the existence of
the
apprenticeship. Was, that done through generosity,
or was it done from fear ? If it was done from genero-
sity, would they not make some allowance for the As'
sembly ? But they would deny that it arose from gene-
rosity, but that it was done through severe pressure and
oppression—granted. But still it was done—the com-
pensation was taken away, and no equivalent was given'
He would admit that it was done through fear ; but
being so, they ought to make some allowance, for the
irritation of men who wore callbel upon, without Com'
pensation, to relinquish that which they had been told
they were to hold till 1840. He now came to the
Prison Bill—coincidences were sometimes unfortunate.
—(Cheers.) Government received on the 16th of July
an account of the Colonial Legislature having, by its own
act, erminated the apprenticeship in Jamaica, although
it extceeded the limits of 1837. He must advert to
the manner in which Sir Lionel Smith addressed the
House of Assembly, after the passing of that law- Ir-1e
stated that he anticipated the best results from the
passing of that measure, and on the 15th June, 1838'
in dismissing the Assembly to their homes—that
bly which was now thought had so misconducted them'
selves that they were to be deprived of their existence'
and the Constii ulion of Jamaica was to be destroyed----
the Governor in his address upon dismissing them COn'
gratufated them on the Act which they had passed for
the abslition of apprenticeship, and expressed a fervent
hope that it would ensure to the colony those advantages
which equal liberties under wise laws were everywhere
found to produce. He trusted farther that byt
their example, they would prepare all ranks to Weed
the approaching change in a spirit of kindness a°
mutual good will. He expressed his sincere convict°
that it would be a source of great satisfaction to them'
that so excellent a measure had been passed by a sal'.
"1
taneous act of the House of Assembly of Jamaica. "e,
Government received the despatch containing that
speech on the 16th of July 1838 , and on the very ne,efii
day they introduced into the House of Lords the Pl'
which had been passed for the regulation of the Priseest
in the colonies. On the very day after the Governmen
had received information of the fact of the House of
Assembly passing a Bill for the curtailment of the er
prenticeship, they introduced a Bill for the regulationt
of prisons. Was not that, he would ask, a nles
unfortunate circumstance ?—(Great.cheering.) He west
as ready as any man to concede to the Governint
that an Act for the regulation of the prisons in t".--t
colonies was a wise measure—he did not wish to see I
repealed, that was not hisobject in now adverting to it'''.
all that he was doing now was to account for the irrita-t
lion of the House of Assembly. After that Prison Act,
had been passed, could it be said that the Gclvere;oes
had taken the course most likely to reconcile all Parti?
in the colony? What was the course that he purstle-se
Why, the moment that Act arrived in the coloor eit
proclaimed it, and that was the first intimation
the House of Assembly had its existence.—(Chner-..
When he first called the House of Assembly together'
the,
he did not state anything to them with respect to
Bill—all that he stated was that certain despatce"
would be laid before them, but not stating what the:e
despatches were. Was that, lie would ask, a el:WI
likely to create reconciliation ? Was that the course thaat
was pursued in the colony of Barbadoes ? 'Vag tije
the course pursued by Sir Evan M'Gregor ? No', hl et'
did not say that he would communicate desPa‘cw-th
but he communicated them.—(Cheers.) Now' --eps
respect to the present Bill—its preamble did not S
port it—it did not show the necessity for this viol
e 0
interference, and it was upon that ground that. he rr
fused his assent to the Bill. He thought the e
of Commons was not the assembly that should be groat
to resent irritation and insult. He thought, 1001"1''
their own conduct—(Cheers)—they ought to hesot
some sympathy for others.—(Cheers) They ought ler
to be severe censors, for they would have these PI es
assemblies breaking out now and then into strong led
guage, and they might depend upon it if they vig•
that language severely they would coon separate tb.etbe
selves from this country.—(Cheers,) Why ought A
House of Commons to be jealous 2—(Laughter-) bad
fortnight had scarcely elapsed since they They
manifested a jealousy of the House of Lords. jos
thought that that House had shown a dispositi
rea on t° to
terfere with their proceedings, and they were dY of
resort to a most extraordinary course for the purPseths
manifesting their jealousy.—(Cheers.) That was we
last indication. What was to be the next ? Why'
are to approach the House of Lords, and invite t.
to punish the refractory House of Commons of
_Jo
make, notwithstanding we have stated that the 11°rnses
of Lords has used intemperate language and irate
svi e
ference with our rights—notwithstanding one week it to
are to vote it a nuisance, in the next we call upon
the
_f
co-operate with us in inflicting a penalty on
of Assembly of Jamaica, and leave it to the House 11
Lords in that country to tax the people. Yetwenooo
that House not to be jealous, for they may depend "n,
it their brethren the Lords of Jamaica will exercise 1:4-0
perly the powers given them, that popular assemblies Scr
troublesome there, and therefore we, the House e,e
Commons, call upon you, the House of Lords, to sUri,
port us in this Bill. If the House adopted stlehnst
course, would not they be placing themselves in ule-ot
invidious position ? and it was on that eccoeto
that he entreated the House of Coninwns e
forbear as long as they could, and to look with sow/
sympatho and lenity on the excesses of
Assembly. If they were extreme to mark their seri:,
of all intemperance—to mark every violent expressionur
every act of indiscretion—if they had ne fraternal ;rYto
pithy—if they were ready to pluck out the rage bielt
their brother's eye, but considered not the beam wioos
the House
51_
was in their own—still he thought, from considernrit ore
of public policy, he hoped that the example they ie
about to set would not be visited upon themsellvel'oeo
order to abridge their own privileges. He
them to remember that what judgment they b- teel
also would they be judged—that what measure eV'
meted to others, so should it be meted to them egje that(Cheers.) He moved that the Bill be committe-
day six months.. itr
Mr. LABOUCHERE then rose, but was (I°lo,*.e
audible for some moments, in consequence of the stood
made by Members leaving the House. We underdswith
him to say that no one was more deeply imnresse OOP
the importance of the subject then under discussiouretted
he was. The Right Hon. Bart. stated that he regpose
that he as a party leader felt himself obliged to
the Government in passing that measure. He (1% r;ttea
agreed with him in that ; but he more deeply reg-eart
that such a question should at all be made 3 di'
question.—(lmmense cheering.) In the prese,l4 t
en'
sided state of parties in that House, if the gre; the
lonial interests of this country were to be meat the
battle-field of party—then he would say et'asre
greatness and the integrity of England had 'et 10
--
away.(Great cheers.) The Right Hon. ri
_area
tier gold
studiously kept of view the state of the ease, httoold
the Assembly of Jamaica and that House, and tbeali
be his (Mr. L.'s) duty shortly to lay it before of
The Right Hon. Baronet also said that unless aaev-oso°r
necessity were made out—that unless the G° Ed Ct'
could show that the safety of the island recluilrille
they were not justified in bringing in such a Itilitibt
perfectly agreed in the doctrine laid down by
Hon. Baronet, but he had not the slightest elt'llity be,„
he would succeed in showing that that neeess-hat,'-
come, and that that House had no alternative sofeb'Ye'
' subscribe to the conditions of the House of Asoeser
or take some course to constitute a legislative Csoletc't.
the colonies, to pass those laws which were 0d tsbield
necessary for the present -state of Jamaica,lo, w°nes
the House of Assembly had declared ,
not. On the 30th of Oct. the House of Asse—
re.
summoned, the Session was opened by the UponAer
(Sir L. Smith) in a very temperate speech' eonsiTbr
ceiving that speech the House proceeded t°B,oetile of
1.-
four resolutions, which resolutions were epesons
passed, and those resolutions contained the ors°
the House of Assembly for the course theY
aPry dit
He stated their own reasons, for they were v the°
rent ones from those which were ascribed to
_an teas
gentlemen in this country. The Hon. Gentle nee s!1.1,
the resolutions very indistinct ; the subst
nut ,elotloci
that they considered the Act of ParliaMeigeto Boa
contained the present Bill:a violation of their:loot, nesj
privileges as British subjects, and that it het they `:.at
tbature ; tit:/j
ought to have no force in that country ;
lost all confidence in the Imperial Legislate Out;
their usefulness had ceased to exist, and that
le rights
best consult their own honour, and t`eaco °Pali
of their constituents, as well as the P frorn
well-being of the colony, by abstainingure oouro
legislation until her Majesty's gracious Picas ojea `veer
be known whether the inhabitants of JaT pos'i
treated to be treated as 'subjects, with
be tjed
of making their own laws, or were to
conquered colony. Upon receiving an answer
eet
upon these resolutions— the Pres
Sir R. PEEL—Do you now allude to
he
Assembly ? but bet
Mr. L A BOUC HE RE —NO—( Cheersseiv jobs t
ta
would come to that very shortly. Upon ree for ale,
answer the Governor prorogued tbe. AssembilY e sPeee,
days, when he called them togetheseand
m:
for
to them, urging the necessitywhich
lony, and enumerated the several questions „oe aesWe__
he had propositions to lay before them. ".
to their l:re
to that address was, that they adhered
u_iness,
lutions, and refused to proceed with any' basin AseenilleYr
of legislatio,uto
Governor, upon this, dissolved the Housei neeenlay,
New elections took place, and on the 18th eo
to tne ity
the new Assembly met, but they adhere. r
er
tion of the old Assembly, with even a 1
a a es von reccliv
very P cop than before, the division being 40 to roPerif
ins this answer the Governor concluded
„toe tor
as
anti
with them any longer, and he profroorg "
measisresery,
thatb it was utterly hopeless to atternr to liege the
purpose of writing to this country
lutelY eess ted
in the state of affairs were abso
013,1, dee.
'Pt
d ° LI
oactAlsasws a Le, 0
1 tion, and "
tice to, and protect the negro popu
uSnireiel; itohneelpreSsmenitthsysstaeimd would
enact