The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-03 00:00:00

Jamaica and the United States.

We have heard it intimated that the growing in-
terest now being felt in England with regard to
Jamaica will lessen that which has been expressed
for the friends of freedom in America. But we
apprehend this conclusion is not a correct one. The
opposite result will be found to be the fact. The
more of a popular movement there is with reference
to reform in Jamaica, the more thoroughly will
public attention be directed to America, for the
simple reason that like causes always produce like
effects.

It is the remaining influence of the old system of
slavery in Jamaica that has produced the dreadful
events of the last few months. So in America.
Slavery brought on the late terrible war. Slavery
committed the horrible excesses of which the bloody
record of the conflict gives the details. Slavery
glutted Libby prison and Castle Thunder with.
thousands of groaning and pining Union prisoners ;
slavery clotted the ground and smeared the pens of
Andersonville with the bleeding and putrid bodies
of scores of thousands of the dying and dead defen-
ders of Freedom ; slavery took the sword to smite
down Liberty, and by the sword it perished. For
the same reason, what remains of its spirit in Ame-
rica continues its unholy work against its late vic-
tims. It hunts them on every field where it was so
triumphantly conquered by liberty. It seeks to re-
manacle free limbs, by resorting to every subterfuge
of cruel custom and more cruel law. It denies them
education at every step of their progress, that they
may the more easily be kept in perpetual subjec-
tion. It refuses to pay them fair wages, while it
exacts, if possible, a greater amount of labour.

It is easy to see that this state of things is exactly
similar to that which, for more than a quarter of a
century, has been perpetrated on the negro in
Jamaica. Surely it is important to show the friends
of reform in Jamaica how these things are treated
by the Government and people of America. We
think, therefore, that instead of the interest in the
progress of freedom in that country growing less
it must inevitably increase. The workings of the
Freedmen's Bureau should not be lost on England.
The independent and voluntary efforts in a similar
direction, made by other lovers of equal rights—
efforts promotive .of pure and undefiled religion,
virtue, the ordinance of marriage, temperance, and.
other good things—will be found, we should think,
well worthy the notice of the Christians, philan-
thropists and reformers of this country. The lesson
of Jamaica is a world-wide one ; and the cause of
impartial liberty everywhere must be plead through
the events connected with that lesson, until that

13ERIAL PARLIAXENT

ROUSE OF LORDS-LAST EVENING.
THE DEVONPORT ELECTION PETITION.

The Duke of SOMERSET made a personal explanation 1
in reference to this subject. He said a statement had been
made that he had received a letter in reference to this
platter, which he denied, as no such letter had been writ-
ten to him. An application had been made in the usual
way to the Secretary of the Admiralty, and the naval
lords of the Admiralty telegraphed in the usual way that
facilities should be afforded to parties signing the petition
against the return of the sitting members. He repudiated
any improper connection with the matter.
Tne Earl of DERBY gave the noble duke full credit for
all that was honourable and straightforward, but he must
say there was something most objectionable in reference
to the proceedings in this matter. He could not under-
stand why the warrants should have been issued two
months before the committee was appointed to try the
petition. The object was to obtain information in an-
ticipation of the proper time. He called their attentien to
the suspicious fact that the petition was in favour of Mr.
Phinn, who was counsel to the Admiralty, and under the
circumstances he considered that a full enquiry should be
made into the whole matter.
The Duke of SOMERSET agreed with the noble lord
that there should be an enquiry, but in justice to Mr.
Phinn he must state that that gentleman had objected to
the presentation of the petition.
THE TRUSTEES OF THE LATE KING OF THE