The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-01 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, JAIV UARY 1, 1866.

The Asia brings us intelligence from the United
States to the 21st inclusive, so that we are kept
almost au courant with events in New York. The
wise and conciliatory policy of the PRESIDENT is
evidently accepted by the great body of the people,
and the Radicals, who at the first meeting of Con-
gress appeared to carry all before them, have been
since compelled to abate their pretensions. Mr.
SUMNER, indeed, seems as if he would be satisfied
with nothing less than converting the Southern
States into a Hayti on a larger scale, but happily
his sentiments are not endorsed by any considerable
or influential party in the Senate of which he is a
member. The PRESIDENT has sent a Message to the
Senate, accompanied by the Reports of General
GRANT and CARL. SCHURZ upon the present condi-
tion of the South. General GRANT expresses him-
self satisfied with the aspect of affairs, and he be-
lieves that thinking men in the South have accepted
the situation in goodfaith, and regard slavery or se-
cession as finally disposed of by the issue of the war.
He recommends that small garrisons of white men
should remain in the interior where the freedmen
are numerous, being evidently of opinion that it is
desirable to have some check upon them as well as
upon the white population. The freedman says
the General is not yet disabused of the idea that
he has the right to live without care or provision
for the future, which encourages him to idleness
and induces him to muster in camps and cities. To
counteract this, and so provide the negro with
assistance and advice, as well as the legal protection
which the law affords, General GRANT approves of
the maintenance of the Freedmen's Bureau in a
modified form, partially incorporated with the mili-
tary department. This would be a wise and consti-
tutional mode of dealing with the matter, and it is
quite evident that the freedmen—unused to think
or act for themselves—greatly need a coun-
sellor and friend. Every man who wishes
them well must agree that it is abso-
lutely imperative they should be made to
understand the necessity of working for their
own living. It is cruel kindness for the professional
abolitionists to delude them with theories about the
rights of man, and to encourage them in the belief,
which many of them hold, that the estates of the
South will be parcelled out among them, so that
each man may live upon the produce of his own bit
of land, indifferent to the necessities or anxieties
of all beyond. Even this life, however, proves too
troublesome for the African when he is once free
to indulge his inherent indolence, The slaves have
hitherto been forced to work ; they have therefore
the advantage of previous discipline and habit,
which should surely be turned to account now, and
must render the task of providing for themselves
less irksome and more hopeful. The New Eng-
landers themselves will, we apprehend, soon get
tired of maintaining some millions of blacks in idle-
ness, and the South will be physically incapable of
bearing the burden alone, as Puritan charity would
wish, seeing that the whites themselves are in many
parts in a state of semi-starvation.
Mr. JOHNSON, in the Message which accompanied
this Report to the Senate, declared that the rebellion
Suppressed, and that the people of the South
were showing more willingness to obey the laws of
the Federal Government than could have been anti-
cipated. Sectional animosity is, he asserts, rapidly
merging into a better spirit, and he expresses his
conviction that national representation, connected
with a proper system of taxation, will result in the
harmonious restoration of the relation of the States
to the Union, This Message appeal moderate and

temperate enough to satisfy all reasorLable
men, and one would think that the con-
fident assertion of the PRESIDENT, founded on. the
reports of Northern men who have actually
visited the South to judge for themselves, could
hardly be otherwise than acceptable. To the malig-
nity of political hatred and fanatical intolerance,
however, such a statement was actually unwelcome,
and Mr. SUMNER openly denounced the President's
Message as resembling the " whitewashing" Message
of FRANKLIN PIERCE in reference to Kansas. The
intemperate speaker Was upon this called to account
by several Senators; but the next day he resumed
the attack, declared the PRESIDENT was attempting
to whitewash the South, and read extracts from
letters which represented the Southerners to be
strongly disloyal and constantly ill-treating the freed-
men. Fortunately for America, however, Mr.
SUMNER is not at the head of affairs.

The Mexican question is still threatening, and
resolutions have been introduced into the House of
Representatives, declaring that the States ought
never to recognise any Government imposed on the
American Continent by European arms. The
French Ambassador is at New York, having
determined, it is said, not to return to
Washington till he has received instructions from
the EMPEROR. The Mexican problem is one of the
many Gordian knots which 1866 has to untie ; but
at least it is a hopeful augury for the new year that
slavery is now officially abolished, the requisite
number of States haying ratified the constitutional
amendment.

. The public will look with interest to the news
lately received from Jamaica, and certainly the in-
telligence it imparts serves to confirm the opinions
we have all along entertained of the conduct of the
Governor, and the state of affairs in the island.
The Jamaica Guardian has furnished some details
concerning GORDON, which will be perused with in-
terest by many, and speak volumes as to the nature
of the man. It is truly stated that many people in
England do not know much of the " real character
and antecedents" of GORDON, and therefore some
particulars are published for the benefit of the Anti-
slavery party in England ; and, furthermore, it is
declared that if these statements are called in ques-
tion they can easily be proved, and many more
particulars can be forthcoming. As for attaining
the result desired concerning the Anti-slavery
Society, and the members of the faction in general,
it is hardly likely that the chronicle of GORDON'S
doings here furnished will be successful, for there
are some beings so infatuated that they will listen
to nothing that is contrary to their own views ; but
let the public in general pay especial heed to the
summary of the career of a man who has become so
notorious. The Guardian states that GORDON'S
whole conduct proved him to be most inimical to the
Governor and the authorities in general, and by his
acts and words he did much to excite and arouse the
blacks, and render them discontented with their
condition. His words were to this effect, " that the
Governor, the magistrates, and the clergy had
written lies to the QUEEN about them, the peasantry
of Jamaica ; that the planters did not treat the
people fairly ; that they, the people, would have to
make a second Hayti of Jamaica ; that the planters
and authorities hated them now, but that then they
would hate them far more." A man who made use
of these expressions was just the one most likely to
foment and strife among any community
unfortunate enough to contain him ; and it is quite
inconsistent for people to get up at public meetings
and declaim about the wrongs of the negroes and
the cruelty of the authorities, while they are all the
time keeping back facts either wilfully or through
ignorance which materially alter the state of
things.
It is stated that it is a " gross fiction" to state
that the Maroons were Jet loose to do as they would.
The truth is, that many of the rebels took refuge in
the mountains, in woods, and fastnesses, where the
soldiers could not possibly penetrate, and therefore
the Maroons were ordered to scour these places and
bring to trial those they found there. Of course
some resisted and were shot down ; but that does
not mean that they were empowered to shoot down
all whom they wished without any let or hindrance.
The Guardian also confirms the remark made here
by some discerning people here, that had prompt
measures not been adopted serious results might
have followed. " That severity may have been
mercy to the other districts in the island,
for as we were then situated with only a handful of
troops, and no good volunteer organisation, the
greater part of the respectable people and their pro-
perty throughout the country might have been de-
stroyed had not the authorities acted with prompti-
tude, determination, and severity." A writer on
this subject the other day very truly remarked that
had the Indian Mutiny been dealt with with the
" energy and bravery manifested in Jamaica by
Governor EYRE we should have escaped the horrors
of Cawnpore and Lucknow, and extreme and sudden
cases of murderous outbreak require unusual prompt
and determined coercion." The fazt is, all these
sympathisers, in their frenzied excitement, choose
to overlook the danger of the white population of
Jamaica. Governor EYRE was there to protect
them, and not to serve the interests and play
into the hands of a bigoted and vindictive sect.
A very good illustration of the incorrectness
which characterises the faction has been furnished
by the able writer of the article on Governor EYRE
in the British Army and Navy Review. He says,
truly, that " Exeter Hall has rung its changes
with a vengeance" upon the construction of the
court martial which sat on GORDON. We have heard
repeatedly of the cruelty and inconsistency
of handing over the accused to the tender
mercies of
"three
this
ischarge
three youths," '• three striplings,"
beardlessrgeboys." The wise men who pre-
ferred forgot or did not know that a
"lieutenant and
commander in the Royal Navy is
an officer of both service and reputation, and that
a man may be
head." So an ensign with grey hairs on his
much for the presumption of those who
spoke, and the folly
de-
clarations. The two
of thnoasvealwhooffibooerslievewdere theoomanders, and as to the ensign, the writer of the
article referred to asserts that he is able to speak
personally of him, and he has " worn her MAJESTY'S
uniform for very many years, and is a man whose
judgment is in every way to be relied upon." How
many among the readers of the speeches de-
livered at Exeter Hall and elsewhere have
had sufficient knowledge of the matter to- be
cognisant of the errors then made by the indignant
speakers ? The fact is, that many persons have been
judging of a matter which they did not well under-
stand, and of which they are hardly competent to
form an opinion. As the Jamaica Guardian impres-
sively states, " It is utterly impossible for men in
England or in the Northern States of America,
where are so much intelligence, and physical and
moral force to fall back upon, in the
suppression of a rebellion to judge of what should
be done in Jamaica under the circumstances."
When people wish to be impartial in their decisions
they should take everything into consideration, and
endeavour, as far as possible, to put themselves
into the position of those whom they are judging
before they decide upon the propriety of this or that

course.
All that nacho tto of an important characta

tends to confirm the impressions previously enter-
tained of the disaffection in the Island. A message
from the Governor was laid before the Legislative
Council, which contained an extract from a com-
munication from Colonel WHITFIELD, who
commanded the western division of the Jamaica
forces. It affords the Legislature a further proof,
as it correctly states, that the Governor had " good
ground" for asserting in his opening address that " a
mighty danger threatened the land." In this letter
Colonel WHITFIELD says, " I quite agree with you
in thinking that a seditious and disloyal spirit per-
vades the entire island, and that in all probability
the negroes would rise if it were not for the presence
of the military." He goes on to state that he be-
lieves communications are made between the dis-
affected in different parishes, and that about one-
half of the negroes seem contented and happy, but
the remainder " seem as if they would take much
pleasure in cutting our throats." The police-force
the Colonel thinks is very inefficient, and requires
attention.

The bill for amending the political constitution
of the country has excited great interest, and been
carried by a large majority, notwithstanding a fierce
fight was made over it in the House of Assembly.
It is just as well that it should have been passed,
for the adoption of stringent measures is rendered
absolutely necessary by the late outbreak, and
also in consequence of the bad feeling displayed
in so many places. The Chamber is to be dis-
solved every seven years, but, under the circum-
stances of the case, perhaps five years' tenure
might be sufficient, and would prove more effica-
cious in the end. The bill provides for the punish-
ment of offences committed six months after
martial law, and this is intended to keep turbu-
lent spirits in check ; and notwithstanding the
vehement opposition made by certain hon. gen-
tlemen in the Elouse of Assembly, we have no
doubt that there are many good grounds for the
proposition. Temporising with dangers is not the
way to meet them, and a vacillating course is
sure to prove eventually a disastrous one.

The revenue returns for the last quarter of the
year are eminently satisfactory. They afford con-
tinued proof of the buoyancy of the national
resources, and show repeated evidence of the elas-
ticity with which the revenue recovers itself after
every reduction. The two chief items in which there
is a deficiency, as compared with last year, are of
course those in-which the principal restrictions were
made in the last budget—the tea duties and the in-
come-tax. The fire-insurance duty shows the pro-
priety of the reduction which was so long strenu-
ously, and it seemed hopelessly, advocated. The in-
crease in the insurances compensate for the reduction
of the duty. Mr. GLADSTONE calculated the total
loss on the year at £3,800,000, but there seems
good reason to believe that the result will be con-
siderably less. The vast increase in the consump-
tion of tea not only tends to benefit the revenue, but
proves how great a hardship was the heavy tax upon
the luxury of the poor, so long kept at a war rate by
successive Governments. The increase on the excise
during the last quarter alone amounts to
£llO,OOO on the Post-office, a constantly
improving source of profit to the revenue,
to £40,000, on Stamps to £150,000. Altogether
the prospects of the country are highly encouraging,
and it is probable that when the financial year is
completed the statistics will be even more favour-
able than at present, as the next quarter is likely to
be considerably better than the present. As we are
already through three-fourths of the year, and so
far within the Chancellor of the Exchequer's esti-
mate, we shall have no reason to complain if it
should even show us a greater deficiency.