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

temperate enough to satisfy all reasonable
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 having 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 Ilayti 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
unfortHnate 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 vol-inteer 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 fact 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 youths," " three striplings,"
" three beardless boys." The wise men who pre-
ferred this charge forgot or did not know that a
"lieutenant and coramander in the Royal Navy is
an officer of both service and reputation, and that
a man may be an ensign with grey hairs on his
head." So much for the presumption of those who
spoke, and the folly of those who believed the de-
clarations. The two naval officers were com-
manders, and as to the ensign, the writer of the
article referred to asserts that he is able to speak
personally of him, and be has " worn her MAJESTY'S
uniform for very many tears, 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
bad sufficient knowledge of the matter to be
cognisant of the errors then made by the indignant
rs ? The fact is, that many persons have been
judging of a matter which they did not well under-
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