The Portland daily press., 1865-12-14
n "-|T -|TT| ~
The Jaamica Troubles.

When the first meagre accounts of the ne
gro insurrection in Jamaica came to us, and
the whole copperhead press of the country
burst into a howl over what they chose to re-
gard as new evidence Of the ineradicable fe-
rocity of the black race, we felt sure that a
fuller and more accurate account of these
events would put upon them wholly differ
ent aspect. We did not hesitate to avow this
conviction to our readers; and the result has
to the Erening Post, from an acquaintance
with Jamaica matters extending over long
series of years, states that the late disturban-
ces there are but renewal of the strife be-
tween the old spirit of slavery, and the spirit
of freedom which is constantly strengthening
IN the breasts of the negro population. The
arrogant and cruel and prosecuting spirit of
slavery is far from extinct, and has been wan
ton in its aggressions upon the rights Of eman-
cipated blacks. The government is complete
ly in the hands of the planters, who have per-
sistently pursued in their dealing with the ne
groes course of injustice and oppression, the
recent opposition to which has only called out
q uiOou tahS1y spun VI ICtdlldtiOll. ..
As for the rebellion itself, it was far less
formidable outbreak than has been supposed
amounting in fact, to no more than local dis
turbance, which was suppressed by the au-
thorities IN a single day. The means employed
for putting it down have a characrer of afro
cious barbarity which we could hardly believe
Englishmen capable of were not the horrors
ofthe Sepoy rebellion fresh in our minds. If
any one wishes to know how near to a tiger
an English "oficer and gentleman" can come,
he will find that point illustrated in the report
Of Colonel Hole, of the Sixth Royals, who led
the expedition. This officer had found col
ored boy who was supposed to know some
thing of the plot, tied him by the neck to his
stirrup, and holding revolver to his head
constantly threatened him with death ifhe did
not point out those among the prisoners who
were guilty. OF the unfortunates thus desig-
nuted some were shot down at once, others
hanged, others tied and Seated" No pre-
tense of trial was accorded to any. One
man was hanged merely because after having
received forty-seven lashes, @he ground his
teotb and cast ferocious look of defiance on
the provostmarshal." In short the blood
thirsty brutality and ferocity of the troops in
fnitely surpassed that displayed by the rebels
themselves, and it spared neither age nor sex.
The Boston Transcript comments as follows
upon the affair. t 4' ,.3 --L
All the succeeding outrages the part Of the SOL
iiers and authorities read like the acts Of DEVILS and
indicate that the black King of Dahomey does not
want imitat0rs among the white Inhabitants Of Ja-
maica. Negro villages We're burnt, men shot and
hanged women hogged, and the official report states
in language worthy OF Carrier or Collot ID Harbois
tnat the soldiers 'enjoyed the sport greatly" In
Decd the panic produced OF those brutal nassa-
cres which the English wont dignity with the
name OF energy, and in which every principle
tice as well as reason and clemeney was rutn'eSSS
| violated fa..-r - aiaII.I q. . 18th 6,,l Of
| The outbreak and is repression are aTe,ots5 bIacSs
lessons for in dealing wi h the emsTace out Of a
of the South. First in regard 1Sos e were allowed TO
population of over 400 900 only oonulation had no
vote. The governing part OF ~ & regard for their in
sympathy with the governeas them with equal and
teress, disposition g. ts sys of class government
inpartial justice; of race and color, and re-
ihtenslned Dy III yearly the gulf between the ''su-
sulting in races in Jamaca are before US
perior ana ION The burst OF blind Jury at the ris-
ior our ediIee1o ee1o population shows the eenns with
ing OF the population regarded by the whites.
which tnnmfhorities acted though they were hunt
The,yes The and hyenas, and all feeling of humanity
ng sxtingushed because the official murderers had
waser Wa considered their victims as human. Only by
1 acting now towards our negro population with JUS
ice and giving them their natural rights, can we