New-York daily tribune., 1865-12-18

the blacks for the massacre of the whites and
browns, we find, too, that the Hayten exiles in
Jamaica have all been ordered to leave the
! island Immediately, and that the Governor had
issued proclamation, to take effect after the
3Oth ult., prohibiting any Haytien landing on
the island, unless furnished with passport
from the British Consul, and signed within ten
days of his departure from Hayti. And in his
speech at the opening Of the Jamaica Legs
lature, on tho 7th of November, we have this
model Governor giving it as his opinion that
"the entire colony has long been, and still is,
Oh the brink of a volcano. There is scarcely a
district" he adds, "or parish in the island,
where disloyaky, sedtion, and murderous IN
tentions are not widely disseminated, and IN
many instances openly expressed" These state
ments are evidently intended for effect with
the British Government and people, and those
elsewhere who happen to be ignorant oil the
state of things in Jamaica, and of the character
and habits Of the black population OF that island
Until Coy. Eyre and his myrmidons made the
discovery that disloyalty and sedition are fear
fully prevalent in the colony, the blacks OF Ja'
maica were always considered-hadbcen always
found-a remarkably law-abidmg, peaceabiy-
disposed and patient people, and as to loyalty
the name Of Queen Victoria, in the first year OF
whose reign their emancipation took place, has
always had magical influence with them. In
fact, so remarkable arc they for these traits OF
character that although they outnumbered the
whites as ten to one yet Jamaica has had no
militia force, except on paper, for the last
twenty years, and only few hundred troops
have been kept stationed on the island by the
parent Government. Since emancipation, now
over twenty.seven years, there have been but
two popular disturbances requiring the presence
of the military, and those were OF purely local
character. arising out Of strictly local crcum-
stances. and were easily aud speedily suppressed
without bloodshed l. it not incomprehenslble
then, we ask, that, in the space Of te~ short
months. the black people of Jamaica should
have become so completely transformed as 10
Justify GOV. Eyre in bringing such charges
against them
But. despite the efforts which may be made
10 nislcad people in this Jamaica business, the
| truth will come out. Already, indeed, II Is
becoming apparent, and out of his own mouth
the Governor and those he represents stand
condemned In the speech from which we have
inst quoted be attributes the dangers with
which. in his morbid fancy and in that only,
Jamaica is at present threatened, to pseudo
pbiauthropists in England. and characterless
political demagogues" in the island, to "a
lccniious and INSCRIPTIONS press and to the
=. risdirected efforts and misguided counsels Of
certain ministers Of religion" of the colony.
A strange combination Of agencies and iniiu-
ences certainly! But who can fail to see
what all this means II Is the old story over
again. 1t i, the spirit of Slavery, embodied Tor
the occasion in Gov. Eyre, inycighing against
Liberty and the allies Of Liberty-Phiian-
thropv. Religion, Political Freedom and an
unshackled and Independent press. Slavery
dies hard over a quarter of century has
passed away since il received its death-blow in
Jamaica, but it has not yet quite given up the
ghost there. As q class the planters OF that
island. between whom and ii, present Governor
there seems to be perfect congeniality OF SEN
timent. are still bitterly intolerant of all opln-
ions that do no, square with their peculiar
notions-that is not favorable to the selfish
policy upon which they have invariably acted,
since emancipation, in legislating for the eoun
try. Their policy and sentiments have found
fitting representative and spokesman in Mr.
Eyre, whose speech, just addressed to planter
legislature, reads more like the disgraceiul
TRADES against Christian missionaries and
British philanthropists, in which the pro-Slavery
Journals of Jamaica used to indulge thirty years
ago, than the production of the ruler Of q free
people whose chartered and sacred liberties and
rights demand respect.