The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-04-26

81 ERs-THE TEMPER OF THE PEOPLE.
The Kingston correspondent of the New
York Tribune furnishes to that paper some
interesting details of the manner in which the
Queens Commission under Sir Henry Storks
have conducted their inquiry into the origin
and suppression of the late disturbances 1t
is plain that these gentlemen were not dispos-
ed to use much ceremony in their treatment
of Gov. Eyre. When the latter attempted to
enter into an elaborate argument to show that
he was justified in considering the outbreak
at st. Thomas as not simply local riot but
part of widespread conspiracy, the Com
missioners refused to allow him to proceed
with his address, stating that they had moth
ing to do with his impressions" or with the
differences" which he might choose to draw
from representations made to him derogatory
to the loyalty of the blacks, but simply and
solely with the facts of the whole case. Says
the correspondent Inf.
The Ex-Governor then offered to put in as
evidence certain letters he had received, in
which the idle rumors OF a rebellion that
! have alluded to in my previous coI1munica-
h tons were repeated; but to this also the
Commissioners objected. MIR. Quincy saying,
none of theseletters can be taken as to the
statements made to you" and the President,
Sir Henry Storks, adding, eve want facts."-
This did not suit Eyre, who urged that he
conceived that the appointment of the Com
mission reflected upon his conduct, and
was intended to inquire into it, and he
thought it due to himself and to the colo
ny over which he presided that he should
state in what way he had arrived at his conclu-
sions. He was proceeding when the Com
uissioners again stopped him, telling him,
''ayoid arguments or differences. We will do
that ourselves" 7.ff,.,,;r.7o-s,. ..o l..
T The writer adds: 20 .Hii4sU 81 - srIE -
AS might be expected, the filmness of the
Commissioners in dealing with Mr. Eyer has
given great ofense to the partisans of that
gentleman, who think it burning shame that
he was not allowed to say just what he pleas
ed when he appeared before the Commission
to be examined. But in my poor opinion their
conduct is greatly to be admired, and it can
not fail to meet the approval of all right-think-
ing minds. They had seen enough during the
progress of the inquiry they were making, to
enable them duly to appreciate the value Of
impressions" and @inferences" as against the
DldShos cuS1 do tllOoC OUfs IyCT QColIcu W
upon their consideration and they very prop
erly refused him the permission he sought, to
make out, on such fimsy grounds, a case
against the people. The impressions" left on
their minds from what they had witnessed
may be inferred from remark made by Mr.
Carney, when Gov. Eyre, proposing to state a
circumstance ito show how the ignorant me-
groes pervert and misinterpret documents"
stated, in reply to question by the Commits
sioners as to whether the matter came within
his own knowledge, that it had been reported
to him officially by a clergyman-"Then that
clergyman must come and prove it. We have
had some experience as to the sort of evil
dence they give, and the deductions they
draw" The planters and their friends can
not understand how it is that impressions
and differences" should be considered INSULT
Gent ground to Justify wholesale slaughter
Of the blacks but upon this and other points,
they will doubtless get few lessons now that
may hereafter be of some profit to them and
benefit to the country. 9'- N-' '@ WI
The report given Of the present state and
prospects Of the country is far from favorable
The planters exhibit species OF faulty in
their obstinate adherence to old ideas which is
not without its parallel in some portions OF
our own Southern States, and the evil results
of which are but too plain. The blacks and
their friends-7-espec the Baptist missiona-
ries- are roundly abused in the newspaper
press, while nothing at all is done to conciliate
that portion Of the population upon whom the
future prosperity Of the colony must mainly
depend. The Jamaicans seem to be utterly
blind to the fact that without the re-establish-
mo of mfr
ferent classes of their people, no mere change
of rule, no introduction of fresh capital into
the island can avail for their prosperity. Be
cause they are not allowed to have everything
their own way they devote themselves to the
business OF fomenting class prejudices and
cultivating animosities. The planters in diff
fercnt parishes have been presenting addresses
to Gov. Eyre, praising him for the action he
took in the st. Thomas in the East affair, and
indorsing, in unqualified terms of approval
the butcheries that were committed in con.
nection with that business, and they express
their doubts as to the continued loyalty and
peaceable intentions of the black population
thus persisting in that course of misrepresen-
tation and SANDER that has done so much in
alternating the freedmen of Jamaica from their
former masters. gtG
Some gentlemen from ST. Elizabeth's parish
say to Governor Eyre in recent address:
Your Excellency, we hesitate not to tell
/ you, we have no faith in the present calm. We
know not what will come, or how soon SER
vices such as you have rendered us may be re-
CURED again. We trust such cou,,seIs and &C.
:aon as lately preserved as may not be ,cant-
ing IN a like emergency. .9ils -. ''t' '.5i
The Tribune correspondent well asks:
are we not justified in questioning the men
SanlLX oil ,hn1