New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-07-18
TEE pnosEoUrEoS OF Ex-Gov. EYRE.

The Jamaica Committee have decided that Mr.
Eyre late Governor OF jamaica should be prosecuted
for the murder Of George William Gordon by the
! Government, or through Mrs. Gordon To this
| course Mr. Charles Buxton the Chairman Of the Com
mittec objected but he could got only one member
Or the Committee to agree with him Under these
circumstances, Mr. Buxton has retired from the
chaiymanehip, and has sent to the newspapers for
publication copy Of the letter he addressed to the
Secretary OF Tic Committee setting forth the grounds
on which be opposed to ;he proposition to pat Nr.
Eye on his trial. NJ. BaXton condemns, in the
strongest terms, the conduct OF the Ex-Governor in
allowing the massacre Of the blacks, and in sanction
ing the execution Of Gordon when there was really
not particle Of evidence connecting the unhappy
with the outbreak at Morant Bay But he thinks il
exceedingly doubtful whether, in view Of all the cir
curnstauces Of the case any jury would convict Eyre
ofmurder. He is Of opinion that in the event of
conviction the culprii would receive a free pardon
from the Crowns and that he thinks. would in great
eneutalLe the moral effect already producedby
the removal Of Eyre, virtually in disgrace from The
Government OF Jariaica conviction he says, is all
that would be sough, by the Committee: Z" Is there
one among us, he asks, "who would not be filled
with utter dsmay ii he supposed that any steps We
might lake would send Mr.. Eyre TO the gallowsl" Az
the same time he adds, q" admire the chivarous feel
ing OF the Committee that we ought 20 do justice
without respect to consequences
We think Mr.. Buzton very unfortunate in lis argu.
menl. As the matter presents itself to u.s. the
question seems to be- not whether Mr.. Eyre shall be
hanged but whether he shall be put his trial for
crime with which he has been deliberately charged
by considerable number Of people, and of which
there appear. 10 be certainly sufficient amount Of
pra aca evidence to justify proceedings being taken
against him. The Royal Commissioners in their
report or the Jamaica disturbance do their best 20
extenuate Eyrcs conduct much possible; but the
ugly facts connected with Gonions execution cannot
DE explained aw0y. There is the fact that, prior to
the outbreak, Eyre and his victim had repeatedly
come into hostile coli ion with each other, and that
angry letters had more than once passed between
them There is thc fact chat Eyre had vim
dicgcly degraded Gordon. by removing him from
The maei,tr4cy tor five parishes. for no othrr
on0lse tlu Tie exposing oi the mslcaSnce Of ole
Of Eyre, personal friends and political supporters.
There Is tie flct Chat 100 sooner had the outbreak
occurred than Eyre -r. himself diligently TO work 10
hunt up evidence OF Gord,n', completely with 70, aud
then suggested Goulols arrest There is the fact
that ne acted a. police officer, making the arrest him
self and not resting until he saw his opponent a
prisoner in tho " Wolverine on his way To Morant
BAY, whittier De- accompanied him. handing him
over ther. io tbr tender metci,s of % bloody trb-
una ana 20 certain deaih. And ihero Is the
fact that the proceedings aud finding Of the
Court Martial I'm Gordons case were forwarded to
Eyre prior 10 The execution. and that having ample
time to perIse The documents, and weigh tho
wholly insufficient evidence upon which the coIryic-
ton Se based ne deliberately sanctioned the execu
tion OF the sentence Ih face Of facts like these-and
they ave known in England, and ought ODE known
20 Mr. BaNton--we cannot understand that mawkish
sensyeness which shudders at the thought of putting
aD offender like Eyre on his trial. That Eyre would
be hanged, even if convicted, VIC do not belere;
should we wish TO see him vndictyely dealt with
Bat in the interests Of justice We think it right that
he should be put upon his trial; and We highly ap-
prove Of the course the Jamaica COMMITTEE have de-
termincd 10 take in this matter.
Mr.. Secretary Stanton is the subject of animated
l.. ..l.A II