The New York herald., 1866-07-13
THE NEGRO QUESTION.
Home Fruits OF the Jamaica Revolt and
Royal Conmission.
PROPOSED TRIAL or Ex-0ovEBNoR EYRE FOR THE

Home Fruits OF the Jamaica Revolt and
PROPOSED TRIAL or EX-GOVERNOR EYRE FOR THE
MURDER or Mr.. GORDON.
From the London Times, June 301
The jamaica Committee have resolved proceed
ing 10 njudcious that II has ELECTED protest from Mr.
q Buxton who retires from the chairmansh'p The
suits Of the commission. are bent on bringing Mr. Eyre
just the "murder'' OF Mr. Gordon-if possible.
through the agency oi the m not by means
way can the negality OF the trial and sentence be
ensctuslly published for the warning OF future Govern
and military officers, while they tacy rely on the
royal prerogative Of mercy to rescue Mr.. Eyre,
In the last resort, from punishment which, they
BE- executed Mr.. Buxton differs from his colleagues
upon the propey OF this course adduccs of
very unequal weight In support OF his own view. It Is
pity that Mr. Buxton should have weakened the force Of
his argument by inemperate preamble which he evi-
dcny meant 10 strengthen it His object appears TO bo
clusion OF the committee he will be ou'done by other
member Of 1t in vehemepce Of denuncation. Thus he
towsrds the nsonc coImsd 70 his cas ana nar,c
patton I'm the awful guilt Of consgning innocent
70 the gaows but impntes 70 the Commissioners "a
manifest anxiety to excupate the authores In spite Of
their recorded opinion that In the great majority Of In
stances the capital sentences pronounced BY
tal Justified by tho evidence, he describes them
simply acts OF vengeance inflicted almost ndiscim-
natey on tho negro population, With scarcely prctence
Of distinguishing the Innocent nom the guilty" and
declares that "hundTeds Of innocent put 70
death in cold blood' We cannot but regret that SIR
Buxton in his anxiety 70 proptiae the Jamaica Com
vice. should have far nduRed thaone Of exaggeration
which cannot fail 70 damage the best cause. He de-
on the nvson % o nrosacnns 81 M Eyrc snS
the rejection OF his counsels by tho Jamaica Committee
brrays the influence Of what too nearly resembles vim
We may at once dismiss from view the proposal that
government should direct Indictment for murder n
Be preferred against Mr.. Eyre No government pos.ld
take the responsibility Of such act except upon much
stronger representations OF his moral and legal criminal
ily than are in be founded the Com
mi ncrs the hand wnive
for the sake Of argument all doubts to the effect Of
the Act Of Indemnity, and any other preliminary
or Mr. Eyre in this country. Let us assume
that, upon the government declining TO institute
technical obstacle can bar her riaht to do So
Lot eliminate, In short, all other considerations
mnara mdymens sv ic OF hesc nrncncs a,ons
Now, the offence OF which Mr. Eyre stands accused IL
virtually this-that without an overwhelming pubic
necessity he caused Gordon to be arrested beyond tho
limits OF the proclaimed district ordered him 10 be tried
by martial law instead OF reservng him for the nrdc
ton OF civil tribunal and confirmed sentence upon
him which the evidence did not warrant No one can
deny that had Gordon been personally urging
mob TO riot and massacre he might lawfully have been
shot down, II necessary the spot. No deny
shat n duly charged with nsgatng, though Indirectly
tho outbreak At Morant Bay and II duly arrested any
would properly been sent TO Morant Bay for tal
We may 60 further aud say without reserve
Go ernor Eyrowf his belief that Gordon was at the
bottom Of reasonable and murdcrous conspiracy had
been simulated instead Of being shared by almost the
whole white population Of Kngston-if Il could be
shown that he eagerly availed hpseIf Of worthless
pretext get nd Of troublesome opponent-then he
would deserve indulgence at the hands Of HIS
This, however, exactly what ventures 70 main
70 suggest 1T Ia Clear the Commits
sioners state stha the conduct OF Gordon had been
such convince both friends and enemies OF hrs being
party 10 the rising" although their own conclusion s
decisive as TO the existence of widespread con-
spracy," and therefore TO the completely Of Cor
don Mr. Eyrcs consisted In yielding 70 the uni-
veysdI panic and actfng tho public safcty coun not
be restored long Gordon lived II q most seri-
error In invested with supreme authority, and
has Justly been visited by the deprivation OF that antho
rty; but was consistent with puro motives
and with high though mistaken sense OF duty. In
other words IL wanted the essential elements OF
q moral crime, and assuredly cannot be brought
within the legal definition OF the worst crime known
TO the law. It Ia thing 70 speak OF Gordon's
execution judicial murder Is another 10 give that
name TO Mr.. Eyres part in IL The former expression
denotes conviction that Gordon wronRfully put TO
death; tho latter implies that Mr.. Eyre wilfuly com
passed hts death with malice aforethought .
Now venture 10 believe that prosecution whether
successful unsuccessful popular or unpopular would
20 far defeat the objects which phanthropiss
should have At heart. great opportunity will have
been lost II sentiment OF honest Indignation st the
grievous abuse Of authority by lar,e number OF per-
sons civil and military from tho Governor down.
wards under OF martial law should degenerate
be perverted into camor for vengeance on individuals