New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-04-12
FROM JAMAICA.
The Royni Commissions - e.examinatisn Of
Gov. Eyre-Testimony from Magistrates-
The Blacks Loyal and Law.Abidiug-A
Rebel blockade. Runners story-A Fresh
Cause OF Il Excitement.
From Oar Special Correspondent.

From OR Special Correspondent.
KINGSTON IA, March q, ls66.
The Royal Commission Of whose labors have given
you report in previous letter. is still sitting, although
it is confidently expected that the examination OF wit
nesses will be brought TO a close two or three days
time The most important event in connection with the
investigation that has transprcd since last you
has been the determination Of Gov. Eyre who appeared
for the second time before the Commissioners few days
ago. and read lengthy document which ho had prepared
de,sng the events Of the late Disturbances the measures
taken for their Suppression and the evidence upon which
he had arrived at the conclusion that the colony was
threatened in October last with general ncurection of
the blacks. In this carefully paper Of Mr..
Eyres have the old story again. 1t contains no
new facts and is nothing than summary in
chronological order of those painful occurrences with
which the public is already familiar through the reports
of the press Mr. Eyre has Of course, tried hard to make
tho best of the r hmse and his tools in tho sad
business of the massacre but despite all his efforts at
justification, the must be ponounced-indeed, mas
been already pronouncedby impartial judges radically
bad one The threatened Rebellion is the great point Of
the deense but against the heasy evidence and the wild
and absurd rumors from which Mr. Eyre hastily drew his
conclusions we have now Of testimony, borne by
competent and veraciou witnesses from all classes of So
cety who have been examined before the Commissioners
during the last month showing that there was really no
ground TO apprehend a revolt of the negroes few OK
from their evidence this point may not be out OF
place here. Let Us hear them. j. X. Kitchen, esq,
magistrate and clerk of the Ncstry for the parish OF Ire
lawney says, There il ~ discomfort that know OF; DO
not think there was any conspiracy when the rots preke
out in October" q. a. Mclean, magistrate fof the
parish of ST. Mary, and merchant at Port Maria tsti
fe The people of ST. Marys very quiet and peace
able during the months Of July, August and Septemb
there nothing like an existing conspiracy TbeIs~y
David Morris Rector OF the parish OF ST. James tells me
Commissioners " have no reason to suppose, from my
own knowledge that there was any CONSPIRACY OF Geg
Curate of 1T. AIMS parish. afrms, There was no at
tempt either before after the rots al Morant Bay 10
break the peace. Edward Skyers, esd magistrate OF
tho parish of ST. George, says, was not aware OF the
existence of any combination IN St. George either before
or during October Henry Prendergast, esq, planter,
and magistrate of the parish Of Metoate SAYS Did not
notice ANYTHING like a conspiracy or combination in Met
calfe 10 overthrow law aud ORDER j. : Paache nspec-
tor of Police for the parish of Manchester for tho last
thirteen years. saw nothing among he people tha saYo
clergyman Of st. Eizabeth says There appear
TO my mind Of any conspiracy or desire 20 rels, a
thority" Han Barrow, esq. magistrate OF 81 Thomas
in tho Vale did not witness tho slightest signs OF any or
ganization before the ots" j. G.. Sawkins, esq, land
surveyor tells the Commissioners IN his evidence that ne
had surveyed fourteen parishes in the island tout OF
twentywO and did not think there was any c0mDiha-
ton 10 overthrow the Government D. VI. GlbDs
planter who has resided in the parish Of We're for forty
year, has always found the people courteous orderly ana
respectful and the balance very fair IN the performance OF
their work" The Rev. Mr. Lea Baptist minister OF
Treaynoy. tesiifes: have every reason 10 belleVe
well Of the people from my dealings and intercourse
with them; they laugh at the iica OF conspiIaces.
And DR.. Alexander Fiddes, an eminent medical praeu-
TONER in this city bears the following testimony; nave
been practicng in this island since November ls ana
have been IN constant communication with all classes oil
sons have extensive knowledge of the pcasantry
nd had apprehensions of rising they are most
peaccebe and quiet people Similar testimony to that
given In these extracts was borne b. gentlemen from
every parish and district IN Jamaica, save OF course tho
narsh of ST. Thomas the East where the people had
been goaded into desperation through the gross injustice
systematically done them by the planters ana the aeis
,iates Il true that the blacks OF Jamaica have much
10 complain OF consequence Of the way IN when tnelr
intec.i, have been riled with and sacrificed by the
Legislature Of the Colony; bat as people, they are re-
msTkaby loyal and avibiing; and Sir. Eyre is the first
Governor Of Jamaica who has yent1red % 1lpusA ,ol
character in these respects HIS lbelous charges have
boen however already amply refutcd, and he and his
myrndons must hang heir heads IN confusion ana shame
before evidence Of truthful impartial ana competent
witnesses. IN
curious episode in The afair Of tho so-called IRE
boiOn IN which the captain OF Confederate blockade
runner figures prominently has been attracting consider
able attention here few weeks ago an article appeared
TAe Lsal0n Narai and Military GHsetfe IN which 1t
stated tina, the late George William Gordon had some
time IN June OF last year. entered into negotiations with
the captain OF schooner that had been engaged in
ming the blockade OF the Southern ports the purchase
Of the vessel with all the and ammunition on board
The stOy Is crcumsilntay related by the e1-captaD,
ono Edinborogh and II briefly follows: When the war
wa. brought To a close he happened 10 be with his vessel
AZ POr, PAX, Hayu, and hndng his occupation gone
he resolved coming Oh 10 Jamaica win tho view OF
spoug of the schooner here and sending on the seaon
hence to England Shortly after his arrival IN this city
he waited on be says by swell mulatto, VINO ah
nounced himself n "thc Honorable MI Gordon stating
that he was connected vh the Government and introduce
ing AT the same time black whom he called Zen FRO
phcte "a Haytien,a nd apatleuIaT iShd OF ms Accoru
ING 10 the captain account Gordon offered at hrst 10 pnI
chase the vessel with all thearns and ammunition on Doa
but as no bargain could be concluded on ths head he
then proposed charter her for the purpose oil sehag
.l.a Init. UT
20 DO landed Of the ports on the south sue oil ia
maica They could not agree as 20 terms the captain
states and so nothing came of the negotiations and Id
inborogh left Kingston tor Cuba On his way thther te
ucky-that was the vessel name-was chased
by Federal cruiser whcreupon she was set on IRE ana
abandoned the captain and MS men lahuiis al te sau
of Grand Cavman whence he found his way 10 Aspln-
wall then back 10 Kingston, aud In August sailed Tor
London. He now comes forward as witness against
Gordon and there are many here eagerly caught
AZ his statement give you the substance OF TINS strange
story but there such garng discrepancies III ~ ana
such confusion 10 dates &c, that the whole thng IL
pronounced by sensible people hcon ana y regarded a,
device of the worthy captains % make a little capital
out of the Jamaica Disturbances mat Edihboroeh ~as
here about the mddc'of last year is however, quite true
and the gentleman with whom he stayed Tor part OF the
time has been before the Commissioners lie states that
he received letter from the captain ana tha
he had remited him of money to pay his passage
out TO Jamaica So may shortly expect 10 see TINS
indvlual here unless indeed he should upon reflection
think worth his while to push this little affair any
further.
The quiet that ms nreVWleu ncIo loI 'ho 19t Hlvc
months was slightly disturbed few DAYS ago by events
Mai SHOULD not BE- surprised 10 made the ground for
further Misrepresentation TO the rebelous spirit OF the
negroes There is many miles from the seat OF Gov
eminent here, negro village called Hartlahd when De-
gan TO be- settled by the freedmen shortly after EnaAe
patton The land supposed at the time to be what IS
called here "Crownland' that Is, belonging to tho
Crown and the people have boon for nearly quarter OF
century In quiet possession Of their homesteads there
Suddenly however claim is laid to the land or TO apor
ton OF at least By party the island who lately sent
IN Z believing
move was A preliminary ~ eviction offered resist
ancc 10 the Surveyor whereupon representations were
made TO the Governor and, in yindicaion OF law and
order company OF soldiers was sent OUT 70 arand ana