New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-07
FROM JAMAICA.
The Royal Commission Of inq"'r'-Tri"'
Of the Political Prisoners-sentences
Items Concerning the Late Rebellion
English Reporters in Jamnicn-Per-
oraI-Trade-PubIic Health.


KINGSTON, ia, Feb IL, 1856.
The proceedings of the Royal Commission oil
Inquiry continue to engross public attention here 10
the exclusion of almost every other subject; and now
that men are at liberty TO give free uterance to their
thoughts and openly to defend their opinions party
spirit is beginning to run pretty high. The newspa'
pers in the interest Of the planters and of the respec
table and the property class"-I quote from Kingston
iournal-defend Eyre through thick and thin. Ihey
persist in calling the late disturbance "a rebeion
and in asserting that but for the exGoyernors prompt
and energetic action" the whites and browns through
ont the island would have been massacred by the blacks
SO far however the evidence taken before the Com
mission goes there appears yet nothing whatever to
bear out this assertion; while would seem, from the
developments that are now being daily made, that not
one half was told the public before of the foul atrocities
committed by the soldiers sailors and others OF Eyres
myrmidons in the suppression of the revolt as some
call IT, The newspapers alluded TO are exceedingly
bitter against the anti Slavery party in England Tor the
action thew have taken in the Jamaica business ana
such choice epithets as "negroposts," "sanculed
howlers" "base hypocrites," and Exeter Hall saints
are freely bestowed upon Buxton, Bright, Goodwin
Smith and others Of that ik 1t seems indeed as II the
rabid Slavery spirit of thiyfve years ago has sud
denly revived in this unfortunate country
few days ago Gov Storks and the other two Com
missoners reached the Parish Of St. Thomasinthe East
for the purpose of seeing the town Of Moran Bay the
scene Of the riot Of last October and of inspecting also
the village of Stony Gut, where it is alleged the Re
beionr was plotted and where il represented at
the time the insurgent negroes had assembled In large
numbers TO make stand against the military. Inc
Commissioners were absent on tins VISIT two DAYS anu
resumed the inquiry Immediately on their return TO
Spanish Town -,
given evidence before the Royal Commission and IT
NAV not be out Of place for to furnish you here with
brief epitome Of his testimony as TO the causes OF Tue
outbreak, and the means adopted by him for IT'S sup
preston AT the commencement of his examination
MIR Quincy read an extract from the speech with
which Mr. Eyre opened the proceedings Of the Leglsa-
tive session Of 1864 in which with reference TO tour
which the Governor had recently made OF the lsahu ne
bore testimony in very strong terms TO the loyalty and
industry OF the black populations and the Commlssoh
then asked him how he would reconcile that paragraph
with the recent disturbances. In reply he said that
the representation in that paragraph OF the state OF
things in the island at that time was quite correct out
that subsequently spirit Of disafieotion among the
blacks was aroused by the publication OF Ut ohueIh
letter and the meetings held in different parts OF the
island ndOrse the statements made in thai letter
This dsaection became noticeable as far BACK as last
August when in consequence OF certain rumoIs mat
had reached him Of apprehended disturbances
among the negroes in different parts Oh the
island, he had felt It bis duty TO direct
the authorities in several parishes TO adopt measures
for preserying the public peace. lie had ceased to
dread any outbreak when on the lth OCTOBER last nc
received letters from St. ThomasiD the East informing
him that the negroes OF that parish hsd risen IN Ieoe
lion. whereupon he lost no time IN concert WIN the
Prvy Council and the law officers OF the Crown 70 pro-
claim martial law and TO forward troops TO the dis
turbed district taking the field in the first instance
himself in person and directing for several days the
movements Of the military. He entered into detail OF
those movements and justified the seventies used To-
ward the blacks the ground OF the imminency OF the
danger TO the white and brown population OF the colony
OF the extent to which these seventies were carried he
said however he knew nothing OF his own knowledge
an he was in actual command for only two or three DAYS
and the reports Of military operations after his
return 10 the seat Of Government made not TO him. but
TO the officer be left in command. He said be had
heard any doubt expressed as 10 the proprey OF
the Governor proclsiming martial law with council OF
war He admitted that the statements be had made IN
his first dispatch TO the Secretary OF the Colonies
relative 10 the mutilation Of dead bodies by the
backf was incorrect; but he said he made IL from
what he had heard from certain fugtives from Morant
Bay and that he subsequently undeceived. AS TO
the alleged rebeous conspiracy among the blacks, he
had received letters and verbal communications from
different parties TO the effect that the negroes intended
te rise in Instruction; but. when questioned ny the
Commissioners 20 who were the parties be could not
remember their names lie admitted the part he took
in the dealings toward Mr.. q. W. Gordon, and said
that be believed that individual was the prime mover IN
the ST. Thomas the East affair." ne had reason TO be-
leye that it Gordons acts and language that had
led 10 the instruction. He had seen the proceedings
of the court martial that tried Gordon, aud had fully
concurred with the sentence OF DEATH and he still adj
hered 10 the view lie took Of the matter at the time
and ID by his directions that Mr. Sidney Levien and
Dr. Bruce had been apprehe former for writ
ing what he Eyre considered seditous articles and
the latter because he had received information
from the custos of the parish in which DIR.
Bruce resided that that gentleman was likely
TO create disturbances This is in substance, Eyres
evidence; and IL will be that there 10 no better
foundation than rumor and idle apprehensions,
for the conclusion that the negroes intended to revolt
all over the island, and massacre the white population
The justification set up by Eyre and his apoogists for
the horrible atrocities perpetrated upon the blacks
during the late disturbances Is that the danger here
pointed out imminent but If no stronger proof OF
than those supplied by Mr. Eyre then the justification
fails altogether and the heaviest condemnation must
fall upon heads Of the actors in the bloody
drama of last October. II Eyres evidence before the
Commission is the whole Of the defense he has TO make
for the part be took in that business then 1t is not diff
cult to see that there 10 terrible reckoning In store for
him. 49,
The Special Commission for the trial OF political
prisoners arrested during the disturbances has ad.
journed for the present after trying several OF the most
prominent Of the parties. Among these was MT sid.
newspaper who indicted for writing and publish
ing certain articles calculated TO bring the Government
INTO contempt-that is, Gov. Eyre's Administration.
The articles were published before the outbreak and
the counsel for the prosecution c0ntended that they had
contributed to the outbreak by promoting spirit Of
dsafecton among the people Levien was found
In the Surry County Jail No here Ia surprised
the verdict considering how the jury that tried the
political prisoners" was constituted; but IL Is conf
IDENTITY expected that the Grown will exercise its pre-
rogative Of pardon and that Leyien and others who
have been similarly dealt with, will soon be set at lib
ety 1t Is right to add here that these trials have
taken place under q special law to meet the case.
passed by the Legislature Of the island during the
panic and that the Imperial Government had not time
TO interfere to prevent the trial OF these individuals
This affair however is the last act Of the terrorists
who bad everything in their own hands before the
| arrival Of Sir Henry Storks.
The ministers of the Baptist Western Union have