New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-07-04
e we under a delusion ? or is he ,
THE JAMAICA COMnIssION.

We are not surprised to learn that tie report OF the
Commissioners appointed to inquire into the late dis
turbances in Jamaica has been received with very
general feeling Of disappointment in England. We
ara not surprised to find even The Times, which at
first attempted to defend ard Justify Gov Eyre in
that bloody business known as "the Jamaica Mas
sacre" taking exception to certain portions oil the
renor virtually on the ground that in some cases the
mildness of its conclusions is at variance with the
strongly ncupatOry nature of the evidence from
which they profess to be drawn. In that dlsappont-
ment, we confess, we share, as We are persuaded
must all those who have made themselves acquainted
with the sad history of the case. The Commissioners
very properly regarded the investigation as judicial
inquiry and their functions in connection Herewith
as consequently strictly udical but the greater on
this account, was the obligation resting upon them
10 discharge their duty in that spirit
which, while it shields the innocent fearessly de-
nounces the guilty. We really cannot understand
how il Is possible for men Of intelligence and refine
ment. and professedly humane, to sit from day to
day, for weeks together listening to such tales of
cruelty and blood those that were told on oath
before the Commission, and aterward draw up d
report in which not single expression by any chance
escapes them implying that they had been touched
with pity, or moved with horror and indignation, at
what they had been hearing. Calmness and SELF
command are qualities indispensable 70 Judicial i'm
Partially; but it is certainly not inconsistent with
these that the Judge should, in denouncing murder,
manifest feeling of personal adherence for the
crime. That the execution Of George William Gordon
was foul murder admits Of no doubt. Legally it
was murder according to the highest law authorities,
ana morally, the affair the most Odious aspect
when it is borne in mind that between Gordon and
Gov Eyre the personal relations existing for
a long time prior to the outbreak were the
very reverse of friendly Eyre's conduct in
arresng Gordon and handing him over to
certain death the Commissioners pass over
without single remark; while, strange to say they
have colated certain portions Of evidence IN way cal
culated to make uAavorable impression as to MIR.
.Gordon's Characteristic evidence relating to incl
dents Of trifing character, which even in Jamaica
were thought at the time unworthy OF serious notice.
As to the wholesale slaughter of the blacks whsh fol-
lowed the proclamation of martial law, the Commits
soners dispose of that part of the business IN one
brief sentence of the most general character" Inc
punishment of death was unnecessarily frequent"
while of the doings of such monster IN human torn
as Ramsay, the Provost Marshal, they have not
word to say because forsooth he is about to take his
trial in Jamaica on a charge of murder for an act
committed by him while filling that office Truly,
the Commissioners ideas of judicial reticence and self
control are something extraordinary
From the character of the report, II was hardly
TO be expected that the Government would show any
thing like decision and vigor in dealing with the de-
linouents It is true that Mr. Cardwel. the Colonial
Minister, in his dispatch to Gov storks, CON-
menting on that document, uses language in con-
demnation of the principal actors in the massacre
somewhat stronger than anything to be found in the
rcpdst But even Lis language is notceably guarded
and qualified. Instead Of holding Gov. Eyre to a
strict accountability for having after suspendng the
operation of the civil law lot loose an iniuriate sol
diory upon the uuressing blacks to butcher them n-
discriminatory, to log their women, and burn down