, 1867-08-06

u We have received the following
from the Honorable Counsellor
J. A. STAKEMANN, KID. -

l perceive under a discussion in the Colonial
Council on the 18th ult. the following words
used by the Chairman He was not exposed
to contradiction in maintaining, that the town
of Christiansted may be said to have no Police,
is overran by Migrants and q numberless set of
children creating disorder and riots in the streets,
begging and stealing, Grimes are Of frequent
Occurrences, fires are set and burglaries take
place, among the latter also in public buildings
and the Government house even the Police
master has been robbed"
The 2nd member for Chlistiansted's country
district (Ratclife) thanked the Chairman t'for
what he had stated.
Now as the Police Of the town is under my
direction and responsibility, I consider it my
business, whether these attacks are aimed at me
personally or no., to take of them whatever
notice they may deserve. Generally speaking
announcements of this character, which were
first brought 10 fashion by a former well-known
member of the Council, have long since ceased
to reach beyond the walls of The place Of meet
ing, or if they should happen to do SO, are for
gotten the moment after. In the present
instance the report of the Chairman's speech
(the reports are under his especial controll is
drawn up so much in detail and with such an
apparent view toward producing an effect in the
newspaper, that I cannot help looking upon it
in that light, and find therefore occasion to
reply to Through the same medium.
As usual in all these cases, neither the honor
able Chairman nor Mr.. Ratc!iff3 have brought
forward one single item of information in sup
port of their charges, and Sd far it would be
suffi ,ient to meet their improved assertions
with a general denial, but | do not wish thus
simply to STIFF the matter, but avail myself of the
opportunity to impart to the public some infor-
nation on the subject that may assist in forming
a correct opinion, both concerning the police and
the manner in which the public business of the
island is sometimes handled.
No man with common sense would expect to
find a high degree Of perfection In the police
of inconsiderable and primitive places like the
small West India towns, bat the terms used by
the honorable Chairman are enough to frighten
persons OF weak nerves out Of their senses.
When | maintain that they contain gross exag-
g~erations, | think that this is proved by the
fact that there is a greater feeling of security
for life and property here than generally else
where. It would sound incredible 10 most
places, what is actually the fact here, that it is
a common practice for people Of all classes to
leave their rooms for hours In the evening with
doors unlocked, the light burning and nobody
to watch the place, without fear Of robbery.
A gentleman told me this very day, that he is
and has always been in the habit of leaving his
money, often hundreds of dollars, locked in a
press with only glass door, in a room, which is
frequently left in the manner described. He
offered at the same time to show me a place con-
tanning goods both provisions and dry goods of
several thousand dollars value, separated from a
passage between the street aud the unenclosed
yard, by a partition of laths that any body
could saw through or otherwise remove in half
an hour, a condition in which the premises have
existed for the last twenty years at least. But
of course, added he, such publications as these
from the Colonial Council will soon make thieves
where they do not now exist.