The Portland daily press., 1867-01-15
Mr. Ella gses. "a, 81, OF The Prosecution
49,


mr. EIug hes. "a. 81, OF the Prosecution
Of Ex-GOv. Eyre.
Thomas Hughes, Esq, visited Birmingham
on Thursday, the 9th of December, to speak
in the defense of the Jamaica Committees in
tended prosecution of Mr.. Eyre. The meeting
was numero usly attended, and the Mayor pre-
sided. In his address, Mr., Hughes, after allud-
ing to the sentiments uttered by Mr.. Disraeli
and Mr.. Adderley in the House of Commons,
to the effect that after the proclamation of mar
tlai law there was no responsibility to the civil
law for any acts that might be committed, re-
terred to the Magma Charta, and to the Peti-
ton of Right of 1927, to show that Government
did not possess the power to proclaim martial
law in any portion of the British commons,
and therefore such power could not be dele
gated to any colonial dependency. The real
question at issue in the Jamaica business. he
said, was whether prerogative or law should
be supreme, and whether Englishmen would
extend to all British subjects, of whatever col
or or nationality, the same liberties and nrivi-
leges ofwhich they themselves boosted. Speak
ing of the treatment of subject and inferior
races, he said:
AT the present moment they, the people of
Engiaho stood In the place Of Charles Stuart
as the advocates of prerogative as against the
great. body OF their tellow-citizens, the great
Dody OF black and colored races in all parts of
the world, who now stood in the position of
tne English people in 1927, and said, will you
give us what you then asserted for Yourselves
will you give us law instead of prerogatve
VIII you extend to us colored peope-debased
people if you will-inferior to you in many
ways, and yet your fellow-citzens, though fell
low-citizens by no act of our own-lhear hearl
nVfan6 IN M n those
privileges which it has been your great boast
as Engllshmen to acquire and enjoy Tor your
selVesY Hear, hear and applause.1 For his
own part, he believed that the prosperity of
England was involved in the answer which
they gave this question. 1t is was frighttully
serious matter. The conduct OF England to-
ward her subject races had become a matter
which was stirring mems minds, and thew had
an opportunity of judging that in a very re-
markaDle way. Hear, hear] AS an instance
he would draw their attention to an extract
from pamphlet on the subject which had
been written by Mr.. Rounded, the Secretary
10 the Jamaica commission, and which has
been read at the meeting OF the Social Science
Congress In one of his paragraphs Mr. Roun-
dell SAID: Before proceed with another part
OF my subject, propose to touch upon point
deeply affecting the general relations between
this country and all the races over which She
mas control, brought into further prominence
by recent events in Jamaica. Much
mas been written and said on this de-
porable subject, but doubt whether public at
tentlon has ST Efficiently ri ed itself ON what
take to be at the bottom OF that deplorable
event, the military spirit engendered by the In
dian mutiny, the first fruits of which we have
lately witnessed in the red anarchy of Jamaica
martial law" Let them remember that it was
the secretary of the Royal Commission, and
not member of the Jamaica Committee, who
spoke IN this way. He goes on to say, 1.-THE
spirit of which speak, rooted in the utter alb
sence OF reverence forinteriors, is not however,
popularity OF this partlc ular profession; it
lists even IN more intense form in the domi-
nant class of every community in which there
are sharply defined contrasts OF race" Loud
applause.l He had now said all he had intend
ed 70 say 70 them upon u subject which he felt
to be one of unspeakable Importance at this
time. Hear, hear.l He felt that the charac-
ter of England was more involved in the ques-
ton Of the treatment Of those people under our
sway in all parts of the world-that their char
acter hinged more upon their treatment of
those-than in any other act of their power, or
III amy other point Whatever connected with
our Imperial policy. IApplause.l Now, what
was the real test OF the nobility of a man or OF
nation? Was it the way in which he treated
those who were equal or superior to him in
strength? He believed not. He was sure not.
He knew that the real test of the nobility of a
man was the way in which he treated those
VINO were weaker than himselt-l hear, hear i
and IL was from this conviction that he very
confidently appealed to any meeting Of Eng
men III a town connected as that was with
memories OF the ant-slavery movement-that
he with the more confidence appealed to them
to come forward and support the committee
who had understanding should rather have
said had forced upon ithem-lh hear, hearl-
duty which involved the future of those people
or races-[a pplausel-a duty which though
noble was avery irksome one to carry through
Applause TOR it was an irksonie thing for
private citizeus to be saddled with that which
should be the business OF the government OF
the country. Loud applause.] ...r
tie remarked, III concluding his address that
that was the same question which was agitat-
ing and trying their brethren on the other
side of the Atlantic. There they were CRYING
out for equal rights of all, and whatever the
issue might be, he hoped they would not be
behind their brethren there, but through all
parts of England, would give response to
their appeal in this matter that thew should
have the bulwarks of the old British ConstitIl-
ton supported again by fresh charges of the
Chief Justice of this country, and that the Pc
tition of Right would be hereafter acknowledge
ed, not only as the birthright of every English
man, but the birthright of every man, whatey-
er color he might be, who was born within the
dominions OF the Queen or King OF England.
Mr.. Hughes resumed his seat amid loud and
prolonged applause, and before the meeting
separated a subcommittee, in aid of the jana
lea Committee, was formed, and over $500
had been already subscribed in Birmingham
toward the expenses of the prosecution.