Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-05-30
RUTLAND HERALD
THURSDAY, MAY %, 1866.
Affairs I'm Jamaica.

y
awakened in the public mind an extra.
ordinary interest in the fortunes OF the
Island of Jamaica. These events have
In great measure subsidized but there
is much in the history OF that colony
during the past year, and in the present
state OF affairs there which are worthy
of attention. A radical change has
taken place in the political condition of
the government since the memorable
period alluded to. Jamaica Is now ruled
as a crown colony, and the old repre-
sentative system Of the government has
been entirely abolished. a legislative
counsel has been established, but Is not
responsible to the people FOR is acts, 1t
consists Of nine members including the
Governor, six OF whom are officials Of
the government and three are non-otii.
Cial members, who are nominated by the
Governor and hold their office at his
pleasure. This gives the government
absolute control and it has everything
It's own way. Likewise the initiative
of matters Of legislation rests exclusively
with the Governor, and the official MEM
bers are bound to support all measures
introduced by him. The members who
are not official are compelled, when they
dissent or disapproye Of Its measures,
to enter written protests. This is rather
q humiliating position for members of
one branch of the executive government
to occupy, and rumor says that these
gentlemen keenly feel their pOwerless
situation and have rendered their resig
nations, hut at the request OF the Elk,
ecutive are to hold their seats until the
close of the session of the Provincial
Council. 1t is very much doubted
whether gentlemen OF this stamp can be
found as successors, so strong is the
feeling among the old dominant class
against this method OF administering
the government.
The new colonial governor, Sir John
Peter Grant, formerly connected with
the province Of Bengal, has brought for
ward several new measures for the con-
sideration of the people Of Jamaica,
among which are those of taxation. The
old system Of taxation has undergone
modification, The tariff has been re-
vised in such 8 manner as to relieve ar
ticles Of primary necessity, such as the
food and clothing Of the people, which
have hitherto borne heavy duties while
luxuries have been made to contribute
their fair proportion toward the revenue
of the government. The land tax from
which the planters had been relieved
has been reinstated and COmpels them to
pay rates on their dwellings, which a
few years since they succeeded in ex-
empting from taxation, while the cOlored
man was compelled to pay taxes on his
cottage. Considerable reductions have
been made in the amounts contributed
to the ecclesiastical establishment, with
a promise Of some general measure for
relieving the colony from this terrible
burden to Taxpayers large majority Of
whom belong to the non-conIormst
churches. New judicial districts have
been formed, with justices appointed
from England, from whom all Americans
can but hope that the cOlored people may
receive that justice which has been so
long denied them.
Thus, it will be seen, from the
statement we have given Of the condI-
ton of affairs, that an almost complete
revolution has taken place in ia
maica, and that they are now living
under a government Of a mild despot-
ism, such as presages for the colored
race a protection which has hitherto
been wanting. The necessity which
has compelled the government to resort
to a system like this, thirty years after
the emancipation, TO save the colony
from being ruined by those remaining of
the old pro slavery party, is fall Of warn
ing and lessons to the American people,
and shows the great error which was
committed in not providing for the
safety and welfare of the negro after
giving him freedom by ensuring to him
the full enjoyment Of those political
privileges aud rights by which long ere
this he would successfully have protected
himself. 1t is well FOR the United States
to have given their first and best
thoughts in the reorganization of the
Slave States, to the welfare Of the
Freedmen, and such examples as are
afforded US by the history of emancipa-
ton in Jamaica, should not only warn
and teach us our duty in the premises,
but should strengthen and encourage us
in our Efforts to ameliorate the condition
and make intelligent citizens of the
ColOred race in the United States.
Washington Items.