, 1872-01-24

pl ally lIlilCI lIhulN lAS y bC4lOlliS w
the interests of this Island in ali its different
ramifcations, we call upon Officials and Non
Officials, upon Planters and Merchants, upon
Handicraftsmen and LaborerS, upon Rich and
Poor, to assist us in our task. And it is in our
mind no insurmountable task, if we once have
arrived at a just estimation of the evil to be re
needed let us, each one Of us, examine matters
and things around US as they are, and not shrink
from viewing ourselves and all that concerns us
in q true mirror, and not allow false estimation
of intellectual endowments and condition in life
to darken our vision.
We venture to-day to set forth our ideas on
some few points of public interest,
Let us first take a glance at our laws.-A
cheerful obedience to the laws is, no one hav-
ing any sense of practical morality within him
will deny it, our chief public duty. Possibly some
or perhap S many of our laws, from having been
framed for a former state Of society, OR in order
to meet particular exigencies, may not now be
very iudicious, or beneficial in their provisions
yet that forms no good or allowable reason why
we should break though them. it is always
safer to obey injudicious laws than to oppose
them. Unhappily for some among US, they
have no clear idea of the value of obedience TO
the laws some will break through them, if they
can without detection, at the same time as they
afford the outward appearance of being the
greatest NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. openly transgfeSs
them, ifonly theirindividual purposes are served,
while the interests Of hundreds of others are at
fected. We contend, however, that every in
telligent man having q just estimation of his
duties, must yield not only 4 bare and out
ward submission to the laws, and to the various
Institutions established by, and under thcir au-
thority, but a willing and scrupulouS moral
obedience to the laws and institutions, and must
watch over their observance by those around
him. At the same time, we wish it distinctly
understood that perfect obedience in public and
in secret, to the letter and spirit Of the laws
does not imply that we should not examine
whether thew are anSwerable to the present
condition and circumstances, nor keep US from
r~es0rting to legal means to have them cor
rected, Oh. altogether rescinded. The Colonial
Law points out how this is to be done. Let
us use this law and its provisions. They are,
if we hear rightly, just now in the process OF
reconstruction here is at once a point
where your action could serve either
to assist the Authorities in arriving at
a just estimation Of what is requifa1r~: or
to remove whatever is obnoxious. But~''Te
must expressly aCcentuate that 1t IS more than
useless for you to talk secretly and to whisper
of these matters into each others ears; all mea-
sures calculated to improve or remedy our So
cial position, must be conducted openly and hon
ourably. And the means put into your hands
by the Colonial Law asst is now, for improving
your laws and Institutions are powerful, if you
WELD them with discretion and energy. You
have the election Of the men who constitute an
indispensable branch of the local legislature /;
if you do not appoint individuals who will seek
to understand, and are able to comprehend, and in
a position to carry out your views with regard to
correcting or abolishing laws and institutions
you deem wrong or unnecessary,-you have
yourselves to blame the Colonial Law CON
fers upon you the liberty of choice. 1t gives
you, besides, the right to present petitions to
the legislature, the Colonial Council, either
individually or in bodies, seeking for the amend
ment or abolition of any law, any institution or
any branch of Administration which you deem
oppressive, or antiquated. This right is of
much greater value than people here are gene
rally inclined to suppose, being as it is, a cor