, 1874-10-21

4uS u6ulU0TS COupUSLuS IL SuOUAu Oo LOYAL
men, having respect for the Crown, the Cover.
nor, and the Judges (renewed cheeringl, and no
man would be allowed to remain in the society
who would violate the character of an English
man for loyalty prolonged applause). The
constitution of the country had been changed
In 1866, because the old one was worn out, and
no man in his senses would desire to see the
franchise In Jamaica again, at least for many
years to come, for the country was not suited
for it (hear, hear. He complained, however,
that while Grown Government had its advan-
tages, it had also its disadvantages, and it was
to improve this condition of affairs that the so.
oiety aimed. There were grievances in the
country, and there was but little redress, for ap.
peal to the Colonial Office was useless. De-
partmental enquiries, he added, were objection
able because abuses thrived under such a poll
oy, they being conducted by officials who had
an interest in crushing Investigations against
Observation-Disclosures. He said those who came
to administer the affairs of the colony had no
local knowledge or experience (great cheering),
and 1t was to afford the Administration this
needful assistance that the association was
about to be formed ~(renewed oheering), and in
doing this their intercourse with the " powers
that be" would be respectful but firm. The
Hon. HENRY WEsTMORLAND was the second
speaker, and he urged that eight years was
quite long enough to test the working of the
present constitution, particularly so when in all
that time it had no opposition, but found every
thing in its favour. The laws we're all marked
as having been passed by the Governor with
the advice of the Legislative Council, but this,
he urged, was a mistake, for the Council had
abrOgated their functions the unofficial mem-
bers were outnumbered by the Government
officials, and they said opposition, under such
circumstances, was no use." The c~onstitu-
tion said six official members and six unofficial,
but up to 1869 there were only three, and now
only FIVE non-Ofioials. These were selected
from the country, and the meetings of the Ooun-
Gil we're so located and so timed that no coun-
try gentleman could attend, leaving his bust
ness, one day in each weekfo or asession which ex-
tended over eight months in each year (~cheers).
How could it be said then that the laws we're
passed by gentlemen who could not attend the
Council 1-(oheers). The waste of public mo-
ney was something dreadful. 1t did not 90 up.
on Improvements in the country, but in paying
enormous salaries to gentlemen who were, with
out any local knowledge or experience, sent
here like so many " migratory BIRDS to legis-
late for US, and to expend the money we raise
by taxation, they having no personal or perma-
nent interest in its useful or beneficial expendi-
ture, as in q few months, when a better opening
offered, they rushed off. to perform the same
kind Office somewhere else, and some new Off
Gals oome to fill their place and go through
the same farce, prolonged applause). Among
all the chief officials so sent since 1865, none
were now to be found in Jamaica except their
much respected friend General Mann, the Di.
rector of Roads (reneWed cheers). He urged
that it was unfair to the ~ooIonists that thew
should be called on to pay half a million ster-
ling of taxes, and not be allowed soma say in
the method of its expenditure (oheers). II
those who had the appropriation made up their
minds to stay in Jamaica, there would be some
guarantee that they would appropriate the
public money to some permanent advantage.
but the grievance was that they had no lasting
interest in Jamaica (applause). The Assooia-
ton was not hostile to the administration it
desired to be a friend to good government, and
its motto would be defence, not Defiance"
He urged an enlargement of the Legislative
Council and repudiated all idea of a return to
popular representation, because the country was
not sufficiently educated to feel the benefit of a
franchise, and the introduction of such a sys-
tenn would only expose the country to all the
enOrmities which eliminated in the disturban-
oes of 1865 (applause). The Hon. Michael
Solomon followed in favor of "Home Rule''
quoting the London Times for authority, that
the people deprived of self government lost
public spirit and became emasculated. That