, 1881-04-09

the island, and indeed it would be rather
singular it the policemasters in the island
should not be able to fortell within six hours
that disturbance maybe dreaded, whereas in
the sad event of a force being required, it
will be more than probable that we will be
able to send in time to the spot a proper
tionately considerable and we'll disciplined
force, which would render better service
than six or twelve men being in the garri-
son." The discussion which followed shew-
ed that the members as a rule were afraid
to make the changes recommended by the
Governor. Some however supported the
measure, and one member (Judge Sarauw)
said "he could only thank His Excellency
for this bill, which. at all events in one res
pect has taken the right course. viz. estab-
fishing one garrison in the Island, which is
what the Burgher Council asked for Is
gears ago." His Excellency expressed his
desire not to hurry the matter, but to have
it well considered, and the debate ended
in the appointment OF a Committee.
Nothing more was lone til after the return
of the Governor from Copenhagen in the
latter part of 1876, and from a statement
made by the Chairman of the Council the
previous May it appears that the subject
was allowed to rest by the request Of the
G0Uerament. In December 1876, the neces-
6lUy IOE TpIE6HCHli1euL udNIIl.g U6COHlesS EEdIGI
than ever, the draft was again brought
forward, the discussion opening with the
report of the Committee appointe in 1874.
The Committee first sta es that it shas
under the pressure of the financial state of
the island, had to try to overcome those
weighty objections which the majority of
the Committee had against the removal of
the military garrison from the western part
of the island" Further on they say that
'lthe committee is unanimous i'll recon-
mending that the Council should consent
to the withdrawal of the Military station
in Fraderiksted.n A minority of one
member also recommended the withdrawal
of the military from KingShill but a
majority four recommended that s mount
ed men should be retained at Kingshill.
The same majority further proposes to eX-
tend the authorization to the Governor SO
as to empower him TO reduce the force to
60 mon, exclusive of officers, instead Of so
as proposed III the draft and the minority
member proposed to extend the authoriSa-
ton to as low as 90 men. The discussion
which followed mainly turned on whether
the s mounted men were to be retained at
Kingshill, and the Council finally voted
that they should be retained. The Cover
nor, however, refused to a~cceptthe draft thus
amended, and in the following meeting the
amendment was cancelled by a contra
amendment proposed by the Government,
and voted for by Z MEMBERS voting in OPP
position and 4 abstaining. The draft was
then put to the vote, and carried by 10
votes, two members not voting. In these dis
cussiOns two planter members steadily
protested against the removal of the mill
tary force from Kingshill but very little
objection seems to have been taken to
their removal from Frederiksted. Review
ing the whole of these discussions, made
30 interesting by subsequent events, it
appears to us that both the Governor and
theCouncil felt themselves under the pres
sure OF necessity, the difference being that
the former approached the proposed
changes with confidence, the latter with
serious misgivings. The Councils scru-
pies would probably have been removed
had the Governor consented to retain the
8 mounted men at Kingshill, and that these
men would have been of considerable
service in the riots of 1878 is very likely,
but that they could have prevented their
outbreak We do not believe. Events two
years later showed that the misgivings of
the opposing members were warranted, and
much blame has been laid on the Governor
for initiating and pressing forward the
measure. 1t is however obvious that if the
riots had not occurred, but everything had
gone on smoothly, he would lave been
praised for bis wisdom and foresight. 1t
may perhaps be a proof of our d~ulness,
but it is certainly true that the riots came
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