The proceedings of the Co...
The Times, 1824-04-17T00:00:00

The proceedings of the Court Mtartial which tried 'Mr. SSrITr at Demerara, now published by order of the House of Commons, are of great lengdih; and( we must adel, that they possess considerable interest. WTe had always discarded the notion, that a well-educated and intelligent English- man could have been blind to the plain consequences of a Negro insurrection, so far as concerned the immediate wel- fare of the Blacks themselves; or that a Chrisiian Minister could have disgraced his mission, by wilfully encouraging opportunities so prolific of angry passion, and of di- versified guilt, as those which mark the course of a civil, and still more of a seryile couflict. The charge, there- fore, of deliberate incitement to rebellion, we were at once convinced it would be found impossible to establish against this unfortuniate gentleman, by any just construction of evidence fairly procured. But there was an apprehension, which we confess had got hold of our minds, until these proceedings were made public; and one which was at the same time consistent with a perfect confidence in the upright intentions of the Missionary. We did suppose it probable, that he might; by the prejudices of some, or the selfish and sinister caleculations of others, among the colonists of Demerara, have been thwarted in prosecuting the object of his mission ; and that, from the mingled effect of symnpathy with the Negroes, of disappointment, enthusiasm, and indiscretioni, he might unwittingly have so expressed himself as to produce among his followers the evil spirit ascribed to more criminal ma- chinations, ana thus have inflicted a severe, though unde- signing,wound upon the general cause of religious improve- ment throughout the Heathen world. We have read the charges and the evidence in this great trial, and are gratified by the assuranca that no such mischief can have arisen; but that, on the contrary, the inof- fensive and unobtrusive character displayed by Mr. SMITH, amidst circumstances of a nature to rouse any hu- mane and ardent disposition into acrimony, must throw the weight of opinion, as well as feeling, almost exclusively into the sumering, scale. The charges brought against MrI. SMtITH were fourfold- 1st, Por Promoting discontent and dissatisfaction in the minds of the Negro slaves towards their masters - 2d, For advising and consulting with Quamina touching the rebel. lion, before its breaking out; 3d, That being aware of the rebellion before it broke out, he did not make it known to the authorities; 4th, That during the rebellion, he held communicationwith Quamina, knowing him tobe engaged in it; but made no attempt to detain him, or give information to the authorities on the subject. It is impossible to give even an outline of the prosecution or defence, extended as they are through near 100 closely-printed felio pages. It is, however, but candid to admit, that as the heads of the insurrection were undoubtedly members, and prominent members, of Mr. SMITH'S congregation, and as, chiefly, we are bound to say, from the indiscreet curiosity, and un- lucky precautions of an individual of Mr. SMSITH'S family, Quamina was introduced into the house of that gentleman two days after the rebellien broke out, and the fact of his having visited there studiously concealed, grounds of sus- picion were actually afforded which justified an inquiry, at lea3t, into the course and motives of his conduct. That the result of such inquiry, supported by such evidence, would have been different had an English jury tried him, we are well persuaded. The recommendation to mercy by the Coar1artiAl itself appears to us 'a cens,.r-uEponats own tnxg'forgf the accused had beea guilty o tr'aison and reBbllion, onl- wvhat principle ought he to shave be@n fdr- given > t83;Ir: SzMITH's 4Afence is powerful, abd to us con- vincing. -