Jamaica News.
The Times, 1824-02-02T00:00:00

By the Francis Freeling packet fromr Jamaica, papers and letters to the 25th of December were receeivd on Sa- turday. Of the proceedings in the House of Assembly of the is3ant, vhich ad3journet on the 16th, the.only portion tlhat can avaken aniy interost 13ere is the report read and agreed to In Ilhe sitting of the 11th, of the Committee on the measures adopteil by the British Ministers on the sub- ject of slavery, -which we subjoih at full length:- KaiS9Tow, Dec. 13. On Tkursday, the Assembly agreed to the following report:- MIr.,Speaker,-Your Committee appointed to inquire into, and report to the 3ouse, what steps are necessary to be taken, in con- sequence of information recetved from the agent of this island, of oroceeditigs adopted by the l1ouse of Commons and his Majesty's lllinisters, in respEct to slavery in the British Colonies in the lVest Indies, report.- " That on the 15ith of. Aay last, Mir. Canning,one of his Maj esty's Secretaries of State, proposed the following resolutions, wvhich were agreed to by the lioise, 7tem con., Viz. " ' That it is expedient to adopt effectual and decisive measures for meliorating the condition ef the slave populatiol) in his Mlajesty's Colonies. i ' That through a determined and persevering, but at the same time judicious and temperate, enforcement of such measures, this House leoks forward to progressive improvements in the character of the slave population, such as nmay prepare them for a participa- tion in those ivti rights and privileges which are enjoyed by other classes of his iliajesty's subjects. " ' That this liouse is anixious for the accomplishment of tbis purpose, at the earliest period that shall be compatible with the well being of the slaves themselve-. with the safety of the colonies, and with a fair and equitable consideration of the interests of private property.' " That your Committee obscrve witn surprise and regret, that his 31ajestv's iMinisters have, by tite above resolutions, sanctioned the principles laid down by cur enemhns in the mnother country, and pledged themselves to enforce such measures as shall tend ulti- niately to the final extinction of slavery in the British colonies; and your Committee have also learnt from the agent, that in his con- ferences with Alinisters, it has been refused to acknowledge our claim to comiipensation for the injuries the colonies must sustain in the mere endeavour to carry the scneme of emtancipation inito effiect; by which refusal the Alinisters have shown an inclination, nlot only to dispose of our property wvithout our consent, but even to violate those common rules of honesty which ought to govern nations as well as private persons. " The Committee cannot forbear to express their decided opinion, that the proceedings of the House of Commions, and the conduct of his Majesty's Ministers, are a direct attempt to violate the consa- tution of this colony; and they recommend to the House to adopt the most firm. strong, asd constitutional measures to resist such at- tempt, aud to preserve to the inhabitants of this colony those rights wvhich have been transmitted to them from their ancestors." 'IThe following resolutions, proposed by Air. Mais, were agreed to on Thursday, stIcm, conl.: " Resolved, That the patient endurance with whiich the people of this island have, for years past, sirtmggled against pecuniary difficul- ies, proves howv much they are disposed to submit to, where the evil arises from inevitable causes, or from circumstances affecting the general interests of the empire. But this House would be un- mindful of their duty,were thev not to protest most solemnly against the continuance of heavy and minous taxation on the produce of their soil, at a time when the demands of a state of warfare can no longer be urged in its dtefence, antl tle blessings of restored uran- quillity have been extended to their fellow-subjects in the mother eountry. ' That this House cannot contemplate without sensations of asto- nishment, and the most serious apprehension, the measuies which have been atlopted by the Commons House of Parliament in their unanimousi vote of the 15tlh of Mllay last: as if the machinations of a powerful and interested party were not suffciently active for the work of destruction, the sanction of ministerial authority has been made subservient to their views, and a decree has gone forth whereby the inhabitants of this once valuable colony (hitherto esteeme; the brightest jewel in the British Crown) are destined to be offered a propitiatory sacrifice at the altar of fanaticism. " That this lfouse, composcd of the representatives of the people, are bound to guard the rights of their constituents against every endeavour that ntay be made to infringe auon them: they pause, in awful expectation of the consequences which must result from the threatenied innovation, anid whilst they wait the event, thev are prerared 5o meet it: the blood which flowvs in their veins is British blood, and their hearts are animated with the sarme fearless deter- mination wlhicil enabled their ancestors to resist, a ith success, every encroaclhment of despotic powver. " That (lie enactmelt of laws for the internal regulations of the island is exclusively the province of the local legislature, subject to the sanction and approval of his Alajesty. This house, however, will at all times receive, with attention and respect, any siuggestion of his Mllajesty's Alinisters relating to legislation), whent offered in a consistent and becoming manner, and wvill be realy to adopt such regulations as can be introutucedl without hazard, anid may appear likely to promote time welfare of tlhe islanti; but this house cannor yield to any measure propose(i for their consideration, wYhen the in- qualified right ot rejectioni is denied, however specious the object may be, or however high the auithority fromii which it emanates. " '1l'at this house,inipressed with a dute sense of their own dignity, and the integrity of the colonial character, set at nought the mali- ciols and unfounltded aspersions which have been cast upon the inhabitants of Jamaica: proud of theib attachment to his Alajesty, his familv, and Government-devoted to the interests of those they represent, and alive-to the impulses of humanity-the houise need no pharisaical dictation to lpromnote them to the discharge of their duty, but if left to their own guidance, steadily pursue that line of conduct which comports with the loyardy of their feelings, their regard to tme afrety, honour, and welfare of the island, anid the peace and happi- ness of their fellow-subjects and dependents." The following message to this Grace the l;overnor was afrerwards agreed to:- "lMay it please your Grace,_-.We are ordered by the house to wait upon your Grace to acquaint you, that in compliance with their answer to the speech your Grace was pleased to inaYe at the opening of the presenit session, timey liafe proceeded to a deliberate anti care- ful revision of the consolidated slave law, and End it as conmplete in all its etlactmenits as the nature of circumstances will admit, to ren- der the slave population as happy antl comfortable in every respect as the labouring class of any part of thie world. This house most solemnly assures your Grace, that they will at all times be ready (if left to themselves) to watch and take advantage ox'every opportu- nity of promoting the religious and moral improvement of the slaves, an. to make such ameliorating enactmeits as mav be consistent with their happiness and the genieral safety of the colony ; but under the critical circumstances in whlich the colony is now placed, by rea- son of the late proceedings in the British Parliament, the house think the present namment peculiarlv infavourable for discussion, which tmiaY have a tendencv to unsettle the minds of the Negro po- pulation, vhich the house' have the greatest reason to believe is at present perfectlh quiet and contented." The spiech of the Givernor in prorogting the House of Assembly to the 20th of January, is brief ant whtolly un- importatit. His Excellency does not even ailude to the momentous question of the slave trade with which the islandl had been agitate( tduring the whole period of the session. [From the Jamntica Con rant, Dec. 23.1 Extract of a letter from St. Mary's, dated the 20th instar.t:- '-cVR have batd the whole militia regitnent out, and seven rebel- lious fellows belonging to tlse frontier have been taken up. Three were tried yesterday, found guilty, and sentenced to sulfer death; foer more are at present on their trial, who, no doubt, will sbare the fate-of the others. WI'e have not as y3et any assistance from the regnzlars. " Sunday morning. "The four fellows wlho were on their trial have been convicted and sentenced to bahanged. The sentence a-waits the approval of his Grace the Governor." (FRONw PRIVATE LETTERS.) Extract of a letter from William Lambie, Esq., to Messrs. Hjibbert, dated St. MIary's, Jamaica, Dec. 20, 1823. This part of the island has becn in considerable alarm for the last weeh, from an apprehensioni of a rising among the Negroes in the parish of St. .Narr anid St. George, in consequence of which the militia of these districts are under arms. In the forner parish, or, the estates immediately surrounding Port Mlaria, viz., Flrontier and Wentworth e;tates, the Negroes had entered into a conspiracysthat the. would, at the fuil of the moon, which was on Thursday last, set fire to the works in several places, and that when the white people came out to endeavour to extinguish the thmes they iere to be mas. sacred. The plot was fortunmately discovered by a domestic being anxious to save his master's life, andl recommending him to go oa board of ship. The boy was seized and examined by the mWis- trates, and his testimony was supported by a man named by this lad, who gave a very clear evidence, and ten of the ringleaders were taken up. Two were tried yesterday, and were found guilty and the trials of the others are now preceeding, and I trust this iimelv discovery, and the example that will probably be made, will prevent any further disturbance. The whole arising from the poor creatures imagining that the) have been made free by the people at home, and that the wite people are unjustly detaining them in slavery here, I hope the thinking part of the people of England will be convinced of the danger of agitating so momentous a question. Offlcial accounts of this matter sill doubtless be sent to Lord Bathurst.1' 5,XLtaCt (t a letter trom Alexantter .stevenson, 5ssq., attorney tc Frontier crtate, to John Watson, Esq., of the house of MIessrs. David l,yon and Co., Londton, datect Port Mlaria, Jamaica, Dec 21, 1S23. "On the iUrh,informatinn was brought me thattheFrontierNegroes were in rebeLion, and thgt full moon, or the 18th, wasthe timeiixed upon. I immediately got the ringleaders secured, evidence taken, and sent over to head-quarters. His (*race in the course of the night sent ofF to Sir John Keane, directing a ceonpany of men to be sent from Stoney-hill to our assistance this niesiage was said to be re. ceived with contempt, even laughed at. However, the militia, by turning out promptly, have prevented mischief. " The plan in this parislv wasthis:-The '-eneral signal for revolt and emancipation to be given b;, firing the lrash-.houses at Fron' tier estate on the 18di: this woiuld draw out the white people. who were to be instantly destroyed ; then miove to the bay (you know the situation), create au mob, and destroy all the awhite people there, reserv- ing their hoises for further use; the works then to be destroyed and every thing eLse n the estate, except the negro houses and gromnds. Trhree of ther.nglead.ers were tried on Fridy, and. senteneed t4 be hanged. 1;ive more shared tle same fate yesterday. Had this dia- bohical plot not have been discovered, there would not have been a set of. works standing in the parich, or a white man existing widhin the hbounds." C(opv of a letter from .john Lunan, Esq., to Messrs. Higin, Wilhiteley and Co., of Loadon, dated Spani1h Town, Jamiiaica, Dec. 23, 4823. " We are at present in a considerable state of alarm in this island, from the fear of insurrection du:ing the holy. days. Conspiracies are said confidently to exist in the parish of St. (George, and other places; and one of a most dan- gerous nature has been discovered on Frontier estate in St. Mary's, wlhere a plan was framed to set fire to the works, and to de- stroy the white people as they came forwa2rd to extinguisb it; they had planned afterwards to take possession of Port ilhria. where they expected to be joined by many. Eight men belonging to Fron- tier have been tried, found guilt on the clearest evidence, and sen. tenced to be hanged, wthich sentencethe Governor ha.% directed to be carried into execution to-morrow at Port Maria. All this we owe to the debates in Parliament, anud the practiS of-the saints who should be rather named incendiarjes. I know not how tber will re. concile to their consdiences the bMood which they have cusedto fto o and the tremendous loss of lives that-may still in all probability-be occasioned by their sneasures. The terror they have spread here is inceid distressing, and this town (Spanish Town) is nowr filled with families *ho have beetn nectistomed to spend their holydays in the country, but are at present afraid to' -trust themselves on, their -ownt propertles, or to enjoy festivities, as has been usual, asmnid theirown peopil. God send us saf'e through this danger ; but I fear hiA Ala. jest's AM Inisttrs will have much to answer for in allowing theruirelve4 to be made the taols of such a dangerous and presumpttbous sel oF reformers. It is astonishing that such a man as Mlr. Cannimg should have been misled by them ; but I atill hope the eyes-of Go. vermanentand of the nation vill be opened to the insanity of their schemes before it is too late. Militia guards are to be mounted to. moroer, and his Grace the Govemor has adopted every possible measure Of precantioni to ensure the peace and safety of- the colony -already a umied one in all our opinons bere. (Signed_ JOHN L.N.AN." JSAAICA NTWS.