The Sun. — 1866-01-01 (London, England)

EMPEROR. The Mexican problem is one of the many Gordian knots which 1866 has to untie ; but at least it is a hopeful augury for the new year that slavery is now officially abolished, the requisite number of States haying ratified the constitutional amendment.  . The public will look with interest to the news lately received from Jamaica, and certainly the intelligence it imparts serves to confirm the opinions we have all along entertained of the conduct of the Governor, and the state of affairs in the island. The Jamaica Guardian has furnished some details concerning GORDON, which will be perused with interest by many, and speak volumes as to the nature of the man. It is truly stated that many people in England do not know much of the " real character and antecedents" of GORDON, and therefore some particulars are published for the benefit of the Antislavery party in England ; and, furthermore, it is declared that if these statements are called in question they can easily be proved, and many more particulars can be forthcoming. As for attaining the result desired concerning the Anti-slavery Society, and the members of the faction in general, it is hardly likely that the chronicle of GORDON'S doings here furnished will be successful, for there are some beings so infatuated that they will listen to nothing that is contrary to their own views ; but let the public in general pay especial heed to the summary of the career of a man who has become so notorious. The Guardian states that GORDON'S whole conduct proved him to be most inimical to the Governor and the authorities in general, and by his acts and words he did much to excite and arouse the blacks, and render them discontented with their condition. His words were to this effect, " that the Governor, the magistrates, and the clergy had written lies to the QUEEN about them, the peasantry of Jamaica ; that the planters did not treat the people fairly ; that they, the people, would have to make a second Hayti of Jamaica ; that the planters and authorities hated them now, but that then they would hate them far more." A man who made use of these expressions was just the one most likely to foment and strife among any community unfortunate enough to contain him ; and it is quite inconsistent for people to get up at public meetings and declaim about the wrongs of the negroes and the cruelty of the authorities, while they are all the time keeping back facts either wilfully or through ignorance which materially alter the state of things. It is stated that it is a " gross fiction" to state that the Maroons were Jet loose to do as they would. The truth is, that many of the rebels took refuge in the mountains, in woods, and fastnesses, where the soldiers could not possibly penetrate, and therefore the Maroons were ordered to scour these places and bring to trial those they found there. Of course some resisted and were shot down ; but that does not mean that they were empowered to shoot down all whom they wished without any let or hindrance. The Guardian also confirms the remark made here by some discerning people here, that had prompt measures not been adopted serious results might have followed. " That severity may have been mercy to the other districts in the island, for as we were then situated with only a handful of troops, and no good volunteer organisation, the greater part of the respectable people and their property throughout the country might have been destroyed had not the authorities acted with promptitude, determination, and severity." A writer on this subject the other day very truly remarked that had the Indian Mutiny been dealt with with the " energy and bravery manifested in Jamaica by Governor EYRE we should have escaped the horrors of Cawnpore and Lucknow, and extreme and sudden cases of murderous outbreak require unusual prompt and determined coercion." The fazt is, all these sympathisers, in their frenzied excitement, choose to overlook the danger of the white population of Jamaica. Governor EYRE was there to protect them, and not to serve the interests and play into the hands of a bigoted and vindictive sect. A very good illustration of the incorrectness which characterises the faction has been furnished by the able writer of the article on Governor EYRE in the British Army and Navy Review. He says, truly, that " Exeter Hall has rung its changes with a vengeance" upon the construction of the court martial which sat on