The Sun. — 1866-03-01 (London, England)

EYRE. It is worthy of notice that Dr. UNDERHILL's remarks were calculated to have most injurious effects upon those who heard them ; and as it is truly stated here, those expressions which would be harmless in this country are most prejudicial when uttered before " excitable negroes," who are in a preponderance of forty to one over the whites. As for the publication of this document it is here said that had it not been done in an orthodox form the Baptist missionaries would have done it for themselves, and thus made matters worse by exaggerations and additions of their own. The insurrection at Morant Bay was in course of preparation for months, and abundant proofs are not wanting to this effect. All the steps taken by PAUL BOGLE show that he proceeded in a regular course, according to fixed rules ; and his marshalling his forces and making them take a " fearful oath" are substantial witnesses as to his pre-determined acts. Then, in contradiction to the stories afloat at_Exeter Hall and elsewhere as to the imprudent act of the Volunteers in firing on the harmless negroes, and thus causing the riot, we find that prior to their proceeding to the Court-house the rebels had visited the police-station and possessed themselves of the arms. Very properly does Captain Pim declare that only great ignorance can have caused the outcry that has arisen concerning the proclamation of " martial law," for such a step was rendered indispensable. An admirable definition is here given of the matter, and the mistake alluded to very commonly met with of confounding martial law with cotnricaeisrns ofthenaavpaplication of law to the l courts-martial. The latter and military men who know, to what they are subject when joining the services. Martial law, on the contrary, is the absence of law, and as a better exponent of the' thing could not be found than the. Duke of WELLINGTON, it is worth while to notice what he says :—," Martial law is neither more nor less than the will of the General who commands the army ; in fact, martial law means no law at all ; therefore the Genera who declares  martial law, and commands that it should be carried into execution, is bound to lay down the rules, regulations, and limits, according to which his will is to be carried out." This definition reads strangely after the tirades to which we have been treated, and the murderous charges made by Mr. BRIGHT both in the House and at public meetings, when he presumed to drag in all the Judges of the United Kingdom as his suppositious allies, thus giving these learned men the credit for being as ignorant and prejudiced as himself. As for another cause of offence in England, 'the length of time during which martial law was in force, it is to be considered that great danger accrued from the preponderance of the blacks and whites, and besides, while any " organisation" survived the rebels could always make head again, because they could hide in forests and mountains, and impassable rivers afforded them slielter. After the Governor had thought the insurrection ended so far as it was apparent, a proclamation of PAUL BOGLE appeared, which proves that he did not think that the agitators had received their death blow. " It is time for us to help ourselves ; skin for skin," observes this dauntless and desperate leader. " Every <me of you must have your house —take your guns ; who don't have guns, take cutlasses down at once, blow your shells, roll your drums, house to house, take out every man, march them down to Stony Gut. Any that you find take them in the way; take them down with their arms. War is at my black skin ; war is at hand from to-day till to-morrow. Every black man must turn out at once, for the oppression is too great." Does all this sound like the ontspeaking of one among a horde of victims hnnted about by cruel and unscrupulous soldiers, or does it not rather read like the settled purpose of a man who has resolved to do or die in desperate venture, and who, in the prosecution of his fell intention, will set law and reason at defiance, and will care as little for the laws of man as he regards the commandments of