1831.] Mismanagement of the Colonies Jamaica, fyc. 63 



the propriety of this timely interference to check their indiscreet 

 zeal. 



By the remaining clauses of the bill, slave evidence is to a consider- 

 able extent admitted, and it only requires to be read attentively to satisfy 

 every unprejudiced mind, that the assembly of Jamaica are perfectly 

 desirous of going as far in complying with the wishes of the mother 

 country as is consistent with their own safety and " the well being of 

 the slaves themselves/' 



" I regret extremely/' says the Earl of Belmore, in transmitting this 

 bill to Sir George Murray, " that one clause has been left, creating a 

 more marked and invidious distinction between sectarians and ministers 

 of the established church, than those which occasioned the rejection of 

 the act of 1826. However," adds his lordship, " as the bill upon the 

 whole is certainly more favourable to the slave than that of 1826, I COULD 

 NOT FEEL MYSELF JUSTIFIED in refusing my assent to it." We would 

 ask, in reference to the more il marked and invidious distinction" in 

 this bill, whether the secretaries, by the whole tenor of their conduct 

 since 1826, have not amply justified nay compelled the people of Jamai- 

 ca to make this more marked distinction, and whether they would 

 not in fact, have been justified in even adopting more severe measures? 

 Sir George Murray is however of a different opinion, and expresses 

 displeasure that Lord Belmore assented to this Bill, referring him to 

 former positive instructions on the subject; and adds, " I can only ex- 

 press the deep regret which is felt by His Majesty's Government, that 

 the unfortunate introduction of the clauses to which I have referred 

 (namely, those last above mentioned), should continue to deprive the 

 slave population of the many advantages which the wisdom and humanity 

 of the colonial legislature have proposed to confer upon them ; benefits, 

 the value of which I do not the less readily acknowledge, though the 

 Act, in many important respects, falls short of the measures which his 

 Majesty has introduced into the Colonies, which are subject to this legis- 

 lative authority in his Privy Council." 



In this singular situation the matter rests ; but it must be obvious 

 to every person, of common understanding, that not only the welfare 

 of the Slave (in so far, at least, as that may depend upon legis- 

 lative enactments), but also that the feelings of the whole community of 

 one of our oldest and most influential colonies have been egregiously out- 

 raged, and their discontents augmented, by endeavours to force upon 

 them unsuitable and unpalatable theories of religious toleration. 



The legislative measures which have been forced upon the Crown 

 Colonies have also produced much opposition and discontent ; we fear 

 they will continue, generally speaking, to be productive of more harm 

 than good. The official document before us shews ample proof, that at 

 least in one of the new colonies viz. Mauritius, these measures have 

 been met by general opposition, and open remonstrance. 



What is at this moment passing in every part of the world, may ulti- 

 mately involve this country in very serious difficulties, and should lead 

 practical statesmen to a serious consideration, not only of the prudence 

 and necessity of conciliating all classes of people in the empire ; but also 

 of concentrating the energies of the country so that we may be ready to 

 await, with confidence in our own strength and resources, the approach 

 of any struggle that we may be forced to encounter. How that can be 

 done by obstinately adhering to our present colonial policy is, in our 

 opinion, beyond the comprehension of any sober-minded person in the 

 United Kingdom. 



