350 TRINIDAD. 



to perform their duty, either through a wish of avoiding the 

 trouble, or because the debtor is some friend, the magistrate has 

 no other remedy than to lodge a complaint with the inspector of 

 police ; and yet the creditor has not only been put to the incon- 

 venience of delay, but also of losing the amount of the debt, since 

 the debtor has had time to change his abode, or even to remove 

 to some other district. Again, the policeman may have received 

 the money, but as he did not deposit the same at the station, the 

 creditor must, in many cases, submit to the alternative of either 

 being defrauded of the amount of his account and disbursements, 

 or of entering an action against the policeman for a further 

 recovery of the sum paid. Should the latter be sufficiently ruse, 

 he may, backed by friends, evade the law and put an end ta 

 further proceedings by obtaining his removal to some other district. 

 But, it may be asked, could not summary measures be forthwith 

 adopted on the production of the policeman's receipt ? By no 

 means ; the duty of the stipendary magistrate is completed when 

 he has given sentence, and generally, who is the sufferer ? The 

 poor ignorant labourer or tradesman who can be imposed upon, 

 not the individual who knows how to enforce his just claims. 

 And where, ultimately, does the odium and the responsibility fall ? 

 On the government, because the people will make no distinction 

 between the government agent whoever he may be and the 

 government itself ; between those who are charged with the execu- 

 tion of the law, and those who are its framers and guardians ; and 

 it must be confessed, that on this point, the people are decidedly 

 logical in their ideas. It is, therefore, the duty of government 

 a duty which it owes to the public and to itself promptly and 

 unflinchingly to interfere whenever its agents have acted illegally, 

 unjustly, or fraudulently ; such a line of conduct would remove 

 many causes of complaint and dissatisfaction, and would induce 

 the people to consider the government in the light of a protector 

 and defender of their rights, rather than as their oppressor and 

 the upholder of wrong. 



I may again mention, as an instance of the baneful influence 

 which the manner of enforcement of certain laws may exercise on 

 the minds and feelings of the people, the method of procedure in 

 cases of arrearage or non-payment of house-tax. That procedure 

 is harshly summary, and matters have been so disposed, that any 

 debt due to government is recoverable at the slightest possible 



