CO885-(1-2) — Page 198

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TELEC.O.

885

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

In the other principal West Indian Colonies also, it appears probable that the planters may be again materially assisted, as they have been already, by immigration at the expense of the Colonial revenues; and it is to be observed that these revenues, being drawn in but an inconsiderable degree from the planters, suffered but slightly, or not at all, by the late crisis, when and whilst the ordinary revenue laws were kept in operation; and the financial dif- ficulties which have been created in Jamaica and British Guiana, have been owing, not to any natural falling off in the sources of revenue (for, legislative interference apart, there was a tendency to rise ra- ther than to fall off), but solely to the stoppage of supplies resorted to by the planters either from ex- citement and resentment, or in the hope to force the Home Government back to a Protecting policy.

In both of these colonies the political difficulties seem to be in a fair way to be surmounted, the Governors of both having conducted their affairs with great ability and with invariable patience and forbearance.

In Jamaica, Sir C. Grey reassembled the Legis- lature on the 26th June, after a short prorogation, adopted for the purpose of giving the Assembly an opportunity to reconsider its course. But that body on the 5th July came to a resolution not to transact business, which of course compelled a dissolution. In dissolving the Assembly, the Governor adverted to their resolution in the following terins :-"The erroneous assertion that a desire has been evinced by Her Majesty's Government to continue any ex- travagance of expenditure, will be sufficiently an- swered by my remarking-1st. That the scale of expenditure at its highest elevation was always what had been proposed by the Assembly.

2nd. That the general expenditure, by official returns which have been for some time before the Assembly, is shown to have decreased within the last three years from 304,000l. to less than 236,0001; and, 3rd. That it is impossible to point out a single expression on the part of Her Majesty's Government, which is indicative of the slightest objection to the Colonial Legislatures reducing the expenditure still further, provided there be no violation of legal obligation or good faith."

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In the new Assembly there appeared to be at first a majority against the Governor. The Governor, in opening the session on the 5th September, showed them that the ordinary general revenue, if duly collected, in spite of a reduction of ad valorem import duties from 4 to 2 per cent., would be equal

to the ordinary general expenditure, which was about 200,0001.; but that it was not at this time equal to the payment of any part of the principal of the public debt, and the consequences of the pro- ceedings of the late Assembly had been so to impair

the public credit, that there was likely to be a large demand upon the Treasury by the holders of cer- tificates" (a species of floating public security), which could not now be met by the issue of fresh certificates.

An address in answer, expressing, though in mode-

rate and inoffensive terms, an intention to abide by the measures of the last Assembly, was carried by a majority of 24 to 14.

The Assembly accordingly passed an Import Duties Bill for 3 months only (though they knew that the Governor was under peremptory orders to abide by the ancient Royal Instructions which forbid him to accept supply bills for less than twelve months), and introduced into it novel clauses of appropriation, such as would have left the revenue inadequate to meet the permanent charges on it (which the Governor is likewise for- bidden to allow). The Council refused to pass the bill, and the Governor on the 28th September resorted to a prorogation, as the method usual in Jamaica for giving the Assembly an opportunity * of retracing their steps. In his proroguing speech ̧ the Governor said, "if any illustration were re- quired of the perplexities in which the Govern- ment would be involved by acceding to such irregular courses, it would be afforded by the fact of this three months' bill of supply having been accompanied by a bill for continuing the organiza- tion of the police force for fifteen months, which would impose an obligation on the Executive Government to keep a large force enrolled, and in a state of active duty, when there might be no means of paying them.”

Notwithstanding the extreme character of the course which occasioned the prorogation, a change H

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