Letters and Journals of James, Eighth Earl of Elgin | Page 9

the
exports of the island had dwindled to one-third of their former amount?
Was it not attested even in Parliament, that estates, which used to
produce thousands annually, were sinking money year after year? Was
it not apparent that the labourers stood in a relation of independence
towards the owners of capital and land, totally unknown to a similar
class in any fully peopled country? All these were facts and
indisputable. And again, was it not equally certain that undeserved
aspersions were cast upon the planters? Were they not held responsible
for results over which they could exercise no manner of control? and
was it not natural that, having been thus calumniated, they should be

somewhat impatient of advice?
From the day of Lord Elgin's arrival in the colony, he was convinced
that the endeavour to work a change on public opinion in this respect,
would constitute one of his first and most important duties; but he was
not insensible to the difficulties with which the experiment was
surrounded. He felt that a new Governor, rash enough to assert that all
was not yet accomplished which ingenuity and perseverance could
achieve, might have perilled his chance of benefiting the colony. Men
would have said, and with some truth, 'he knows nothing of the matter;
his information is derived from A. or B.; he is a tool in their hands; he
will undo all the good which others have effected by enlisting the
sympathies of England in our favour.' He would have been deemed a
party man, and become an object of suspicion and distrust.
It was soon found, however, that the new Governor was as anxious as
his predecessor had been to conciliate the good will and promote the
interests of all ranks of the community in a spirit of perfect fairness and
moderation. The agitation of vexed constitutional questions he
earnestly deprecated as likely to interrupt the harmony happily
prevailing between the several branches of the legislature, and to divert
the attention of influential members of the community from the
material interests of the colony to the consideration of more exciting
subjects. 'I do not underrate,' he said, 'the importance of constitutional
questions, nor am I insensible to the honour which may be acquired by
their satisfactory adjustment. In the present crisis of our fortunes,
however, I am impressed with the belief that he is the best friend to
Jamaica who concentrates his energies on the promotion of the moral
well-being of the population, and the restoration of the economical
prosperity of the island.'
[Sidenote: Questions of finance]
The finances of the colony were at this time in a state to require the
most careful treatment. At a moment when the recent violent change in
the distribution of the wealth of the community had left the proprietary
body generally in a depressed condition, the Legislature had to provide
for the wants of the newly emancipated population, by increasing at

great cost the ecclesiastical and judicial establishments; and at the same
time it was necessary that a quantity of inconvertible paper recently set
afloat should be redeemed, if the currency was to be fixed on a sound
basis. Under these conditions it was not easy to equalise the receipts
and expenditure of the island treasury; and the difficulty was not
diminished by the necessity of satisfying critics at home. Before long
an occasion arose to test Lord Elgin's tact and discretion in mediating
on such questions between the colony and the mother-country.
Towards the end of 1842 a new tariff was enacted by the legislature of
the island. When the Act embodying it was sent home, it was found to
violate certain economical principles recently adopted in this country.
An angry despatch from Downing Street informed Lord Elgin that it
was disapproved, and that nothing but an apprehension of the financial
embarrassments that must ensue prevented its being formally
disallowed. In terms almost amounting to a reprimand, it was intimated
that the adoption of such objectionable enactments might be prevented
if the Governor would exercise the legitimate influence of his office in
opposing them; and it was added, 'If, unfortunately, your efforts should
be unsuccessful, and if any such bill should be presented for your
acceptance, it is Her Majesty's pleasure and command that you
withhold your assent from it.'
Lord Elgin replied by a temperate representation, that it was but natural
that traces of a policy long sanctioned by the mother-country should
remain in the legislation of the colony; that the duties in question were
not found injuriously to check trade, while they were needed to meet
the expenditure: moreover, that the Assembly was, and always had
been, extremely jealous of any interference in the matter of
self-taxation: lastly, that 'while sensible that the services of a Governor
must be unprofitable