as proposed to make provision for the
government of that colony by investing it _pro tempore_ in the hands of
a governor, and a council augmented by the accession of three persons,
who would be sent from England as commissioners, especially qualified by
experience to assist in the consideration of some of the more important
topics to which their early attention would be directed, as the
improvement of the negroes, the poor-laws, and prison discipline. This
interval, it was said, would give time for the enactment of such laws
as were called for by the transition state of the colony, and the
government afterwards proposed to restore the ancient constitution,
subject to the requisite modifications. The introduction of this measure
was not opposed by the Conservatives. The bill arrived at the second
reading on the 23rd of April, when Sir Robert Peel stated that he would
again allow it to be read _pro forma_. Counsel would then be heard
at the bar against the measure: he was even content to have the bill
committed, and take the discussion on the question that the speaker do
now leave the chair. At the same time, before they proceeded to suspend
the constitution of Jamaica for five years, and to vest so great an
authority of taxation in an unpopular government, he could wish to give
to the assembly the power of reconsidering their course, and returning
to their duties. If the house of assembly should still adhere to their
refractory courses, he was disposed to confide to ministers the power
of carrying on the government for a time, until parliament should decide
otherwise; or if it could be further shown that public business would be
prejudiced by such delay, he would, make no more opposition to the
bill. Counsel were then heard; the cause of the colony being pleaded
by Sergeant Mereweather and Mr. Burge, the accredited agent of the
colonies. The debate on the question was opened on the 3rd of May, when
Sir Robert Peel expressed his disappointment that it had not been found
practicable to come to some arrangement with regard to the government of
Jamaica without any party conflict, or even any serious division on
the course to be pursued. He thought that the temporary abrogation of
a popular form of government was by no means desirable. Mr. Labouchere
maintained that the result of the great experiment of emancipation
would depend on the fate of this bill. The only chance of securing the
investment of English capital, and ensurin