Ann's petition while the therefore-called Queen's reaction regarding the newspaper that he edited, New Watchman and you will Man's Free Press, plus in several proclamations that he got posted and you may delivered from inside the St. Ann and you can St. Regardless of the try by several Custos to help you cancel Underhill meetings during the August and Sep because of the banning employing your neighborhood courtroom household, these people were still held external (Heuman 58-9). Responding for the termination of just one of them conferences, booked for 31 July, a publication attributed to Gordon is actually penned getting in touch with his constituents so you can attend the new fulfilling outside: “You with zero glucose properties to focus toward, neither can find almost every other a position, we turn to one to already been ahead, even though you become undressed, come onward and you may protest against the unjust representations produced against your because of the Mr Governor Eyre along with his set of Custodes” (Heuman 57). This proclamation try deemed once the seditious and you will utilized facing Gordon in the their court-martial, however in his 1933 security out-of Gordon, The brand new Myth of Governor Eyre, Quarterly report Haldane, Lord Olivier, who had been Colonial Assistant into the Jamaica out-of 1900-1903, argued you to Gordon's “incitements to help you free-speaking and demo used exclusively towards program of your own meeting launched with the approaching 30 th out-of July, and do not acknowledge to be portrayed once the recommending any ulterior operations otherwise developments subsequent to one to big date” (Haldane 161, 164). From the a unique of those outside Underhill meetings during the early September, Gordon is said to have opposed the situation away from Jamaica to help you that Haiti, in the event the guy refuted having done so from the his court-martial, and report can be traceable to their political opponents (Heuman 59).
Thomas on the East, to help you remind societal attendance at the subsequent meetings and you will protests
These conditions out-of political imbalance as a result of monetary hardship, in addition to the persistence away from Governor Eyre together with Jamaican judicial regulators, as well as the Colonial Place of work, inside the adopting an enthusiastic authoritarian and you may paternalistic approach to the brand new complaints out-of Black Jamaican peasants and Colored people in politics alike, introduced a very unpredictable governmental and you will societal state regarding the days prior to the new Morant Bay rebellion. Gordon was not a political revolutionary when you look at the 1840s and you may 50s; alternatively the guy appears to have already been a dedicated reformer, visiting hospitals, prisons, and places of worship through the Jamaica in the part once the a justice out of this new comfort and you may advocating to own improvements, along with creating an expenses towards the better treatments for East Indian migrant specialists regarding the Jamaica Installation (Hart thirteen-14; 23-27).
Although not, immediately after Eyre's appointment as the Short-term (Acting) Lieutenant-Governor at the beginning of 1862 along with his elevation on the governorship in age a vocal critic out-of Eyre's formula. During the 1862, because of an examination, Gordon sent an ailment into Attorneys General throughout the neglect and you can unclean requirements within Morant Bay prison, revealing the fresh new death of good pauper who have been secured into the good latrine to the requests out of a district Anglican rector. The newest Colonial Office learned away from Eyre's realization dismissal of Gordon, a task that has been accompanied by Gordon's forcible ejection out of a good vestry meeting, however, would not intervene managed to not undermine Eyre's power; as an alternative the fresh Duke out of Newcastle, who had been Assistant from County to your Colonies, counseled Eyre to listen Gordon's grievances (Hart 40; Haldane 105-6).
Eyre viewed Gordon's page while the a hit with the Anglican Chapel, and you may bought you to definitely Gordon feel dismissed because the vestryman and you will fairness away from the new tranquility, even with a study showing you to definitely Gordon's complaint was actually rationalized (Roberts thirty-five; Hart 33-34)
Gordon's popularity proceeded, but not, and then he try select for the 1863 once the Member having St. Thomas in the Jamaica Set-up, where he proceeded in order to voice severe criticisms out-of Eyre. For the a speech from twenty eight Oct 1863, Gordon conveyed fury from the Eyre's societal ensures you to Jamaica is actually feeling “health” and you can an “increasing” population: “I inquire, just how challenge new Governor to make it statement in the event that Coolies [East Indian immigrant laborers] who were produced listed below are perishing concerning avenue away from Kingston, whenever people are refused admittance toward social hospital consequently they are kept so you can pass away on the highways? I know you to definitely deprivation and you will agony are in the brand new land, and i be indignant your Governor is to insist there try ‘mediocre success. Hart 57-58). Whenever you are Gordon's criticisms was in fact for example severe and you will pointed when it comes to Eyre's neglect of the poor, Eyre's period on the governorship was controversial, with his reputation due to the fact an executive also experienced an excellent scandal when you look at the 1863 over the useless planning and you will funding out of good tramway off Language Town bride Daegu to help you Dated Harbour and you will Porus, that has been never ever completed (Haldane 53-88).
