Ann’s petition plus the so-called Queen’s impulse on newspaper that he edited, The fresh Watchman and you may People’s 100 % free Drive, and also in numerous proclamations that he had posted and you will marketed within the St. Ann and you will St. Regardless of the sample by a number of Custos kuumat FilippiinilГ¤iset-naiset in order to cancel Underhill group meetings throughout August and you may Sep by the forbidding employing neighborhood legal home, they certainly were however kept outdoors (Heuman 58-9). In response for the termination of 1 of these conferences, scheduled to possess 31 July, a book associated with Gordon is published getting in touch with his constituents in order to sit in the meeting outside: “Your that have zero sugar locations to work to the, neither discover other employment, we call on one to come forward, even although you be undressed, already been forward and you will protest resistant to the unjust representations generated against you because of the Mr Governor Eyre along with his selection of Custodes” (Heuman 57). So it proclamation was deemed once the seditious and you will made use of facing Gordon at their court martial, in his 1933 safety away from Gordon, The fresh new Myth out-of Governor Eyre, Sydney Haldane, Lord Olivier, who had been Colonial Assistant in the Jamaica regarding 1900-1903, argued one Gordon’s “incitements so you can free-talking and demo used only toward plan of meeting launched to the dealing with 30 th away from July, plus don’t acknowledge to be portrayed once the suggesting people ulterior functions or advancements subsequent to one to time” (Haldane 161, 164). At the yet another ones backyard Underhill group meetings at the beginning of September, Gordon was stated for compared the situation off Jamaica to help you that Haiti, even though he rejected with done this in the his court-martial, as well as the report are traceable to their political opponents (Heuman 59).
Thomas throughout the Eastern, to prompt personal attendance on then group meetings and you will protests
These criteria away from political instability caused by monetary hardship, combined with the hard work from Governor Eyre and Jamaican judicial government, additionally the Colonial Office, when you look at the adopting an enthusiastic authoritarian and you may paternalistic method to the latest issues regarding Black colored Jamaican peasants and you will Coloured political leaders the exact same, lead an extremely erratic political and societal problem throughout the days leading up to this new Morant Bay rebellion. Gordon was not a political radical for the 1840s and 50s; instead the guy seems to have become a devoted reformer, seeing healthcare facilities, prisons, and churches throughout the Jamaica inside the character as a justice away from the fresh serenity and advocating to possess advancements, as well as drafting a bill to the ideal treatment of Eastern Indian migrant gurus regarding the Jamaica System (Hart 13-14; 23-27).
not, shortly after Eyre’s fulfilling as Short-term (Acting) Lieutenant-Governor at the beginning of 1862 along with his level into governorship from inside the e a singing critic of Eyre’s principles. Within the 1862, as the result of an evaluation, Gordon sent a grievance with the Lawyer General regarding overlook and you may dirty requirements at the Morant Bay prison, revealing the brand new loss of an effective pauper have been secured from inside the an excellent latrine into orders of a neighbor hood Anglican rector. New Colonial Place of work discovered regarding Eyre’s bottom line dismissal off Gordon, a hobby that was followed closely by Gordon’s forcible ejection away from a vestry appointment, but would not intervene managed to not weaken Eyre’s authority; alternatively the fresh new Duke out-of Newcastle, who was Assistant off County on Colonies, counseled Eyre to learn Gordon’s issues (Hart 40; Haldane 105-6).
Eyre viewed Gordon’s letter since the an attack on Anglican Church, and ordered that Gordon end up being disregarded due to the fact vestryman and fairness off the new comfort, despite a study demonstrating one to Gordon’s problem was actually justified (Roberts thirty five; Hart 33-34)
Gordon’s prominence continuous, not, and he are decided on within the 1863 as the Affiliate for St. Thomas from the Jamaica Set up, where he continued to sound harsh criticisms out of Eyre. From inside the a presentation away from twenty eight October 1863, Gordon conveyed anger at Eyre’s social assurances one to Jamaica try experiencing “a healthy body” and you may a keen “increasing” population: “I ask, how dare new Governor and then make so it statement in the event the Coolies [East Indian immigrant laborers] who had been delivered listed here are passing away concerning the avenue from Kingston, whenever parties was denied admittance into personal health and tend to be kept so you can die in the roads? I know that starvation and heartache come in the latest residential property, and i become indignant that Governor would be to demand there are ‘average prosperity. Hart 57-58). If you are Gordon’s criticisms have been such as for instance harsh and you may pointed regarding Eyre’s neglect of your own bad, Eyre’s period on governorship was controversial, and his profile due to the fact an administrator also endured good scandal in 1863 along side ineffective believed and you will capital from a beneficial tramway regarding Foreign language Urban area so you’re able to Old Harbour and Porus, which had been never completed (Haldane 53-88).