Ann’s petition and the very-entitled Queen’s impulse regarding the paper he modified, The fresh new Watchman and you will Man’s Totally free Push, plus numerous proclamations which he had posted and distributed during the St. Ann and you may St. In spite of the shot by several Custos in order to cancel Underhill group meetings through the August and you will Sep because of the forbidding the usage your local court domestic, they certainly were however held outside (Heuman 58-9). In response on termination of just one of these group meetings, planned having 30 July, a publishing attributed to Gordon is actually composed getting in touch with his constituents to Asan hot girl help you sit-in this new fulfilling outside: “Your who’ve no sugar properties to get results to your, nor are able to find almost every other a career, i call on you to already been ahead, even though you be undressed, started forth and you can protest from the unjust representations generated against your by the Mr Governor Eyre along with his band of Custodes” (Heuman 57). This proclamation is considered just like the seditious and you will made use of facing Gordon at the their court-martial, in his 1933 protection away from Gordon, Brand new Misconception away from Governor Eyre, Quarterly report Haldane, Lord Olivier, who was Colonial Secretary within the Jamaica regarding 1900-1903, debated you to Gordon’s “incitements to totally free-speaking and you may trial used solely for the program of fulfilling launched toward addressing 31 th regarding July, and don’t admit of being depicted while the recommending one ulterior businesses otherwise improvements after you to definitely big date” (Haldane 161, 164). From the a different sort of of these outside Underhill conferences during the early Sep, Gordon is actually claimed for compared the trouble away from Jamaica in order to that of Haiti, regardless if the guy denied that have done so during the his court-martial, plus the report are traceable so you’re able to his political competitors (Heuman 59).
These types of conditions of political imbalance as a result of financial difficulty, in addition to the hard work away from Governor Eyre and the Jamaican official regulators, in addition to Colonial Office, within the following an authoritarian and you may paternalistic method to this new issues out-of Black Jamaican peasants and you will Colored politicians exactly the same, delivered an extremely erratic governmental and public situation on the weeks before brand new Morant Bay rebellion. Gordon wasn’t a governmental major inside 1840s and you can 50s; as an alternative he appears to have come a dedicated reformer, visiting healthcare facilities, prisons, and you may places of worship through the Jamaica inside the character due to the fact a justice regarding the latest serenity and you may suggesting to possess advancements, plus creating a statement into the finest treatment of East Indian migrant professionals in the Jamaica Installation (Hart thirteen-14; 23-27).
But not, immediately following Eyre’s meeting since the Temporary (Acting) Lieutenant-Governor in early 1862 and his awesome elevation on governorship in the e a vocal critic off Eyre’s procedures. During the 1862, because of a check, Gordon sent an ailment to your Lawyer Standard regarding the neglect and you can dirty requirements from the Morant Bay jail, revealing new death of good pauper who were secured into the a beneficial latrine towards sales out of a local Anglican rector. The newest Colonial Place of work discovered of Eyre’s bottom line dismissal from Gordon, an action which had been followed by Gordon’s forcible ejection out of good vestry meeting, however, refused to intervene under control to not weaken Eyre’s authority; rather new Duke out of Newcastle, who was Secretary away from County on Colonies, counseled Eyre to listen to Gordon’s problems (Hart forty; Haldane 105-6).
Gordon’s popularity persisted, but not, and then he are opted inside the 1863 while the Associate to own St. Thomas regarding Jamaica Set-up, where the guy proceeded to help you voice severe criticisms away from Eyre. From inside the a demonstration away from 28 October 1863, Gordon conveyed fury from the Eyre’s personal ensures you to Jamaica is sense “great health” and an enthusiastic “increasing” population: “We query, how challenge the latest Governor and work out that it declaration if the Coolies [East Indian immigrant laborers] who were lead here are perishing towards avenue off Kingston, when events try refused admittance for the personal hospital and are leftover to perish in the freeways? I know you to starvation and you may heartache have brand new land, and i also be indignant that Governor should assert there try ‘average prosperity. Hart 57-58). While Gordon’s criticisms have been such harsh and you can pointed when it comes to Eyre’s overlook of the bad, Eyre’s tenure throughout the governorship is questionable, and his awesome character since a professional as well as experienced good scandal inside 1863 across the inadequate believe and you will investment out of an effective tramway regarding Foreign-language Town so you can Dated Harbour and you may Porus, that was never done (Haldane 53-88).