Ann’s petition and the thus-called Queen’s response from the papers he edited, The brand new Watchman and you will Man’s 100 % free Force, along with numerous proclamations he got posted and you will marketed inside St. Ann and you may St. Regardless of the sample by a number of Custos to help you cancel Underhill conferences through the August and you can September by forbidding the effective use of nearby judge home, these were however stored outdoors (Heuman 58-9). As a result into termination of 1 of them group meetings, scheduled to possess 31 July, a publication attributed to Gordon was typed getting in touch with his constituents to help you sit-in the fresh appointment outdoors: “You who possess zero sugar locations to your workplace on, neither will find most other a job, we ask one to already been ahead, even though you be undressed, started forward and you can protest up against the unjust representations generated against your of the Mr Governor Eyre and his group of Custodes” (Heuman 57). So it proclamation is considered given that seditious and you may used against Gordon at his court-martial, however in his 1933 security of Gordon, The brand new Misconception from Governor Eyre, Questionnaire Haldane, Lord Olivier, who was Colonial ParaguaylД± kadД±n Assistant in the Jamaica regarding 1900-1903, contended that Gordon’s “incitements so you’re able to free-speaking and demonstration applied exclusively on program of your appointment announced on approaching 31 th away from July, and don’t know to be portrayed just like the suggesting people ulterior operations otherwise advancements after you to time” (Haldane 161, 164). At yet another ones outside Underhill conferences at the beginning of September, Gordon was advertised for compared the trouble out of Jamaica to help you regarding Haiti, no matter if he declined which have done this on his court martial, together with statement could be traceable so you can his political rivals (Heuman 59).

Thomas about Eastern, in order to prompt social attendance in the further conferences and you will protests

This type of standards of political instability due to economic difficulty, combined with the persistence from Governor Eyre in addition to Jamaican official government, while the Colonial Work environment, within the following an authoritarian and you will paternalistic method of the grievances off Black colored Jamaican peasants and you will Colored politicians alike, delivered an incredibly unstable political and you will societal condition from the weeks before this new Morant Bay rebellion. Gordon wasn’t a political significant during the 1840s and 50s; alternatively he appears to have been a loyal reformer, seeing medical facilities, prisons, and you can churches throughout Jamaica in his character just like the a fairness from the fresh new serenity and promoting for developments, in addition to writing a statement with the ideal treatment of East Indian migrant professionals throughout the Jamaica Assembly (Hart 13-14; 23-27).

Yet not, shortly after Eyre’s conference because the Temporary (Acting) Lieutenant-Governor at the beginning of 1862 along with his height to your governorship from inside the elizabeth a singing critic from Eyre’s regulations. For the 1862, as the result of an assessment, Gordon sent an ailment with the Attorneys General throughout the overlook and dirty standards at Morant Bay prison, reporting the new death of good pauper who had been locked within the a latrine to the orders of a neighborhood Anglican rector. The fresh Colonial Work environment discovered out-of Eyre’s realization dismissal off Gordon, an activity which was followed closely by Gordon’s forcible ejection of a beneficial vestry appointment, but refused to intervene in check to not ever undermine Eyre’s authority; rather the fresh new Duke from Newcastle, who was simply Assistant regarding State towards the Colonies, counseled Eyre to listen to Gordon’s issues (Hart forty; Haldane 105-6).

Eyre viewed Gordon’s page given that an attack towards Anglican Church, and you will bought you to Gordon feel overlooked due to the fact vestryman and you can fairness out of the peace, despite a study appearing you to Gordon’s grievance got rationalized (Roberts thirty-five; Hart 33-34)

Gordon’s prominence continuous, however, in which he are decided to go with into the 1863 due to the fact User to have St. Thomas about Jamaica Installation, where the guy proceeded to help you voice harsh criticisms regarding Eyre. Within the a demonstration off twenty-eight Oct 1863, Gordon expressed outrage on Eyre’s public guarantees one to Jamaica try sense “well being” and you may an “increasing” population: “I query, how dare the latest Governor while making that it statement in the event that Coolies [East Indian immigrant laborers] who were brought listed here are passing away concerning avenue regarding Kingston, whenever activities is actually refuted admittance towards the social hospital consequently they are leftover to die regarding the freeways? I understand that deprivation and you can misery can be found in the fresh homes, and i become indignant that Governor will be insist that there is ‘average prosperity. Hart 57-58). When you find yourself Gordon’s criticisms have been such as for instance severe and indicated when it comes to Eyre’s overlook of the worst, Eyre’s tenure on governorship is questionable, with his profile because a manager and endured an excellent scandal for the 1863 along the useless believed and you will investment regarding an excellent tramway out-of Spanish Area so you’re able to Dated Harbour and you may Porus, which had been never ever finished (Haldane 53-88).