But what said the House of Assembly in reply ?--a House made up chiefly of attornies who had more interest than any other men in the continuance of the old system and who, as will presently be shown, were not unwilling to have the "experiment" fail?
They speak as follows:-- _"May it Please your Excellency,_ We, her Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the Assembly of Jamaica, thank your Excellency for your speech at the opening of the session.
The House join your Excellency in bearing testimony TO THE PEACEABLE MANNER in which the laboring population have conducted themselves in a state of FREEDOM.
It certainly was not to be expected that so great a change in the condition of the people would be followed by an immediate return to active labor.

The House, however, are willing to believe that some degree of improvement is taking place, and they sincerely join in the HOPE expressed by your Excellency, that the agricultural interests of the Island may ultimately prosper, by a resumption of industrious habits on the part of the peasantry in their new condition." This settles the question.

Those who will not be convinced by such documents as these that the mass of the Emancipated in Jamaica are ready _to do their part_ in the system of free labor, would not be convinced if one rose from the deed to prove it.
We are now prepared to investigate the causes of the complaints, and inquire why in numerous cases the negros have refused to work.

Let us first go back to the debates Jamaica Legislature on the passage of the Emancipation bill in June, and see whether we can discover the _temper_ in which it was passed, and the prospect of good faith in its execution.
We can hardly doubt that some members, and some especially from whose speeches on that occasion we have already quoted, designed really to confer the "boon of freedom." But others spoke very differently.

To understand their language we must commence with the Governor's speech at the opening of the session:-- _"Gentlemen of the Council, Mr.Speaker, and Gentlemen of the Assembly,_ I have called you together, at an unusual season, to take it to your consideration the state of the Island under the Laws of Apprenticeship, for the labouring population.
I need not refer you to the agitation on this subject throughout the British Empire, or to the discussions upon it in Parliament, _where the honourable efforts of the ministry_ were barely found sufficient to preserve the original duration of the Laws, as an obligation of the National faith.
I shall lay before you some despatches on this subject." * * * * * _"Gentlemen,_ _General agitation and Parliamentary interference have not, I am afraid, yet terminated._ _A corresponding excitement has been long going on among the apprentices themselves,_ but still they have rested in sober and quiet hopes, relying on your generosity, that you will extend to them that boon which has been granted to their class in other Colonies." * * * * * _"Gentlemen of the Council, Mr.Speaker and Gentlemen of the Assembly,_ In this posture of affairs, it is my duty to declare my sentiments, and distinctly to _recommend to you the early and equal abolition of the apprenticeship for all classes._ I do so in confidence that the apprentices will be found worthy of freedom, and that it will operate as a double blessing, by securing also the future interests of the planters.
I am commanded, however, to inform you that her Majesty's ministers will not entertain any question of further compensation.