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We
present below the official proceedings of the Israelites of Kingston
with reference to the edict of the Russian emperor banishing from the
frontiers about half a million of his Jewish subjects, under the
frivolous pretext that some have been engaged in smuggling. It is not
denied that this species of business has been extensively carried on, on
the frontiers dividing the Austrian and Russian dominions; but it is
contended that the Christians were much more guilty of breaches of law
than their Israelitish neighbours. We will only observe that in
countries, where merely an imaginary line forms the boundary, like
between Poland and Gallicia, and where the prohibitory duties offer a
virtual bounty for an infraction of the laws, and above all, where the
officers appointed to guard the lines are venal and corruptible,
smuggling cannot be presented even by the autocrat of all the Russias
with a million of soldiers to enforce his decrees. How ridiculous is it
therefore to punish all the Jews for the offence of a few, committed
with the connivance of the imperial officers themselves and participated
in by immense numbers of their gentile neighbours! To carry out his
policy with any degree of system, Nicholas ought to depopulate his
frontiers to the extent of fifty wersts, if he wishes to punish all the
smugglers and prevent smuggling in future. But this does not suit his
views, and he wreaks his vengeance upon the helpless Jews whom necessity
compels to live under his black banners, and who are not even permitted
to expatriate themselves, since the places of their future settlement
within the limits of the empire are designated in their passports, and
whoever knows any thing of European police-laws must be aware how
dangerous it would be, particularly for a Jew, to leave the country
without a pass. It makes the heart sick to hear people talk of the
sympathy of certain Christian for the Jews. Their missionaries are to
convert us from our faith; but where is their aid when we are oppressed?
when persecuted?—We will not say all that we feel, for fear of
offending the many real friends whom Israelites have among the gentiles,
for there are many sincere friends who from their soul wish us well; but
they are the silent ones, the minority; the active and noisy are however
the leaders in the conversion efforts, and these invoke prejudice by
their very futile efforts, whatever their professions may be. We give
them credit for sincerity; we honestly believe them when they say, they
are acting from a sense of duty; but this we will tell them,
that, if they really wish to serve us, they would do well to aid the
oppressed Israelites, and to induce European powers to let the same laws
govern the Jews which govern the gentiles.
We
have been led away to say much more than we intended as an introduction
to the subjoined resolutions. We regret that our friends in Jamaica have
not proposed some definite system of action instead of the general
resolutions which they have passed.—But we leave it to the various
congregations of Israelites in the United States, Canada, and the West
India Islands, whether it would not be advisable to concert some
measure, and to unite in an appeal to the various governments to
interpose their good offices in behalf of the oppressed Israelites of
Russia. It may be late before such an appeal can be made effective, but
not too late to effect some good; for arbitrary as the Russian
government professedly is, it cannot carry into banishment half a
million of souls in one year or two years even. Wickedness takes time
for its consummation as well as virtuous resolves; and upon this we
rely.—Who knows but the present juncture is another call to union as
was the martyrdom of precious souls at Damascus? We believe in
providential rule; for as not a sparrow falls but it is decreed from
Supreme Wisdom, may this event then be not also from God, to awaken anew
the feeling of brotherly love of all Israel one for the other?
We
beg the distant congregations who may first receive the Jamaica
resolutions in the Occident, to regard them as officially communicated
to them direct, since the difficulty and expense of transmitting to each
a number of documents by mail, the only other practical method, must be
considered as a bar to a more direct communication between them and our
brothers of Jamaica.
Ed. Oc.
At a Meeting
Of the the Members of the Hebrew Community of this
city, convened pursuant to public notice, and holden in the Spanish and
Portuguese Synagogue, on Thursday, the 7th March, 1844,
A. A. Lindo, Esq., having been called to the chair,
addressed the meeting. He
stated that its object was to afford the opportunity to the Hebrew Community, here, of expressing the sentiments
entertained by them of the extraordinary ukase that had been promulgated
in Russia, against five hundred thousand of our co-religionists in that
quarter, who had been ordered to remove from the Western Frontier, into
the interior of the empire, by the 31st December, last.
He adverted to the blessings enjoyed by the Jews,
under the British government and particularly in this island, by a
participation in all the rights and privileges possessed by other
classes; that we should manifest but little gratitude for those
blessings, did we remain inactive when we heard of such cruelties as are
being practised towards our co-religionists in other parts; that however
powerful might be the human means employed on this occasion, they would
avail little, without Divine interposition. It therefore behoved the
meeting to invoke, in this sacred edifice, that aid on behalf of our
unfortunate co-religionists and to inspire us, likewise, with discretion
in the adoption of such proceedings as may ultimately lead to the
preservation of our brethren, from the destruction that threatens them.
Two sets of resolutions were then submitted to the
meeting, and referred to a committee, consisting of P. Lawrence, M. Q.
Henriques, S. J. Altman, D. De Leon, B. Naar, I. De Clavo, M. Sarfaty,
and Solomon Myers, Eqrs., who, having retired, returned in half an hour,
and laid before the meeting the following resolutions, which were
unanimously adopted.
Resolved, That the imperial ukase ordering
the removal of five hundred thousand Jews from the Western Frontier of
Russia, where they and their ancestors had been dwelling upwards of six
hundred years, into certain districts, only, of the interior of that
empire, calls upon their brethren, wherever settled, to unite their
voices with other philanthropists, against the perpetration of an act,
as much opposed to a wise policy, as it is repugnant to the prevailing
convictions and sentiments of the age.
That the manly and powerful manner in which the
British press has advocated the cause of suffering humanity, in
recording its unqualified disgust and reprehension of the Russian ukase,
does it honour, and entitles it to the gratitude of the whole civilized
world, and of the Jewish people especially.
That the chairman be requested to transmit a copy
of the resolutions adopted by this meeting, to the Board of Deputies of
the British Jews in London, for the purpose of assuring them, that
although no public demonstration has yet made known, the measures no
doubt contemplated by them, to avert the final execution of the ukase,
their brethren of this island place every reliance on their vigilance
being effectually exerted on this, as on a former occasion, on behalf of
our suffering co-religionists.
That the chairman be requested to transmit a copy
of the resolutions of this meeting to such congregation in America and
the colonies, as may be deemed proper.
That the chairman be requested to transmit a copy
of the resolutions of this meeting, to the editors of "The
Times," "Morning Herald," "Sun," and "Nation,"
as the expression of the sense entertained by the Jews in this island,
of their noble and disinterested conduct on this extraordinary
occurrence.
That the proprietors of newspapers in this island,
be requested to insert the resolutions of this meeting in their
respective papers.
That a copy of the resolutions passed at this
meeting, be transmitted to the editors of "The Voice of
Jacob," "The Occident," "The First Fruits of the
West," as well as to any other Jewish publication that may be
deemed proper, with a request that the same be published in their
respective periodicals.
Mr. Lindo having quitted the chair, Mr. Lawrence
was called thereto, when the thanks of the meeting were unanimously
recorded to Mr. Lindo, for his conduct in the chair.
A. A. Lindo,
Chairman of the Meeting.
Kingston,
Jamaica, March 8th, 1844. |
