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No. 434, Jtjlt 17, 1858.] THE LEADEll , ...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Tffe Emhassy House At Pauis. Qn Tlte'mbt...
had been wipfid'out . Our squadron has repressed the slave trade along one thousand mile 3 of the African coast , -while a legitimate trade has sprung up in native hands , which would be extinguished if the squadron were removed . ' Mr . Seymour Fitzgkrald said he should ask the House to express a strong dissent from the resolution . He disagreed altogether with Mr . Hutt as to the result of our efforts for the suppression of the slave trade . " Cuba is now the only place where the traffic is rife , and the annual importation of slaves has diminished from 185 , 000 to 15 , 000 only . But the result of the abolition of the slave trade in any locality is the springing up of a legitimate industry and commerce . In the Bight of
Benin , once the centre of the slave trade , from the west coast of Africa , the annual importation of palm-oil has increased from the value of 130 OL to the large sum of 900 , 000 / . ( Hear . ) In the port of Lagos , formerly one of the slave marts on that coast , the general exports have increased in the same ratio ; and in JLoanda , a Portuguese settlement , legitimate trade has increased in direct proportion , to the decrease of the slave trade . In a few years , a legitimate trade has sprung up to tho amount of half a million of money , the imports in 1857 being no less than 293 , 000 / ., and * the exports 239 , 0001 . And yet , only a few years ago , this port alone exported as many slaves as now constitute the total amount of the slave trade from the whole of Africa . ( Hear , hear . " )
One of the great articles to winch the natives are turning their attention is cotton . The supply of cotton i * a subject . which has long been discussed in England ; and it is to Africa rather than to India that we must look as the source of-the . much desired supply . Abbeokouta , one of . the principal seats of missionary enterprise in Africa , has already sent out a considerable quantity of cotton , and ,-if the . slave trade is repressed , the quantity in a few years "will be very large . ( Hear , hear . *) No people would make greater sacrifices than the French to avoid a revival of the slave trade . Representations have been made of the opinion of the -English Government that the system of obtaining from Africa ' free Hegroes , ' as they are termed , and apprenticing them for a period of six . years , will inevitably lead to such revival ; and he was not without hope that the Imperial Government will abandon the Reins scheme . He also
hoped that there would be no difficulty with the United States . He had that day received the answer of General Cass on this American question . The course taken by the English Government was properly appreciated in America . General Cass thought it was consistent with the dignity of a great country to admit an error and remedy a grievance ; and he stated that the American Government would give their best attention to any suggestion which her Majesty's Government might oftef for avoiding the evils likely to arise from the improper assumption of a national nag . ( Hear , hear . ) It had been a question whether tho English Government should allow their squadron to remain in the Cuban waters , in the direct highway of the American trade ; but General Cass hiis sent word that the American ships sent to Cuba had orders to co-operate with England in suppressing the slave trade , if the English ships were not ordered away from the station . " ( Hear , hear . )
Mr . Milkjsk Gibson observed that we are paying a large sum of money to keep up a maritime police which is ineffectual , since slaves arc obtained . It is impossible to maintain an effective blockade of tho extensive coast of Africa ; and the attempt to do so aggravates the miseries of the-wretched negroes . Ho called upon the Government to repeal tho Brazil Act of 18-15 , which was passed on the ground that Brazil had failed in fulfilling her treaty obligations with this country in regard to tho slave trade—a ground which there is now no reason for maintaining . — Mr . Mills did not think thut tho squadron , had lucn altogether nugatory , and ho regretted that their eilbrts for tho suppression of tho slave trade had not been supported by other powers . —Mr .
Guiinkv contended that the squadron luvd protected lawful trade , ' anil that it should not bo discontinued . With regard to the future , it-seemed to him that it would be well worth tho attention of the Government , as fur ns possible , to keep up the system which was so successful undur Admiral Bruce—namely , to prevent the embarkation of negroes , instead ot attempting to rescue them after they have been shipped . —{ Sir G . 1 $ . PIcchkll urged that measured should bu taken to compel Spain to fulfil her treaty engagements in regard to tho suppression of the alavo trade , and expressed his gratification at the announcement that our ell ' orta to put down this traffic were not to bo Abandoned . —Sir Ciiarlks Napiek believed that , if they had employed sutlicient force
a on tho coast of Africa , there would have Leon no slave trade at present . —Mr . Roebuck , whiles denouncing tho alavo trade , contended that our efforts at suppressing it had failed . Wo had compelled tho export of a larger number of slaves to keep up the importation ; so that our operations had boon worse than nugatory . " Upon this question wo had bullied Brnzil and truckled to America ; but tho right which wo nro about to yield to America should bo yielded « 1 ho to Ih-U 7 . il . Tho Under Secretary for Foreign Attaint had fuilud to show thut our cruisers had succeeded iu diminishing tlio hIuvo trullic , and , as tlie object of our measures had not only failed , but had led to an increase of the sufferings of African hIuvch , it was time that they were abandoned . Tho motion of the
member for Gateshead was a humane motibn , and it would redound ' to the honour of this corthtry to admit that our efforts have failed , owing to America and Fiance . It was wise to yield to America . She is strong enough to carry out her bad intentions : a vessel , though loaded with slaves to her gunwales , has but to hoist that "bit of bunting called the stars and stripes , and our officers must withdraw . The most free nation in the world will in futttre cover by its ensign the jgreatest of human miseries ; and he congratulated America ujion the consummation . The shame is hers , and not ours . " ( Hear , hear . )—Sir John Pakington affirmed tliat we have minimised the slave traffic by our efforts , and that so great is the difficulty of obtaining a sufficient number-of African slaves at Cuba , that a considerable number of Indians have been brought thither from Yucatan . Mr . Roebuck ' s assertion
that we had truckled to the United States was moat unfounded and unjust . The American Government had behaved in . a most frank and conciliatory manner , and he hoped tliat all existing difficulties would speedily be settled . —Mr . Buxton said no one would contend that the slave trade had been entirely put an end to ; but there was no doubt that it had been materially diminished by the efforts of our squadrons . Dr . Livingstone , amongst others , had shown that the American squadron had thus operated . —Lord Claren ck H ? aget said he had a pocketful . ' -of . letters from naval officers , stating that tlie efforts of our squadron on the coast of Africa , though noble and sublime , were utterly futile . He added LU own testimony to the amount of suffering caused by the pursuit of slavers and to the hardships endured by the crews of our own ships ou the African station .
Other bills were forwarded , a stage , and the House adjourned at two o ' clock . Tuesday , JuTij IStfi . MILITARY CLOTHING WITHOUT BUTTONS . In the House of Lords , the Marquis of Clanricarde called their Lordships' attention to the fact that the clothing furnished to the 100 th Regiment had no buttons ( laughter ) , and therefore was utterly useless . He did not mean to impute blame to the Secretary of "War ; but some one was to blame , and , unless some one was punished , these blunders would be continued . —Viscount Hakdikgk admitted that the tunics of the 100 th Regiment were sent to them without buttons ,-which had been , separately contracted for ; but the delay in furnishing them was not owing to-the neglect of any person connected with the VVar-ofHce . It was entirely owing to the neglect of the carriers employed to convey the goods from one terminus to another . .
CHURCH RATES . Lord Tortman , observing that the Government had promised to introduce a bill on the subject of church rates , stated that he should in consequence abstain from bringing forward the measure of which he had himself given notice for the settlement of that long-pending controversy . —The E . trl of Derb y said that the question would undoubtedly receive careful consideration during the recess , and Ministers hoped to bs able to produce an acceptable bill next year . Further than this ., he declined to enter into any engagement .
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS . Several bills were advanced a stage , with more or less of discussion . —The Fundkd Debt Bill , the Licases and SAI . ICS OF SlSTTLED ESTATES ACT A . VIEMDMICNT BlLL , and the Nisi Tiuus Court , ' &« j . ( Irelanu ) Bill , were respectively read a third time , and passed . The House adjourned at a quarter to eight . The Lord Mayor , of Dublin appeared at the bar of the House of Commons , in his robes of office , and presented a petition from himself and the aldermen and burgesses of the Irish metropolis agairfet the Police Force ( Iuelaxi >) Bill . —Other petitions were also presented for and against the measure .
Lord Ralmrkston said that all the assertions by which Mr- Hiitt- 's . motion , had been . supported were diametrically opposed to fact . It was not true that the horrors of tlie middle passage had been increased , nor that the Cubans get as many slaves as they want : the wellknown high price off slaves in Cuba shows that the supply fall .- ? short of the demand . We have prevented the landing in Brazil of 70 , 000 negroes annually , and consequently have prevented the sufferings of three times that number , for it is calculated that only one third of the numlier
originally captured reach their destination . " The last speaker complained of the cruelty to which the crews of the slavers are subjected ; but he had forgotten to state that lie himself provided-. the * proper remedy , by rescuing the slaves from their horrible condition and restoring them to liberty . As to the unhealthy state of the African coast , the noble lord himself is a living proof to the contrary . ( A laugh . ) It had been denied that our efforts had put a stop to the slave trade to the Brazils ; but , nevertheless , that trade had beeii abolished through our instrumental ! tv . The Brazilian
Govern-LO 3 S OK THE VARSA . Mr . Robertsox asked the President of the Board of Trade , if in consequence of a letter dated 1 st Jul \ -, " addressed to the Secretary in the Marine Department of the Hoard of Trade , his attention had been drawn to the loss of the British barque Varna Of Green ' o ' , on the coast of Tasmania , on the 24 th December , 1857 , through the ignorance of navigation of the officer who held his position as first mate under a certificate of service issued by the local board of Greenock , and succeeded to
comment hnding , m 1851 , that we were determined to carrv out the act of 1845 , sued for terms , and passed a law to abolish the slave trade . The result was most beneficial , n : t only to Africa , but to Brazil ; for capital which had been before in the slave , traffic , was'diverted to purposes of internal improvement . It was not true , therefore , to say that our efforts had failed , because - \ ve had not yet put nn end to the slave trade in Cuba . We had destroyed it in Brazil , greatly diminished it in Cuba , and immensely improved Africa by setting up a trade
niand on death of the master ; and if any steps would be taken to withdraw the said certificate of service , under authority of which the chief mate held his position on board the Varna . —Mr , Henley said his attention had been , called to the case . According to the protest , the master , who held a certificate of " service" only , admitted his ignorance of the science of navigation ; but it did not appear from tlie protest that tlie ship -was lost in consequence . However , the case would bo thoroughly investigated .
which in a few years would equal that - \ vitli Brazil . Especially did the production of cotton in Africa promise , in a few years , to bo more valuable than that of any other portion of the world , the United States alono cxccpted . Politically , this country had endeavoured to procure amelioration of slavery as well as the abolition oi" tho slave trade ; and we had been eminently successful . France had imitated our example : Portugal was following in the same footsteps . Was , then , tliis country , in the moment of success , to reverse its policy ?" (/ lew , hear . )
TUB JKW QUESTION . Lord John Russell moved the adjournment of tho House , in order to have the opportunity of stating the course he intended to pursue with regsird to the Oaths Bill and the Jew Bill , which were about to be brought down from the Peers . Ho thought that it would bo dangerous for the House to jitand alone in asserting the right of Jews to sit there . Such a course might bring them into collision , not only with the House of LorJs , but with tho judicial tribunals of tho country . They might not , moreover , receive tlie support of the country in such a conflict , since an opinion had arisen that the House of Commons had usurped an unduo prominence over the correlative branches of the Legislature . In the Oaths Bill , as originall y sent up to tho l ' eers , various disabilities now imposed upon the Jews wore abolished , especially as regarded the tenure of civil offices
Mr . Gilpin supported the motion . —Mr . Peter O'Bkikn withdrew a motion of which he had given notice , to the effect that it is inexpedient to maintain the naval force at present in the West India waters for tho suppression oC the slavo trade . —General Thompson said that the Cubans have as many slaves as they chose to pay for , hut that tlio difficulty of landing a live slave in J " uba i . s increased by our blockading squadrons something like lour to ouo on the original expense . —Mr UitUMMuxi ) warmly opposed tho motion ; denied that the huirortiof the iniddlo passage are any tiling like so bad now as they wore before the blockade ; and asserted
, which tlie measure an amended would still retain , and which the new bill introduced in the other Houso did not touch . Nevertheless , lie recommended tlie Commons to accept the latter measure us affording a practical solution to a serious controversy , and , as they would thus obtain tho principal object which their own bill was intended to secure—namel y , the . admiasion of Jews to 1 arliument—they might , he thought , consent to admit the reasons alleged by thu Tccra for insisting on thoir amendments iu the Oaths Bill . Intending , therefore , himself to move tho second reading of tho Jew Bill , ho asked the Government to give him an early day for thut purpose , augmenting tliat the motion might be made and tho discussion taken on tho following Friday . — In-tho tho course of his Lordship ' s remarks , | lu was interrupted by Lord . John Mannkrh , wl « o confoiulwi tliat lie was out of order , as the reasons of tho Lords for
disahis firm conviction that slavery never would bo got rid of without a rising-of tlio blacks on their own behalf . Ho should heartily rojoico when lie heard thuy had risen , and inflicted soinu poor measure of short justice on the [ . coplu wl » o now hold them in slavery . " Tlio honest old English merchant" and " th « honest old . English manufacturer" arc willing for profit to trade with tho devil himself ; and the love of money and trade—carried on under tlio name of free trade—is really eating out of the country anything liko moral mul religious feeling-. Mr . Cciuan opposed thu motion , which , on a division , was negatived by ' 2-2 U to 2-1 .
greeing with the Commons' bill wore not before tho lluuae . —Lord John Runskm ,, however , answered that Lord Castloreagh , when interrupted in u similar manner , hud replied tliat tho Jluu . so of f . orda is a court , of record , and that their votes , being recorded , could bo quoted . — Tlio Ciiancki . lok o > i' thk ICxciiuqukii said that Friday would ho placed at the disposal of tlie noblo Lord tho member for the City of London . — I-ord John Ma-NNkus thought tho noble ; Lord ' s veraiou of what
Ihe House- then went into Coininitoo of Supply , when ii vote of 11 , 050 / . for tho salaries and expenses of tho . Mixed Coirnniaaions for the suppression of tlio slave trade was agreed » o . Tho GovicuNMiiNT ov Nicw Caledonia . Bill passed through committee , after receiving sundry amendments .
No. 434, Jtjlt 17, 1858.] The Leadell , ...
No . 434 , Jtjlt 17 , 1858 . ] THE LEADEll , __ 6 ? £
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), July 17, 1858, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_17071858/page/3/
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