On this page

• Text (1)

  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.

  • 

    Untitled Article

• Transcript

  • 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.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Untitled Article

    " Td make the testimony of Slaves available in Courts of Justice , both in civil aiid criminal cases ;—c < TO relieve all Negroes and persons of Colour from the burden of legally proving their freedom , when brought into question , and to throw on the claimant of their persous the burden of legally proving his right to them ;—" To provide the means of religious instruction for the Black and Coloured population , and of Christian education for their children ;—" To institute marriage among the Slaves ; and to protect that state from violation , and from either forcible or voluntary disruption ;•* - " To put an end to the driving

    system " ;— To put an end also to the arbitrary punishment of Slaves , and to place their persons as well as property under the

    guardianship of the law ;—• "To provide that all the children born « ifter a certain day shall be free , —care being taken of their education and maintenance until they shall be capable of acting for themselves ;—

    " To provide that no Colonial Governor , Judge , Attorney-General , or Fiscal , shall be a possessor of Slaves , or shall have a direct and obvious reversionary interest in such property , or shall be the agent of the proprietors of Slaves . " On the part of the Government , Mr .

    Canning expressed his general concurrence in the object for putting an end to Slavery ; he objected , however , to the abstract form of Mr . Buxton ' s motion , and he proposed to substitute the following Resolutions , which , at the close of the discussion , were unanimously adopted by the House—viz .

    " 1 st . That it is expedient to adopt effectual and decisive measures for meliorating the condition of the Slave population in his Majesty ' s colonies . t ( 2 nd * That , through a determined and persevering , but judicious and temperate , enforcement of such measures ,

    this House looks forward to a progressive improvement in the character of the Slave population ; such as may prepare them for a participation in those civil rights and privileges which are enjoyed by other classes of his Majesty ' s subjects . " 3 d . That this House is anxious for

    the accomplishment of this purpose at the earliest period that may be compatible with the well-being of the Slaves , the safety of the Colonies , and with a fair and equitable consideration of the interests of all parties concerned therein . " 4 th . That these Resolutions be Jaid before l > is Majesty . " Subsequent communications with his

    Untitled Article

    Majesty ' s Ministers , have authorized the Society before mentioned to submit the following as the present purposes of the Government :

    " That the existing obstructions to manumissions , arising from stamps or fines , or other fiscal regulations , shall be removed;—" That the Slaves shall be protected by law in the possession , and also in the transmission , by bequest or otherwise , of any property they may acquire ;—

    " That means shall be provided of religious instruction for the Slaves , and of Christian education for their children;—" That the driving system shall be peremptorily and entirely abolished , so that the whip shall no longer be the stimulant of labour ;—

    u That an end shall also be absolutely put to the degrading corporal punishment of females ; and that measures shall be taken to restrain , generally , the power of arbitrary punishment , and to prevent its abuse ;—

    " That , the meaus of religious instruction being provided , the Sundays shall be given up to the Slaves for rest , recreation , and religious instruction and worship ( Sunday markets being abolished ) ; and that equivalent time shall be allowed them , oa other days , for the cultivation of their provision grounds ;

    u That the marriage of Slaves shall be authorised , and sanctioned by law ; and that they shall likewise be protected in the enjoyment of their connubial rights /' The sincerity of the Government in these designs is proved by the instructions which Lord Bat hurst has sent out to the

    Colonies . These , as well as the Resolutions carried into Parliament , have alarmed the West India Planters and Proprietors , and the most violent resolutions have been passed in the parishes of Jamaica , and tumultuary proceedings have been resorted to in other colonies .

    On the 18 th of August there was some resistance amongst the Slaves in Derae ^ rara to some act of the local authorities . The military were called in , and blood was shed . Messrs . Smith and Elliot , Missionaries from the London Society , in the Colony , were taken up on the charge of promoting insurrection . Elliot was

    soon discharged , but Smith was brought to trial before a Court Martial , and it is reported has been adjudged guilty , and sentenced to death . The sentence , however , awaits the approbation of his Majesty's Government . In the mean time , the Missionary Society have published their confidence in Smith ' s entire

    innocence . , At Barbadoes , on the 19 th of October , the Wesleian Methodist Chapel was en-

    Untitled Article

    6 Q Intelligence . ' —Negro-J&iaveryinthe West Indies .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1824, page 60, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2520/page/60/