Star. — London, England, 1816-06-20 00:00:00

called, that such was the violence and iatemperance with which the Planters in that Island spoke a nst Ve Registry Bill, even in the presence of their that it would be astonishing it the state of irri 'don in which the minds of the negroes were thus kept, that it would be astonishing if some explosion did not take place. He must not mention the name of the Gentleman who wrote this letter, as it might not be very sate to do so, c.onsidering the conduct of the opposers of this measure—( Near, hear.)— He. quoted other letters from the same island, in which it was stated, that, from the violent and intemperate lan guage of the Planters, the Negroes were impressed with a belief that Parliament had passed some law for their benefit, with which the Colonists refused to comply t that this, feeling bad come to such a height that the Negroes crowded round every packet that reaci.ed Barbadoti, and the writers predicted, that hem the violence of tkeir feelings, and the frequency of their disappointments, some dreadful disturbance , via; to be apprehended. All this was written before; the insurrection broke out. There were other state. meats contained in letters of a later date, which were not so much in the form of prediction, and they all concurred in saying, that if this Regiitry Bill bad been spoken of by the Planters in a more temperate manner, all that agitation which was excited among the Negroes might have been prevented. After all those statements it surely was too much for the most patient man to bear without emotion, that this insur rection was to be imputed to the conduct of those : who brought forward and supported the Registry Bill, and that this too should be said after the explo sion had taken place—when the Negroes had been . wrought up tp this desperate act by those printed statements which the opposers of the Bill had circu lated in the West Indies—when the piece which they had overloaded against the advocates of the measure had burst against themselves. If he bad at all sac ceeded in explaining the nature of the Registry Bill, it would be agreed that there could be nothing more innocent ; but if the insurrection was to be attributed to his explanations--if it was to be supposed that the disturbance would be increased by Parliament agree ing to such a measure, this House might AS well at once shut up its doors, and resign its functions. But were such assertions to be endured ? When a tumult was some years ago excited in the metropolis by the committal of certain persons by this House, on which occasion several lives had heelt lost, were the lives of the unfortunate victims on that occas'on to be charged on the resolution of the House ? On a more recent occa►ion too, when riots took place during the pro gress of the Corn Bill, were the lives lost on that oc casion to be charged on the House for passing the Bill? And still more recently, were those distur bances in different parts of the c ountry, which bad only just subsided, to be imputed to the arguments of those, who, during the discussions in this House on the distresses of the people, had inlarged on the evils they were suffering, and on the necessity of a re. medy ? But it the Members of the House did their duty without attending to such imputations, they might lay their hands on their hearts and remain satisfied as' to any result. As for such accusations, he hoped he bad shewn clearly that they ought to be utterly dis regarded ; and especially in the present case they mi g ht, say, " We are innocent of the blood of these un h app y p erso ns —see ye to it." If it were necessary to go any farther into this most distressing part of the subject, he might prove very satisfactorily to the House that there were some circumstances in the situation of Barbadnes—(he hoped nobody would insert in the Jamaica newspapers what he was going to say)—(hoar, hear, and a bough,.) that the condition o f the n egro population of that island was such as might account for the insurrection. There was a particular class of those who in that island were placed over the slaves, whose conduct towards them was such as was most likely to gall and oppress these unfortunate blacks. Of all the Colonies, it was the one in which the treatment of the negro slaves was such as to be likely at length to provoke them to some desperate insurrection. But he would go no 'farther into this painful subject; indeed he had gone into it at greater length than he wished or intended. At one time, his intention was to have gone into it much more fully, and even to have moved that cer tain papers should be laid before the House, to shew what was the condition of the slaves in that island ; but on more mature consideration be was induced to abandon this design, because he thought its tendency would be rather to inflame those feelings which ought to be repressed t and moreover, there were papers already printed, which had been presented to the House last Session, and to which recourse might still be had, which would go fir enongh to corroborate his statement as to the general condition of the slaves in Barbadoes. As to the more immediate question of Registry, the measure was one which was abso lutelf necessary to give efficiency and securi' y to the abolition of the Slave Trade ; in short, it was a mea sure not only desirable, but absolutely indispensible. What made it particularly necessary, was the extent to which smuggling of slaves had been carried ; and thfs was an evil which could never be thoroughly eradicated except by means of a Registry; indeed its existence and the extent to which it was carried, was the chief argument for the measure. To prove the extent to which smuggling of slaves was carried, es pecially in the smaller West India islands, he might adduce the evidence of all the Naval Officers who bad served on the West India station. Nay, a still snore conclusive authority might be produced to prove the fact—no less than the House of Assembly of Jamaica—(Hear, bear, hear,)—for they had urged that it would be impossible, even wish the assistance of a strong army, to prevent smuggling. Now, as to the conduct of the House of Assembly with re ference to this point, he must beg leave to say a few wor.ls. He had been happy enough to live to see a greater number of advocates for the abolition of the slave Trade than he could at one time have ever ex pected. Huhad seen in the ranks of these advocates, persons who, from early prejudices or notions of in men, were the last si horn he could expect to come forwaed in such a cause. But what was most mira culous of all was to fi?d that the very Legislaruie of the West India Colonies came fohrard as the most strenuous of those advocates—nay, expressing the most indignant surprise—the utmost horror—that it should be suspected they were capable of coop tenancing the smuggling of slaves—(Hear, dear.) — it was a common saying, that excessive zeal in a young convert was Mal to be suspected ; and he must confess that his feeling with respect tO the House of Assembly was formed entirely on this nation.-•, If he had seen them express in their Report a sod of Id; wing acquiescence in the law easing a 'lisp& sitioit to conform to its enact it seeming to do so with reluctance, it would 'have been a different thing. But when he found that they wale forward by expressing in their Report such extraordinary zeal and alacrity. and express such singular indignation that it should be insinuated that smugg ling was car ried on; and when at the same time he examined the state of the facts, his suspicions of their sincerity were very great. There were so many statements and proofs of smuggling being carried on in the smaller islands, that the fact was incontrovertible. Then it was proved by the returns that the negro population in the different West India Islands had, for the fif teen years previous to 1808, been gradually decreas ing; whereas, since that period, contrary to the ex perience of the preceding fifteen years, there was an increase; this must appear a very strong fact. There were, too, many corroborate facts, in addition to this strong presumptive proof. Immediately after notice was given that a Bill was to be introduced to enact, that the offence of trading in slaves was to be a felo: ny, the negro pepulatioa increased in an amazing proportion ; and this could easily be accounted tor, because the in.portation of slaves being then about to become more difficult, from the operation of the bill, of which notice had been given, it was oecessary to make the best use of the period which elapsed before the law was passed. But then was one tact very im portant, as affecting the construction which niust be put upon the zeal of the House of Assembly, as ex pressed in their Report, which woittd slice. at once how much theirs:eel was to be suspected. Ile alluded to the manner in which it was attempted to cast a doubt on the accuracy of the returns of population in those years during which the greatest increase ap peared, and the way in which they `endeavoured to excite this doubt. was by stating that a poll-tax had been imposed on negro slaves, and that by its remo. val, there being no temptation to conceal thr.num: bur of the slaves, that apparent increase was caused, which appeared in the returns after the year 11308.-6- Now when he found upon inquiry that in the year 1811 (one of those in which the greatest increase ap. peered) the Tax Bill alluded to had actually been passed, when he found stall a method employed by the House of Assembly to get rid of suspicion, when he found them use in their report such ambiguous language, it was impossible not to feel the strongest suspicion —suspicion which would be equally excited by similar conduct in any ordinary tiansaction of lire. Adding to this, the positive proof of the intro duction of slaves to the smaller islands, the House would see how little the Colonial Legislature was to be depended upon in this matter. These facts would also prove, that if it was wished to make the Aboli tion of the Slave Trade real and substantial, it would be absolutely necessary to adopt that measure which on some future day he intended to propose to the House.— (Now, hear.) —What then was to become of the great argument against the Registry Bill, that it was a measure which ought to be left to the Colonial Legislature ? Why it was plainly :hewn, that if that Body was to depended upon for effecting this service, the House would be completely disap pointed. At the same time he did confess, that if `the Colonial Legislature was really disposed to carry the measure into effect, there would be nothing more desirable than that it should be done through them. There was one other fact to which he could not but allude, and which would shew how little the Colonial Legislature was to be depended upon. A few years before the abolition, that Colonial Legislatate had been advised, from whence such advice was likely to have the greatest weight—both by Members in this i House, and by his Majesty's Government, in the 1 strongest way, to adopt some measures of reform i with respect to the mode of treating the slaves. It hail been pressed upon them, that by such a reform they were likely to get rid of the question of Aboli tion. And yet, notwithstanding all this, these repre sentations and all advice had been entirely disregarded by them. One of the measures of reform which had been particularly recommended to thens at that time was the attachment of slaves to the sail—to prevent these unhappy creatures from being sold, removed to another estate or island, and swept away from the spot where they might have long lived—where they had formed connexions and acquired property—spots which might be endeared to them by a thousand ties. This was the measure which Mr. Bryan Edwards had proposed to this House. The House of Assem bly, too, in their Report, spoke most plausibly in fa vour cf it ; but still they did not take one single step towards its adoption. All this was surely enough to shew that ;t was in vain to look for the assistance of the Colonial Legislature towards the adoption of Re. gistry. But when he thought on thecuuntry to which he belonged ; when he recollected who those were whom he was now addressing; when he knew the hearts and the heads of those to whom be appealed; he was sure, that to have the measure adopted, it was only necessary to bring it forward. He was for , getting, however, the great charge brought against him as to thie measure; be was forgetting the accuse. tions of methodism and fanaticism.--(Hear, 1~4 — If to feel for the sufferings of fellow-cteatures—it to I take an interest in their relief—if to strive to amelio. rate their condition—if these were the symptoms of fanaticism, then be must admit himself to be an in. curable lunatic. And, as'with other madmen, when violence was found to be unavailing, it was recom mended to change the mode of treatment to one of temperance and indulgence.—(Loud tries of hear, hear, and laugister.) But in estimating his hopes of suc cess in attaining his object, he would go still farther in reckoning on the effects of that great principle which his opponents vainly sought to discredit; he I would say that 'it was not only from the natural hu ' manity, but ftom the religion of the people of Eng. land that he expected success.—(Lead skate of hoar, hf:ar, from all as: of As Hews.) There was one as lenient used against him, to which"recourse was bid I in opposing the Abolition of the Slave Trades he was asked whether he could not find out some other evil crying as loudly for remedy as the condition of negro slaves, and much nearer home I He was asked why he did not apply himself to the distresses of the Irish. for that they were in poverty and misery —that they were forced totem their country ? Now he knew the lash character too well to 'Suppose that they could be taken in by any shallow compliment such as might be intended by this argument; nay, he ins ninttiat,. ' great as might be the distresses of the Irish people, they would feel themselves to be insulted by any 'comparison of their situation with that of the Negro Slaves in the West Indies.—(Hear, Ater, hear.) — He recollected the observation of a foreigner upon a controversy between two persons, whose language he could not understand, but the foreigner perceiving that one was angry, said that h e was sure t he cool man was triumphant in his reasoning, and he was convinced that such must be the conclusion of any cool observer, upon the temper manifested by the disputants upon this questiou ; for the one was as re markable for temperance as the other was for vio• lence. The one slie,wed no passion, and the other :hewed no power in argument. It had been stated by a certain class of men, that great mischief had been done in the Colonies by the Methodist Missio naries, but in answer to this allegation he could quote the authority of a man, whom the West India Plan ters must respect, and from this authority it appeared that the Moravian Missionaries, who were the most active, had, as well as the Methodist Missionaries, done a great deal towards rendering the negroes more orderly and subservient to the wishes of their em ployers. It had been also stated that it was proposed by the advocates of the negroes to injure the interests of the Church of England, but he could not help thinking that those who used this language were just as anxious for the interest of tl:e Church of England, as for that of the people of Scotland or Ireland. The fact, however, was, that the principal Members of the Church of England, actuated by the genuine spirit of Christianity, which became them, and must serve to bless their character, were as anxious as himself, .or any other man, to struggle in this glo rious cause; and among those members were several of the most distinguished prelates of the Established Church. Therefore, all the artifices employed by the enemies of the unfortunate • negroes, who were the common enemies of humanity, must be unsuccessful. 'Those who sought their interest only in the prosecu. tion Of a system of imposture and injustice, could produce no effect upon men of integrity and intellect. The Hon. Gentleman apologizeclfor having occupied so much of the time of the House—(loud cries of Hear, hear,)—but he felt it necessary to enter into the statements he had made in order to counteract the disposition of Gentlemen who think rather in favour of masters than of &laves, and to enable the House to form a correct opinion upon this interesting ques tion. He concluded with moving for a return, with the titles and dates, of any accounts transmitted by' the Assembly of Jamaica for the approbation of his Majesty, as to a poll tax imposed upon slaves in the years 1809, 10, 11, and 12, whether such accounts referred to taxation, or to any other purpose, speci fying the time or times at which such returns were directed to be made. [The Honourable Gentleman sat down amid loud and continued cheerir.g from all parts of the House.] Mr. BROUGHAM c. ,nded the Motion. The question having been put from the Chair . Mr. NICHOLAS PALMER, said, that, in rising to follow the Honourable Gentleman who had com menced this debate, be was fully conscious of his in ability to remove the impression which his eloquence had, no doubt, produced on the minds of the House. Nevertheless, he felt it his duty to make a few plain statements, and he had only to hope that those state ments would not lose their weight by the imperfect manner in which they were iatrodoced. (Hear, hear.) He was free to confess that the speech of the Hon. Gentleman had materially altered the course which he intended to have taken on this occasion. If any thing was wanting to induce him to think it was un becoming in that House to intermeddle with the in ternal affairs or the West Indies, it was that Speech, which he could not but think was calculated to pro duce incalculable mischiefs, from the brilliant manner in which the Honourable Gentleman had depicted the supposed grievances of the Negroes. He was satisfied that it the douse was fully informed of the state of the West Indies, :hat they would find there was nu just ground for those &fied pictures, and that no pains had been spared since the Aitoli!iqn of the Slave Trade to give effect to that measure, to promote the comfort and happiness of the Negroes, as well as their religioui instruction. He would appeal to his Majesty's Government, in fact, whether upon this latter subject there had been wanting not predilection, but precaution l--(egar, hear.) —lt was a well-known tact, that persons had got into the Co lonies, and under the sacred name of religion, had promulgated doctrines of disobedience and insurrec tion, in support of which . they had had the audacity to use the name of the Honourable Gentleman. So much for the information of cite Honourable Gentle. man upon this topic. He would now take the liberty of giving to the House a short view of what the state of the Colonies was at this moment—and in doing this he would set out by expressing a hope that no attempt would ever again be made to introduce to the House the same Registry Bill which had been laid on the table in the course of this year. ft was impossible to describe the agitation winch the discus sion of this measure had produced. It had, in fact, ; not alone led to the most serious acts of insurrec tion, but it had led to the destruction of a number of human lives, and to the most dreadful apprehen sion of a renewal of similar scenes of horrcr.— But two years ago the negroes of the colonies would have laid down their lives for their masters; but such was the effect of the promulgation of modern doc trines in their minds, that they no longer entertained the isnie feelings of affection,and the white inhabitants and their families, apprehensive of the consequence of this dangerous change in their sentiments, had begun to emigrate, lest they should fall victims to their mistakeoideas of justice: Having thus stated ,generally the situation of the islands, he would now call the attention of the House to the particular situa tion of the Islands of Jamaica and Barbadoes, where 'the strongest feelings of discontent prevailed among the negroes, and this feeling he desired to state upon the best infornaation, which he would be most willing to communicate to the Honourable Gentleman, was produced by a set of Anabaptists, who had crept into the colonies, and who had poisoned the minds of the negroes by an assurance, that they had a right to demand their liberty by the laws of England. As far as he bad been able to .collect, in fact, nothing was more clear than that the disquietude which did exist was attributable to the introduction of the Re gistry Bill, and the best proof of this was the gauss' calling out to*the officer to register their names-- NO*ln eoski taco4l the spirit which had taketspes-a .. session of de nis unhappy men, and one of t h m declared tiefcire his executi on , t h at a conspl c;" 1 s : 4 existed, under which it was deter mined to i), e p d p r proceeded s Jig reads t.a the t t t ; slaves a the whole of the male white Ovulation a n ,„ 1. 1 - "' serve the fent ales for oth er purposes. The f t ; t°. i. ableGe c n i t u le a rr i it n Gentleman ip then l) newspapers to them, as well as other puti,... ; which their situation was referred to ; trines cootaintsd in which it was fie atoi'..t. outrages which had been committed. Am publications of this description n ag ono o„. gistry of Slavers, s, and another entitled the .tri e ., Observer, in both of which th e slave was i n . sa s i r ,‘' terms encouraged to fly in t h e f ace o f his rosisi, to free himself from bondage, whil e the cci.,,14r1 Christophe and Potion was mentioned as , n ad lT incentive to such condu ct . Th e Hon. Vatican then proceeded to comment on the ori sc h;; / : m t .) necessarily resulted from th e dissemination o : 0 , 11 doctrines, and to reprobate tl.e activity whicti African Institution displayed in their •• He next contrasted the Ell w hi c h Mr. It.l dt; 1 1'1 i• suggested, in the year 1792. to Lard G r ; 114 with the Slave Regist r y Bill, svh:ch 1 14 :! cently been proposed. I ra t h e i o: mer, he iesrE., Mt. Burke had awarded comp ensat i on to the'sivre' owner, in case of emancipa t i on , and m " 4 1 conduct the invariable ctit er in n of inanulailio . :: — He even proposed to send persons back to e„." . "" who had been guilty of inbCc•ltaict. 1,,ct 0 : er r sure could form a stranger contrast to that rots 1 by the Hon. Gentlemau (Mr. i'liltierforce). was, however, the course taken by Lord this subject ? Ditl he think it neces sar y to introdete such a ?No such thing ;he proposed so address to his Majesty, expressing a reliance ou the wisdom ot the Colonial Legislature, for adopting snit reef. sures as were likely ta promote the safety and secu r i t y of the Colonies, and at the same time assuring h:s Majesty, that it circumstances should arise to tequire the coniperatis s of Parliament, they would et a ll times be ready to afford it. Such was the course taken by Lord Melville, and in it lie had the support of Mr. Fax, who had reprobated in strong terms any intermeddling with the internal arrangeraeots of the Colonies as dangerous, and likely to prostate no be. • neticial result. It any thing was wanting to be added to these testimonies .against the policy of interferin with the internal Government of the Colonies, it wai in the sentiments of Mr. Pitt, who cautioned the House against any interference with the local authi. sties of the Colonies. The Hon. Gaatleinan net proceeded to deny that there was any just fondant); or that any proof whatever could be adduced of the Abolition Bill having been infringed, or that these had been any attempt whatever at .n ill i cit imprta. don of slaves into the islands Li fine, he contendd that any interference on the part of that Howe with the internal laws of the Colonies, could pro. duce no good effect, but might, as in the cal" of tl.e Slave Registry Bill, produce incalculable mischief.—: lie had no objection to the production of any infor. mation which could be asked, or which might tend to throw a light open this subject ; hut he shouid oppose the motion of the Honourable Gentleman, be. cause he thought it would only increase the evils which had already found existence. The Honourable Gentleman, in conclusion, moved, as an amendment, the omission of all the words after the word "That' in the original Resolution, and the insertion of the following There be presented an bumble Ad. dress to his Royal Highness the Prince Ilegezt, praying that he will be pleased to communicate te the Governors of the several Islands in the West Jr.. dies, his Royal Highness's comm.:cols, th..t they d, issue Proclamations, annoancing his Royal High. ness's high displeasure at the daring insurrection it; the Island of Barbadoes, and a: the false insinuations which were circulated of his Royal Highanet having sent orders for the emancipation of the Blacks. Also, that his ttoyal Highness be requested to sig. nify his confidence in the Local Authorities of at Islands, at the' same tone that he directs them to carry into effect every measure which may tend to promote the morals and religion, as well as the o.:ta tort acrd happiness, of the Negroes." Mr. h ATSON TA YLO it, in a short speech, •g• touted this amendment, and contended, that the la. sembly of Jamaica was deserving of every conlitenco [During this Gentleman's speech the interroptoa was so great, that Sir CHARLES BURRELL appealed to the Speaker, and entreated that he would xot his authority to keep order, and direct his Serjeant, or his Deputy, to clear the Bar, at which several Mem bers were assembled in conversation.—The SPEAKER immediately directed the Bar to be cleared.] Mr. BARHAM rose for the purpose of expressing the strongest feelings of hostility to the Slave Itego try Bill, which, he was confident, had led to that scene of murder and devastation which had recenq occurred in the West Indies. That Bill, which avid brought into the House to prevent that which tes said to exist—and w!lich was proved not to have es• isted—a contraband trade in slaves—had created the alarm which pervaded all the West India islands, and had produced, in one of them, an ingot-icon:Hi To secure the safety of those Colonies, in alarm was so prevalent, it was absolutely nrce. , .:47 to disclaim the intention of proceeding farther wit's a Bill that had produced such mischievous affects. An amendment had been moved, and lie was sort( for it, because it did not go far enough, for, he wti sure, the feelings of the House would have be •a sufficiently powerful to have carried a much etrr.rigt measure. The Honourable Gentleman (Mr. W berforce) had argued, that the conduct ot the colt;• nists, in misrepresenting this Bill, was the cause if the troubles. No doubt others would follow him that course, and attribute to the same cause the surrection in Barbadoes, and the alarm in all tl other islands. He was rejoiced, that those whom le must consider his enemies on this occasion. 1 1, 'd taken up so un:enable a position. Those Gent C• men protested, when the Abolition Bill passed, that that was the last measure they meant to introduce. -e They forgot this pledge, and the Slave Registry Bill was passed in consequence. But how was this softened down ? All they said was, that they did not me an to attempt emancipation by insurrection. Ce rtainl y they did not. Jf they had encouraged such an at tempt, they would have been liable to be tried for their lives. But, in order to carry the measure of which he complained, they; in the last Session, nc• caned the colonists of an infraction of the Abolition Law.. They failed, however, in proving their car. So fo, isdeta it, that they it co ntracts tc mutt be a wh state ;Iv 0 bi r ro , e ,t •n the a vtiottl did nu that ntisetab:t sctouns c,f it I . u/tr y and e ir :Pdisicti sr t is tst i g id ttui ete e' o a a : G s ni ; e.i nt i a lel ne : n ni C w ilt E :o ti k ) k t p l nfi li s t n i e il n, : h t yi t y rn i l l 'i de d ,l'hb e dal y, ee t a , uv o t n fo: t wo ariants. o f a colonist pe a ever so on a subject 'Why > becau two . Let a jodia proprit fat hos moat t i ng l e tact 01 I t iavicei• so w c harge C o l e to oui ,leo matte' e kes disrac she West In , ( m ar , hear) bad Oren lat him attend ....(he here were Memt them, but were active perceiv.4 at then, bis op all the whin get through nets send Of man, wot • from the RI that tbeir vi aortal obsers given by otl their regins toaril their for isemsel , derried fro disitualified nor tongue] * tied of 4lf &IT Ma Bill occatic would be a were extort latter class would be But he Wu rintd, perhal us body Of dear upon kolontal est Su our pas `the roomer •sltbtat , h t teens n, as there. moment ti the art tval the red thi diva It flapprn et . , ditty tit and then !such a ci from the strous , to I%lAutis WI wh vAilie of 0 elusion of c isioned tion to IT to be watt If th4',e troutte t. they •wou tittir owr kid alon find that Shat grin them as they wn• citcumst of the al author retire, ii rium of retire, k had bee tonne sti who hai said, U LaPPY. dill P' *as tha ezettior he meal tempi !' slcletitt l fof the liumbh If a cu uhy w, threi those to ot ►his by the Dill. ' inony &LAI 61 moral ittiCOUlf titie,