The Press.
London, England, 1854-07-01 00:00:00

THE BRAZILIAN SLAVE TRADE.

The vote of 20,000/. under the acts for the aboli-
tion of the slave trade proposed in committee of
supply on Monday night gave occasion for several
remarks and questions touching the success of the
endeavours so perseveringly made by the British
Government for the extinction of the slave trade in
Brazil.

Lord PALMERSTON entered into details showing
what had been effected towards accomplishing the
desired end :

" The Brazilian Government signed a treaty in 1826 by
which they bound themselves to abolish the slave trade ;
but from 1820, down, he believed, to 1852, that treaty was
openly violated, the slave trade being carried on in the
most undisguised manner and to the utmost possible
extent. Negroes to the number of 50,000, 00,000, or 70,000
were taken into Brazil every year, and sold publicly in the
streets of the towns, without the slightest attempt being
made on the part of the Brazilian Government to interfere
and to prevent the violation not only of the treaty itself,
but of a law passed in execution of that treaty. Then
came the act passed in 1845, but not carried into effect
until 1850. It was said that public opinion in Brazil
underwent a change on this subject, and that the Brazilian
Government took the earliest opportunity, of which public
opinion enabled them to avail themselves, to put down the
slave trade. Nothing of the kind took place. The
Brazilian Government was composed of persons favourable
to the slave trade, and nothing would have induced that
Government to put down the trade except the coercion
which the English Government enforced upon them by the
execution of the provisions of the act of 1845. There was
doubtless some public opinion in Brazil against the slave
trade, but it was overpowered by the great influence exerted
over the members of the Government and the Adminis-
tration by slave-owners. When the act was put into force
in the summer of 1850, a great sensation was produced ;
there were complaint* of violation of independence and
infraction of national rights ; and the Government offered
if the execution of the act were suspended to carry it out
themselves. Our minister at Brazil and the admiral com-
manding on the coast took them at their word, and sus-
pended operations on their own responsibility. What
followed ? The slave trade revived instantly, and for three
or four months went on just as bad as before. This led to
a remonstrance from our minister, and a threat to put the
act in force. The Brazilian Government then, finding the
slave trade could not be carried on, set to work in good
earnest, passed fresh laws, gave orders to their agents to
do what they ought to have done 25 years sooner at the
end of a couple of years the system succeeded, and he
believed the slave trade was now practically at an end.
( Hear, hear.) We had thus conferred the greatest possible
benefit on the Brazilian nation. The slave trade had
been carried on fur the benefit of a small number of
wealthy capitalists, while the smaller ones were ruined,
the nation demoralised, all improvement was stopped, and
every abDmination was gradually spreading through the
country. All this had been put a stop to, and the nation
was now freed from the abominable system of crime that
had formerly prevailed. The capital once employed in
purchasing these wretched negroes was applied to internal
improvements ; the Indians were gradually becoming
available for the purposes of agriculture ; and the whole
face of the country was changing for the better in conse.
pence of the cessation of the slave trade—the effect of the

SATURDAY,

act which the hon. gentleman was so eager to have re-
pealed. To repeal that act would be to do the greatest
injury to the Brazilian people that it was possible for
England to inflict upon them. Only the other day one of
the great Brazilian slave-traders had come over here to in•
vest in this country the proceeds of his iniquitous savings;
and as the recollection of those abominable pursuits was
quite fresh in the minds of the people, it would be perfect
madness in the British Parliament to repeal this act.
(Hear, hear.)"
The vote, after some further discussion, was passed.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF CANADA BILL.

This bill was brought forward for committal in the
Lords on Thursday, when the Earl of DERBY opposed
its further progress. This measure, be contended,
would destroy the constitution of one of our oldest
colonies, abolish the safeguards which protected
the monarchical element therein, and convert Canada
into a republic of even more democratic character
than the United States. The existing constitution,
which the bill would overturn, had worked well, and
Canada had prospered enormously under its opera-
tion. He wished, at all events, that time should be
allowed for a more deliberate consideration of the
measure both in England and in Canada.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE defended the measure,
declaring that he did not share in the fears expressed
by Lord Derby, that the Canadian constitution would
become republican by its operation. He remarked
that the old system of nominee chambers had fallen
into discredit or disuse throughout the whole range
of our colonial empire. A similar measure had been
tried at the Cape and in the colony of Victoria with
complete success.
Lord Sr. LEONARD'S supported the amendment,
contending, that if the bill passed, Canada would be
practically governed by a single elective chamber of
very democratic complexion.
Upon a division their lordships decided upon pass-
ing the bill through committee by a majority of 63
to 30-24.