The Express.
London, England, 1848-02-04 00:00:00

by De. Evans. He could not, therefore, admit that the consider the propositions which had bees made by the
primal keen and distress of the West Indian interest were Chanoeller of the Exchequer.
to be attributed to the act of 1846 for admitting foreign The adjournment of the home was then agreed to; sad
lave-grown sugar, or to the doctrines of free trade. He the home shortly afterwards adjosuesed, at a few :Mantes
found it stated -in a report of a select committee of the MOM- after twelve o'eaock.
bly of Jamaica, that of 653 sugar estates 140 had been aban-
doned; and this he attributed mm's to the act of 1836 than that
of 1846. Going back to the period of slavery, andlerhen the slave
trade was moat flourishing, he found it stated by Mr. B.
Edwards, in hie history of the West Indies, that in the
course of 20 years, ending in 1791, no less than 177 sugar
plantations had been sold for the payment of debts, 5.5 had ,
been abandoned by the proprietors, and 92 had still remained '
in the hands of the creditors. He found that in 1804 several
British merchants had filed bills in Chancery, but that even
when they obtained decrees they declined to execute them.
In 1807 things were no better. In 1811 it was observed that I
the rain of the original peseesson had been gradual, and
that estate after estate had passed into the hands of I
mortgagees. In 1832 a committee of that house reported to
the same effect; and in 1844 the agent of the West Indies I
represented that the abandonment of estates was continuing. I
Surely it, was not possiele to attribute that state of things
which continued from 1791 to 1844 either to the abolition of .
the slave trade or to foreign competition. He fared it
should rather be attributed to that baneful want ef energy
and exertion which principally arm* out of a reliance spat
protection. As for the distrme which prevailed, it would be
found to exist as well in colonies where slavery was still eon-
tinued ; the produce of the West Indies was greater than
that; of either Cuba or Java, and that being so he did not
sae any around for despair, or any reason for apprehending
that with free labour properly directed, and the aid of
machinery, the West Indies should not produce as
cheap an article as could be bad bylislave labour.
There was much testimony to favour that belief. In Trini-
dad, even berme slavery was abolished, • considerable por-
tion of the labour was had from gangs of free moo. Mr.
Scotland, a member of the assembly of Jamaica, and a resi-
dent planter, stated that in his opirien free labour was a
shade less expensive than slave labour. He attributed their
inability to compete with slave growers to the want of a
resident proprietary and proper management; and, con-
trasting Cuba with Jamaica, he observed that in the forme I
the proprietor was resident, well skilled in the cultivation of
his estate, managing it with a strict regard to economy, and
on the spot to correct all abuses ; while in the latter he was
not only hundreds of miles away, hot his estate left to
the mercy and management of mortgagees. Still mere de-
dein evidence was given by Mr. Prince, who went out rims I
years ago to manage an estate in Jamaica, and which he had I
done most satisfactorily to the owners. lie stated that in
1843, it produced 190 hogaheads, 1'44, 290 hogsheads, in
18+5, 400 tons, and 1846 ,00 tons, while by constructing a
new tramway he had effected an economy of 8 labourers
and 142 head of cattle, and was of opinion that,
by machinery and an improved proem of cultiva-
tion, he could produce sugar cheaper than any slave owner.
But there was one remarkable circumstance to which he
must call the attention of the house, as showing that the
sugar grown in the French West India colonies, where slave
labour prevailed and continued to the present moment,
mould not compete with the beet-root sugar cultivated in
France. In 1843 a duty was imposed by the French govern-
ment of :5 francs per kilogramme on beet-reot sugar, which
was to continue until 1848, when an equality in the duties
was to take place. In Mr. bl•Culloch's " Commercial
Dictionary" it was I iid down that this duty upon beet-
root sugar would annihilate its growth and cultivation
in France; but so far from this being the case the cultiva-
tion had increa•ed in a most remarkable degree. At this
moment the duty was in course of diminution, and in Au-
gust ant there would be a perfect equality of the duty on
beet-root sugar and; upon French colonial sugar imported
into France. And ye: this cheap slave grown sugar could
not now compete with free-labour sugar made in France, and
the French col inlet slave-owning auger growers were now
making representations to the French government claim-
ing the
nicepoeition of a protecting duty against beet-root
sugar. He believed, however, that it was capable
of proof by • mere reference to admitted facts
that the system of free labour by the aid of proper and
improved process may render free-labour sugar as cheap, if
not cheaper, than alave.grown sugar. He (the Chancellor of
the Exchequer), therefore, did not despair th it if improve-
ments in machinery and in the mode of cultivation were car-
ried out in the British West India colonies as they had been
at the Mauritius and elsewhere, those colonies would still
continue sugar-producing colonies, and might be restored,
by a different system of management oa the part
of the resident proprietors, to a comparative state
of prosperity. He hoped that such would be the
ease, an t if any propositions beyond those which
the government was now prepared to concede were made
in a select committee moved tor by the noble lord opposite
(Lord G. Bentinck), they should be e moldered ; but he
must repeat, that the government was not prepared to re-
store the system of protection which had ea lately lama
abandoned. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. G. R. ROBINSON said, that though he differed
altogether from the views of her Majesty's government,
he still gave them credit for the declaration made by the
right hon. baronet the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to the
effect, that in consenting to the appointment of a
select committee, he would be no party to the
creation thereby of • delusion that they would
in any degree depart from the Act of 1546.
If the West India colonists were not to look for any relief
other than that contained in the measures propounded by
the right bon. baronet, the sooner thee knew it the better,
in order that they might be prepared to meet the conse-
quences which must ensue, riz. the eventual ruin, if not the
entire loss, of the colonies. His argument was, that protec-
tion was absolutely necessary for the interests of these colo-
nies. When he concurred in the measure for the abolition
of slavery, he little thought that those who hadcarried that
glorious measure would ever be the parties to ad-
vocate the admission of slave-grown sugar of other
colonies to compete with the free-labour sugar of
the British colonies. The noble lord at the head of the
government had stated the other day that he hoped the
remedial measures proposed by the government would enable
the British colonies to enter into that competition; but he
(Mr. Robinson) begged to oak whether the effect of the
measure of 1816, when it come to abolish the existing dif-
linens' duties, would not be to throw open the market in
this country to all parts of the world? This would be the result
of the free-trade principle. which already had been adopted;
and he must remind the noble lord that it would be easier
new to retrace the steps ehich had been erroneouslytaken then
after a farther onward course ; at all events, if the noble
lord would not retrace the steps taken, he ought to pause
before he went farther. He was aware it was hopeless now
to expect a renewal of protection generally, but if asked
what he would do, he would tell the government that he
would restore the protection of sugar to the extent of ten
shillings per cwt., and, if consistent with existing treaties,
he would exclude slave-grown sugar altogether. He warned
the government that, although the revenue might not imme-
diately feel the effects of the falsely-caded tree-trade mea-
sures, yet the state of the revenue, embarrassed as it was now
admMed to be, would become more and more embarrassed,
and the consequence would he that the income tax, so unpo-
pular in this country, would not only become perpetual, but
there would be a necessity for increasing its amount every
year. In that case what was to become of the masses of the
population, crippled as they would be by the transfer from
their hands of their trade to the hands of foreigners ? Why
the result would be, a vast increase to the pauperised
population, already subsisting upon parochial rates, and a
still further increase to the criminal records o: the country.
The repeal of the navigation lava was now called for by the
free traders in their distress : and thus it was that when the
protection was removed from one interest, those who suffered
sought to take it away from others. Whatever palliative the
committee now proposeil might devise for the sufferings of tho
West India colonies, unless protection were restored, those
colonies must be ultimately lust to the mother country. For
where would be the advantage of retaining them if their trade
and navigation were to be given up to other countries ? In such
case, the sooner we set about negotiating with the United
States for the disposal of these colonies the better. (Laughter.)
Of course, he did not mean this serieuely ; but he was convinced
that our free trade legislation was producing such • feeling
of alienation in these colonies, that, in the event of a war,
their support and attachment would be very little to be
relied on.
Mr. lIG!dE said the noble lord (Lord G. Bentinck) had
laid the foundation for an inquiry into everything relating to
these coloniee ; but as the Chancellor of the Exchequer had
declared that, whatever conclusion the committee might c
to, the government would not go beyond a certain point, and
' would not recede from the measures that had been passed,
' he thought it would be better not to appoint a committee at
all, lest false hopes might be excited in the West India colo-
nists. (Hear, Mar.) He hoped the noble lord would not
accept the committee to be so appointed, but would leave all
• the responsibility to government. Many of the suggestions
of the Chancellor of the Exchequer were good, as for as
they went; and he agreed in thinking that much of the colo-
nial dieting now existing was attributable to the want of free
labourers in the islands. Had they been properly introduced
at first, much of the existing distress would have been
avoided. (Hear.) Another evil was, the defective legisla-
tion in the colonies, by which the employers were unable to
keep the hands at work, and hence the squatting and idle-
ness which had ensued. He was convinced that slave
labour could never be put down until free labour was brought
into full competition with it. It was imposslble that any
colonial minister and his secretary—even if they were en-
dowed with superhuman talent—conld regulate the affaiis
of 40 different colonies; and with the constant changes in
the Colonial-office the difficulty was infinitely increased.
Acts ought to be passed regulating the form of govern-
mint of each colony, which the colonial minister should not
be suffered to infringe in any way. (Hear.) In conclusion,
he again expressed a hope that the noble lord would with.
draw his motion.
Mr. E. ELLICE said he cordially seconded this appeal.
As one deeply interested in the matter, he thanked the
noble lord for the steps he had taken, and was disposed to
have given him his support; but after hearing the speech of I
the right hon. baronet, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he
thought it most advisable that the committee should not be
appointed. The appointment would only excite grounding
expectations of the continuance of a differential duty.
Rather let the colonists be told that their posi-
tion was now ascertained, and that they must
adapt themselves to the circumstances. Then the
experiment would be fairly tried, whether they could
emit under the system now introduced. (Hear.) He had
let a portion of hie own colonial estates at an extremely low
rent; he had nevertheless been appealed to for a sistance;
but he had told his tenants that they must do the best they
could, and must reconcile themselves to the existing state of
things.

ghe erprogs.

MAILS

The mile for the Brad la, the Riven rate, Marta Video, Parma.
=.4Beisiad:deneirai and Buenos Ayrey will be made ay pp am

Thr malls by Vlirs Oporto, U.S,att liadeirs, Cada; and Gantlet
ail. he made hp on the maroons of the 7th February.
The overised dosed malt, via Marseilles, to to Med-iterruleas
fent. Aden, Ceylon, llama Kale, he., will be made up is dip
eienang of the toe7ry.
The meda for Brawn North America. Bermeda, sad the twit
Mew will to be. up on the evening of the 11 J February.
Tae Wew ladle 14/Is, ezeleding Bennett; Bees,,
limehints !few Palmas Teri eras Tampico, awl Porto Bios end
Weleding Uyie /or Madeira, Jared, Cartisseene, Mart*
Chaves, Paean; West Meat of South Saari!" end !!!.. Joan•dep
bieweguis We be made op on the asnrsdag of the 17th p`.ruary.
71 eardawl wade ler Bibraltay, Malts, Gnaw, Bank
►irrvat,Adeet, Ceylon. IntLe,Flass.itoacaad Mans, no eouthampais.
will Se made up as the mond/mei the bitti February.
The Ma alt for Sew South Wales, Van uicreen Isar!, and Ica
Zealand will he made op On the reacrup of the real Frbryary.
The mile for the Wait Oast of Afrda and Madeira eM be mae
tap on the remind of the 29th February.

Mr. J. WILSON moved the ajournment of the house.
(" No, no ;" and cries of "Goon.' )
The motion for adjournment being seconded,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER expressed a
hope that the debate might be Enished now.
Mr. T. BARING suggested that time should be given to