The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-06-24 00:00:00

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and the military called on to suppress e limb and to aid the cis II
power, the insurrection might Lay.• tte.tn speedily quelled Here
the misconduct arose not from walla of adeqnste power en the
part of the Government, but from miriadvice; but he tooted that
, defect had now been fully done away with, and guarded againstin
i'u*ure. There certainly existed the means of putting down riot,
and suppressing insurrection in the island, or the authorities would
Dot have been enabled to produce the peaceable feeling at present
existing, or to maintain tranquillity. The fault had been, not a
want of authority, but the non use of authority. (Hear.) Was be
disposed to pass over the transaction slightly or without observa-
tion ? No such thing. Although lie could not precisely agree with
the Honourable Gentleman, or adopt his opinions on the subject,
be was prepared to give utterance to his sentiments—not indeed in
censure of the Government or the Governor—but in aid of both,and
for the purpose of proving to the colony that the opinion of
of the House and country was, that the Governor had done his
duty as he ought, and should receive their support. He should
therefoae propose an amendment on the Resolution of the Hon.
Gentleman to the following effect:—" That this House, having
taken into their most serious conaideration the papers laid before
them relating to the demolition of the Methodist Chapel in Bar.
badoes, deem it their duty to declare, that they view with the ut-
most amazement and indignation that scandalous and daring viola-
tion of law, at the same time that they take this opportunity of
expressing thetr satisfaction at the instructions sent out to the
Colonies by his Majesty's Government, to prevent a recurrence of
each outrages. And they assure his Majesty, that this House will
afford him every assistance which may be required, and entirely
concur in every measure to secure ample protection and religious
toleration to all his Majesty's subjects in that part of his Majesty's
dominions." The Honourable Gentleman would see the essential
difference between the two Resolutions. First, he (Mr. Canning
after the winds view with amazement," which, by the way, was
written "amusement" in the Resolution (laughter), substituted
"indignation," for " detestation," as an equally strong but more
Parliamentary phrase. Next, after the word " Barbadoes," his
would omit what followed, and substitute the terms of his proposed
amendment. He thought the !louse should not express an opinion
of too strong and severe a nature, under all the circumstances of the
case. There were not many instances of penal inflictions having been
directed against large Societies; in all our history lie only recollected
two at the present moment, and they were in the case of Porte&
riot at home, and the Boston Port RIB In our external history.
The latter was too ominous in its nature to afford any encourage.
ment to repeat the experiment. Yet as an admonition to the iv.
habitants of Barbadoes, and as an expression of the opinion of the
Howse, We thought the present course proposed to be taken would
be equal in effect in a more serious punishment. The principle
of severe and weighty infliction should be rather permitted to lie
dormatnt in the omnipotent bosom of Parliament, till they were
prepared to effect it fully and push it to extremities. With respect
to the Resolution of the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. F. Buxton), if a
Resolution did not recognise the exertions and good conduct of a
Government, it in fact impeached it in an instance like the pee.
sent ; and he thought, if he improved the Resolution by what he
proposed to strike out, he would also render it more effixtive by
means of what lie put in.
Mr. BUTTERWORT!! explained, and, as we understood.
alluded to the letter of Mr. Shrewsbury, which he could not eon.
cur with the Right Hon. Secretary (Mr. Canning) in denomi-
nating a firebrand.
Mr. Secretary CANNING dfd not mean to say the letter in
question had caused the ignition of the chapel, which took place a
considerable time after its publication. (A laugh.) His observe.
tion was, that the publication of theletter had rendered Mr. Shrews.
bury obnoxtous in the colony.
Mr. BROUGHAM approved of he amendment proposed by the
Right Hon. Secretary, because it amounted in fact to an improve-
ment upon the original resolution, which what usually bore the
name of amendments, and came horn the Right Hon. Secretary's
side of the House, seldom did. (Hear.) The origiral resolutlon
would certainly be the better for the change, because the censure,
while it continued equally strong, was more parliamentary. Along
with that he disapproved of the pledge to rebuild the chapel con-
tained in the original resolution. He supposed his lion. Friend
was not aware at the time he proposed that part of his resolution of
its immediate and direct tendency, which was, in fact, to lead the
House into a fresh legislation on the subject ; for the CT3 wn, Un_
authorised by the House, could not do it. The Crown might levy
war, despatch an army, or do some other acts wlhout the aid of
Parliament, but it could not raise money without their sanction ;
and the resolution, in as far as it related to the rebuilding of the
chapel, was a proposition to exper d the public money for that pur-
pose; or, in other words, to raise taxes and levy money upon some
portion of his Majesty's subjects for the execution of a particular
project, and that without the authority of Parliament. He could
not concur in the propriety of such a proceeding, and that was his
reason for objecting to it. The Right Hon. Secretary had stated
that there were but two precedents for inflictions of a severe nature,
such as that contemplated in the present instance upon a large body
of men through the medium of Parliament; and he had referred to
the proceedings adopted towards the Edinburgh mob and the Bos-
ton Port Bill : the latter lie had farther denominated an ominous
precedent. Now he (Mr. Brougham) could not perceive the slight.
eet parallel—he feared none—between the two cases. God forbid
he should therefore advise the perpetration of an act of injustice.
because the party concerned on whom it was to take effect was
powerless. All he meant to say was, it might be right, and doubt.
less it was so, to avoid what was wrong, what would be an erroneous,
unjust, and, he would add, impolitic line of conduct. But it wee
not dangerous. He could not allow any parallel between the w..
duct pursued by America and that likely to be adopted by our West
Indian colonies. (Hear.) For, taking the islands altogether, from
the smallest of the Virgin Isles to the largest and moat important of'
our West Indian possessions, Cuba—any resistance they could
make would be of no importance; and he did not think resistance
would ever seriously enter into their contemplation. To be sure
they might talk of resistance, they might threaten to go to France
or America, where, after all, they would meet with a cold reception ;
but as to any thing positive, the thing wax utterly impracticable,
and too ridiculous to be dwelt upon foe a single moment. But that
was no reason or argument to defend the doing of an illegal or un-
just action ; and he held that in exact proportion as the colony was
weak, so much the worse would it be to trample upon it. He would
rather confront and conflict with strength than trample open weakness.
But the Houseshould do what it was right to do. lie meant, when
the colonies neglected to do their duty the House should discharge
their's ; and if they refused to obey, Parliament should interpose
the authority it possessed of right, and do so without fear of resist-
ance. ( Hear.) %fhb regard to the motion now before the House.
he felt much gratified at the indignation expressed by the Right
Honourable Secretary (Mr. Canning) against the perpetrators
of this enormous outrage. (Heir, hear, hear.) The Under.
Secretary (Mr. W. Horton) had been something more mealy-
mouthed on the subject. (A laugh.) The Secretary for Foreign
Affairs, who had to deal princip Ily *kb the Holy Alliance, aas
unmeasured in his reprobation--not so theUnder..Setretary for the

Colonies ; and it seemed as if there were different degree* and de-
partments of reprobation in Downing-street. (Hear, hear, and a
laugh.) The fact was, it was attempted to fislliate the cor.duct of
the perpetrators of this atrocious outrage at Barbados, by saying
they were betrayed into their conduct by tire height of their feel.
ings. (A laugh.) Their conduct was not to be sure directly ex-
cused, but then it was entirely attributable to those amiable feel.
Ings which had been excited. (A laugh.) Under the influence
of those feelings they had only threatened, burned, destroyed,
and merely committed high treason. (A laugh,) Doming a pro-
clamation one day, perhaps in the name of Captain Rock, and the
next day in that of the Committee of Pahlic Safety. This amiable
indiscretion wu not to be blamed ; the lion. Gent. only regretted
the cause of it. (Hear hear, and a laugh.) They had committed.
the outrage merely in protection of their property. (A laugh.) A
man she was desirous to protect his own purse might take another's
upon the same principle; and he would be hanged, poor man,
although, like the Barbadians, he had only exceeded the bounds of
discretion. (a laugh.) So, to preserve their own property, those
amiable Colonists set to work to burr and destroy the Methouist
Chapel (hear); and this they had appropriately denominated the
triumph of true religion. (A laugh.) They burned and destroyed
all for the sake of religion. As in the name of liberty excesses
had been committed, so, it was to be lamented, religion had
frequently given rise to persecution ; but never had such enormities
been committed, perhaps, is in the present instance. lie was pre-
pared to maintain the greatest services and benefits to the Colonies and
the slave population lead resulted from the labours of the Illethedist
Missionaries. it was a duty to protect the Church as by law Ebtl.
blished,but it was equally a duty to protect the condition of the sects
also. The Church of England, as established elsewhere in England.
Scotland, and he would not say Ireland, might be exceedingly
beneficial in its effects, but it was Dot equally adapted to the con-
dition of our colonies. The slaves could never be instructed pro-
p rly terough its means ; the very refinements of an Oxford or
Canibridge education were enough to prevent the ministers of that
establishrne it from becoming useful tools and instr -menu for the
conversion and instruction of the slave population. He had high
authority for his opinion, that of Sir G. Rose, who, in &pamphlet or
the sub ect, had most sagaciouly laid down the principle that
instruction could be better conveyed through Sectarian Mission-
macs to the slaves in the West Inlets, than by our e5t5.0.1.4.1.
clergy. (Hear.) To be sure there existed a great difference /2
the opinion of a Right Rev. Person who had just gone over to our
Colonies. That Rev. Prelate hod offered the first fruits of his
observation ; but he would say that the oaring of Bishop Lips-
comb was of less value than that of the poorest Welsh Bishop that
ever existed, to the First Fruits Offi:c. (A laugh.) The Bight
Rev. Prelate appeared to have arrived about the Ist of March ; he
had sailed in December, and consequently could not have arrived
much sooner; and on the 12th of March he writes home, and
makes his report the very instant he gets to his See. He declares
he found in one fortnight, " a great predelection fm the doctrines
of the Church of England. if an °ppm:unity for the performance of
divine urvice were afforded among the slave population." Where
the Right Rev. Prelate contrives( to find this great nretielection
among the negroes in the course of a fortnight was rather surpris-
ing He supposed they understood the difference between Consub-
stantiation and Transubstantiation. and all the nice distinctions
of the 39 articles. (A laugh.) " But," says the Bishop," wherever
I went I found a great aversion existing to sectarians, and an MUM
confidence in any teachers I might be pleased to appciat." It was
really surprising where this Rev. Person had found this Bishop's
paradise, where every thing was in favour of the Church of England.
(A laugh.) It farther appeared, " that the negroes found psal-
mody and organs very attractive, and that 1/1111 respect to forms
end ceremonies they were much better critics than many gas:
them credit for." (Loud Laughter.) Yes, these negroes, to th:
amazement, or if he preferred it, amusement, of the Right
Seaeuuy, were wonderful critics, and the Bishop saw at once aith
the eye of a lynx into their good qualities. But the prelate sent
on to say, as
the uncertainty and caprice of the negro charac-
ter It was sometimes difficult to procure their attention. hut
wherever they liked the preacher tiz:•-: aut.-fled, and manilas:al

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