The Sun.
London, England, 1831-09-13 00:00:00

eas
s vat to this cafta was more than could ho =
awned-
• • , • •
,an we were obliged to export it, that instant the
price of sugar on the Continent determined the prices in
our
markets. But the sugar sent to the Continent was
raisedat a muchlower rate than the sugar of our West
India colonies ; thus the sugar of these colonies, raised
at a greater cost, was actually sold for no more than what
paidg the cost of production of the sugar raised at a much
Vest
"Pence. At preSent the Legislature compelled the
Indians to raise their sugar at the increased cost ; at
te"t it augmented the difficulties, and this evil ought to be
,„
t,--einlediately obviated. If that were done, a considerable
, 'ef would be afforded to the West Indians. The ditninu-
4illii nnofduty would not afford relief to any extent. If it
• to "et so increase the home consumption as to have none
export, lie doubted whether it would do any good. The
le.)°;a;3finwi raising sugar in the West Indies would be lowered
leng them to get all their supplies free. The Legis-
nre ought to take off the absurd restrictions on the
trade of the colonies, and allow them to buy their timber,
their lumber, their food, as cheap as they could. In fact,
rev est Indies were sacrificed most unjustly to the policy
"{sporting Canada, and the West Indies were taxed to
itlrieh Canada. There was a system of continual protec-
t"; and in order to compensate the West Indies for the
taxes levied on it in favouring of Canada, the East Indies
Were
h taxed. We had got in a vicious system of
protecting all interests one against another, and the conse-
quence
Was, the general distress of all. They were all
distress. Why did not the House legislate on sound and
:,14tnPlte principles, and avoid those interferences with the
ecla Machine that kept up continual friction ? After
acing all the duties on their supplies of lumber and
°tali and after allowing them to import their food from
n"re they please, why should they not be permitted to
I;!une the sugar th• y grow ? Formerly several Colonies
flourished by that process, and why should the Legis-
a ere refuse that benefit to the West Indians? There
ps:,:nentoliinsg but a miserable system of restrictions and
tin
which were only obstructions; and it was
v
to allow the people to get what they could at the
et• "Pest rate, and not increase distress bv laying restric-
oltf arol their industry. Another cause of the great cost
tote West India sugar was the restrictions on the impor-
uttiot, nof slaves, while the foreign sugar growers had a
ftee importation of slaves. The Government ought to use
t exertion to put an end to the foreign slave trade, and
thatu would give relief to our own planters. As to the Bill
ender consideration, be thought the refining of foreign
agar
in this country would do no good. That was the
induce of slave labour, and we ought to discourage the
~'°nsumption of sugar grown by slave labour. The Go-
rrnment ought to settle a colony at Fernando Po, and
oake it a large depot ; and from there we ought to send
dat agents up all the African rivers, endeavour to intro-
yiu "Commerce into every part of that continent, and con-
, nee the native chiefs that it would he for their interest
° put an end to the slave trade. If that were done, a
eansiderahle relief would be afforded to the West Indies,
While
i the measure for refining foreign sugar would only
Government
a tendency to encourage the foreign slave trade. The
ought to revise the whole West India system,
and legislate for the colonies on sound and simple principles.
NsAir• G. ROBINSON thought his Hot,. Friend, the
,'ernher for Dumfries-shire, was justified in bringing on
It
he discussion then, because no other time could be found
0! its and it was difficult even then to attract attention
1,
ti;ilt. The Hon. Member who spoke last, seemed to
nit it would he very easy to remedy all the evils
of the colonies. He recommended Government to
adopt the system of free trade, and throw open our colo-
Ines to all the world. Before he did that, he would
nise it to consider, as our colonies could be supplied
C"A per from other countries than from our own ; that it
°rald transfer the whole commerce of those colonies to
rSign countries and transfer with it all the shipping now
helPloyed in the colonial trade. The Hon. Member, he
i eved, was exceedingly mistaken. The measure of
free trade had been tried, and had not answered expecta-
!P`nas• It had failed to give relief to the West Indies.
The Markets there had been partially opened, and what
Wast' the consequence ? Why, from having supplies from
tw
0 sources, the market was uncertain, worse supplied
tthan before, and prices were higher than before a direct
made Was allowed to the United States. The West
tln-
Were no benefited by ths trade because th United
Cites would take nothing ini return,, and woulde be paid
IT their cargoes in specie. The Hon. Member took, he
l-°ught, a superficial view, when he supposed, that by
elt,blishing a free trade in one country, he would neces-
4rilY produce a free trade in another. It would do no
such thing, and his free trade scheme would be at-
„, 4d vvith none of the expected advantages, unless he
e,
ti" induce other nations to establish reciprocity trea-
scia:lwith us. If we were to equalize the duties in
Noerth
west Indies on the commodities brought from our
the • American Colonies, and from the United States,
tro ennsequence would be that the whole benefit of the
em tr
e would belong to the United States, unless the Go-
er,
shens. -nelat first established a reciprocity treaty. By opening
ade to foreigners, we should only destroy our own
Ccmial trade. He was sure that the system recommended
te
Ron. Member far Ashburton, would not only deprive
ohf
colonies, and commerce, or at least, leave us
e barren honour of possessing colonies, and the burden
Of Providin for their security, but would transfer all the
!thstantialgadvantages of having colonies to other nations.
The reduction of the duty on sugar—and it should be re.
tp-ernbered that there was a war duty, which the people
et,e entitled to have repealed, and the Government was
iluY of a breach of faith by not reducing it—the reduc-
isn.n-n of the duty would, by promoting consumption here,
Wit the surplus to be sent to the continent, and raise the
west both there and here, and confer a great benefit on the
t'S est Indians. If tbe Government withdrew its protec-
tajrom the colonies, it would be better at once to allow
s' to withdraw their allegiance, and seek protection
seWhere.
ThAir• HUME had expected to hear, but had not heard,
s'neFse arguments from the Hon. Member for Worcester, to
tri;'te the statements of the Hon. Member for Ashburton.
olde lion. Member had contented himself with repeating his
pr assertions about the necessity and advantages of reel-
s. ,hacitY treaties, and had not shown that the system re•
s()„'",tnended by the Hon. Member opposite (Colonel Tor-
-4,4) would be disadvantageous. He thought it was time
Ifhl of the Government to explain its views ; and the
f in' Member who spoke first had some reason to find
t with it for not having done so. The Right Hon.
shentfernan hid not understood that Hon. Memb r, and
overnment owed it to the West Indians to give a
r4her explanation. The Government ought also to
4, man
Committee of Inquiry ; but the Right Hon. Gen-
s,,,Tan wished to pass his Bill first, and inquire after-
kh,"a• There was a difference of opinion concerning the
Le-,"able effect of this measure, and therefore it ought to
"'nuired into. He was not one of those, though lie
toes friendly to the abolition of slav,,ry, who was willing
ruin the West Indians by' a sudden emancipation.
so e wished to do justice, and the Government ought
justice. The reduction of the duty on sugar was
t° all parties; and he believed it would have a
oo
the consumption would be much increased, anti the
st Indians benefited as well as the consumers. After
\vat, the Navigation Acts ought to be modified, and the
est Indians allowed to provide themselves from what
rarzers they pleased. Government ought also to
Zsiand the fulfilment of those treaties relative to
Litabolition of the foreign trade we had purchased at a
Price. At present the foreigner purchased a slave
ils„" r 40/. who cost our planters 801. In the foreign co-
anies fifty slaves out of the 100 were workers, while in
Our colonies there were not above thirty-five out of the
?. It was impossi le that our planters could compete
kt o'amst such disadvantages. The Hon. Member for Worces-
1' 'aid, that the Intercourse Act had done no good ; loathe
treceived a letter fom Ttinidad that day, which gave
ulfferent account. 'lie barrel of flour, which bad cost
twenty dollars, now cost sixteen dollars; and at the same
y;i'e the barrel of flour bonded at Liverpool cost only 1/.
; and what prevented that from being sent, for the
Yage was only, as it were, a few days, to where it was
46r,th 3/ 4s. ? The Government ought to allow a per-
netlYht free importation of food into the colonies, and it
tigto put an end to the foreign slave trade.
is 4rd ALTHORP said, the question had been thoroughly
Ilivestigated before the Board of Trade, and he was of opi-
to°in, from all he had heard there, that the only substantial
f time West Indians could look forward to without a
injury to the interests of the mother country,
emuld be f ;
-mum.; in a bounty on the exportation of sugar,
11 the effectual putting down of the Foreign Slave
ts',,ue. As long as the supply of sugar continued equal
tari:ne demand of- this country, it was obvious that the
t>l could not be affected by anything but the increase
tl,trtie quantity sent to the foreign market, and to
V 9- the West Indians must look for relief. He
skem quite ready to admit that the British West Indies
%Ler" entitled to the entire and coinplete monopoly of
h f h"le market, and the effect of the measure now
le °re the House would be, Le believed, to make that
n'ir4,oly more secure ; any plan for the admission
tba;°reign sugar, although refined, should not leave
eve; °beet unsecured. He must candidly admit, how-
eat,.' with respect to time facts brought forward on the
nsiiee', that they did not leave the question wholly with-
sac, "'rrie doubt. The Government were not altogether
'",ed, amid it was for that reason they proposed the Act
°l44d be in force but one year, in order that they might