The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-15 00:00:00

GREAT ANTI-SLAVERY MEET-
ING.-(YESTEIiII

The Annual Meeting of the British and Foreign Anti-S a-
very Society took place yesterday at Exeter Hall. Long before
the commencement of the meeting boys were stationed at
the doors of the building, who were busily engaged in distri-
buting the speech of Dr. Lushington in the House of Com•
mons on Friday, and other tracts'.
At eleven o'clock Mr. WILLIAM ALLEN took the
Chair,
and having shortly addressed the Meeting, and
stated that it had not been called for any particular pur-
pose, or for any particular occasion, he called upon Mr. Seobell
to read the Report. Previously, however, to doing so, Mr.
Scobel read letters from Mr. Clarkson, Mr. Buxton, and Dr.
Lushington, regretting their inability to attend the meeting.
The latter Right lion. Gentleman stated in his letter that he
was prevented from attending in consequence of his duties at
the Privy Council, at the same time observing that if he could
possibly be present during the latter part ot the day he would
do so.
The Report was then read, from which it appeared that the:
exertions of the Society in various quartets of the world had
been attended with success. From the financial statement it
appeared that the receipts of the Society amounted to
4,6731. 3s. Id., and its expenditure to 4,6261. 3s. Id.
SAMUEL GURNEY, Esq., in moving the adoption, printing,
and circulation of the Report, congratulated the Society on
the prosperity of its exertions, but regretted that its efforts
had been unavailing with those who employed slaves in mines.
He was sorry that those who were possessed of such property
should consent to be guilty of murder of the blackest dye. He
was sure that the markets of this country were the great main-
tainers of slavery in the United States, for while they were
open to the supply of cotton it was almost impossible the
labours of the Society could be effective in the United States.
The value of cotton imported ,nto this country from the United
States amounted to fourteen millions.
The Rev. JOHN CARLISLE seconded the resolution, which
was carried unanimously.
The Rev. J. BURNETT moved the next resolution, which
was to the followingeffect :—" That whilst this meeting deeply
deplores the extensive prevalence and unutterable horror of
slavery and the slave trade, as sanctioned, upheld, and counte-
nanced by professedly Christian and other powers, they espe-
cially regard their existence iu British India, and call upon the
people, the Legislature, arid the Government, by their influence
and autsority, to accomplish the immediate abolition of these
enormous evils, and declare henceforth every portion of the
British empire shall be the asylum and the home of the free."
Tile Rev. Gentleman then called upon the meeting to use
their best exertions for the suppression of slavery throughout
the world. Much had been already done by the generous
sacrifices of the British public, but there still remained mu.di
more to accomplish. The Crowned Heads of Europe should
be called upon, not only to suppress slavery in their own do-
minions, but to lend their aid towards its extinction in the
slave islands. The only effectual paeans for success in that
quarter would be to annihilate the slave markets, for there
would be no produce where there was no consumption. But
we could not make the proud boast, that even in the dominions
of Great Britain the traces of slavery had altogether disap-
peared. Even in our East Indian possessions slaves
were bought and sold with the land at the pre-
sent day, under the name of servants. He cared
not, however, for the name ; the thing itself ex-
isted, and the exertions ot British humanity should be di-
rected towards its removal. In 1833, the Government of Earl
Grey had attempted to introduce a Bill upon that subject ;
but that Bill had been lost in the Legislature, and in its stead
a Commission had been appointed to inquire into the matter.
The Commission had made no report, and the evil remained
unredressed to the p: esent day. He wished that the attention
of Parliament were again directed to the subject. It might,
however, be said, that by interfering in such a matter we might
shake the stability of our Indian empire. Yet even though
hat were to be the case, he shou!d still tell them to remem-
ber the old Roman adage, " Let justice be done, though it were
to bring down the Heavens " But he had often seen justice
done, and yet the heavens had never yet fallen.—( Hear. )
The meeting presented itself that day in its usual aspect, and
if any one said that the poor at home were neglected lie
would answer not by the Anti-Slavery Society, who while
they sought the freedom of the Blacks sought also the im-
provement of the Whites.—(Cheers.) With regard to India
he treated the day was not lar distant when she would stand
out in the glorious sunshine of freedom, an honour to her last
conquerors.—( Hear.) He would beseech them to watch
every gentleman narrowly, to stimulate every man
in office until every official had done his duty, and until slavery
in the European countries should be thrown back into the re-
collections of history. —( Cheers. )
Mr. E. BexTors, in seconding the resolution, said he had
come to the meeting at the desire of his father, to express to
the Society his feelings that they were deserving of the thanks
of all the friends of humanity for the course they had taken
respecting slave-grown sugar.—(Disapprobation.) He would
not enter into a. political discussion, but he would say that if
the price of sugar was diminished by the introduction of slave
grown sugar, it would greatly increase the evils of slavery.—
( Tremendous hissing and groaning, with loud cries of " Oh !
oh !" and groans; these were succeeded by a faint attempt at
a cheer, which was immediately drowned by his inns and groan-
ings. ) No person in the room could more highly regard her
Majesty's present Ministers than himself—(Cheers)—and he
firmly believed no Minister who had ever occupied the Colonial
office had ever been actuated by more enlightened principles,
or had been more determined to carry out those principles
than Lord John Russell.—(lmmense cheering, mingled with
cries of " Why do you oppose him then?" The cheering con-
tinued several minutes, amidst the waiving of hats and hand-
kerchiefs from all parts of the hall. Several persons in the
body of the hall stood on the benches and raised a cry of
" Russell for ever," which was conially responded to.) He
would not speak of polities—(A voice from the body of the
ball "Oh ! No, not at all, but do talk common sense." This
sady was well received and excited much laughter)—but he
could not forget which party it was that had abolishrd.
slavery.—( Loud cheers.) With regard to India it was dis-
graceful that when we had paid twenty millions for the abolition
of slavery, it should still exist among millions of our fellow-
subjects in India. He rejoiced to say that the subject had
been taken up by his respected and revered friend, Dr. Lush-
ington.—( Groans, hisses, and loud cries of " Oh ! Oh !" min-
gled isit.h faint cheers, which continued for some time, and in
the midst of which the speaker sat down. )
Before question was put, a person in the garb of a re-
spectable working-man, rose in the body of the Hal,
and attempted to address the meeting ;) this created
some confusion, which was aided by the Chairman desiring him
to come on the platform, which he did, and after the Chairman
had put the question, he insisted ou his right to address the
electing ; he, however, at the desire of the Chairman, ulti-
mately gave way to Mr. Ashworth, who had previously been
in the possession of the meeting, on the understanding that at
the conclusion of Mr. Ashworth's speech he should be heard.
Mr. ASIIWORTH feared lest the influence of the Society
should be placed in jeopardy by a false political movement at
the present juncture. He had just come from Lancashire, not,
however, with any intention of being present at that meeting,
and throughout the country, on all sides, he lived nothing
but expressions of dislike at the inopportune movement of that
day.—(Cheers.) It was one pregnant with consequesees
which might peril the safety of the industrious classes of the
country.—(Cheers.) While they sought for the freedom of
the blacks they should not overlook the sufferings of their
brethren at home.—(lmmense applause.) Such a body
as that Society must necessarily exercise great poli-
tical influence, and they should beware how they used
it to jeopardize the safety of the people at home.—( Immense
cheering. (Let the Society beware lest it should work into
the hands of those who had always oprosed the Anti-Slavery
cause.—(Ceeers. ) For 25 years they had petitioned a Tory
Government, and what had they done.—( Continued cheering. )
The CHAIRMAN interrupted the speaker for the purpose of
again explaining that the meeting had been convened for no
political object whatever. He hoped that they would allow the
regular business to proceed, and that if they wished to hear any
one address them, they could do so.

A voice from the body of the Hall—" We wish to show our
detestation to our old opponents, the miscreant Tories.-
-( Immense cheering.)
Alr. ASHWORTH then continued his speech. He said the
present was not merely a question of cheap sugar. The Bra-
zils were the best customers of our manufacturers, and if their

sugar was refused, the market of Brazil would be olosed against
us, as our ships now were forced to go half round the word to

dispose of the Brazil sugar, instead of bringing it home to ex-
change it for our manufactures. Let them take care, lest while
the! sought to advance the liberty of the blacks, they did not
throw down the industrial population at home. In many of
the manufacturing districts the people had now only employ-
ment four days a week, and if the market of Brazil was shut.
against us, thos^ four days must be reduced to two.—
( Cheers.) It was obvious that the Tories were bidding for
what support that meeting could give them.—(Loud cheers. )
He would not desert Ministers, who had done so much for
them at a period like the present.—( Cheers.) If there was
consistency in advocating out of doors the politi,al party who
were now bidding for their support ; how could they fancy
their venerable President arm in arm with Dr. Pusey, canvass-
ing the electors of Newark ?—( Laughter. )
The CHAIRMAN thought they were travelling out of their
way, and had better go on with the regular business. They
all had their opinions—his was strongly in favor of free trade
and a liberal government—
Mr. Astiwwtit here intimated, that he should conclude
with an amendment, but upon its being intimated to him that

it woald, have the effect of dissolving the meeting he declined
adopting that course, upon the understanding that
when the regular business of the meeting was coneluded he
sti ould have an opportunity of bringing it forward as 4 substan-
tive resolution. in order to sec whether the meeting would

adopt it,—( Here an individual, named Martin, of Birmingham,
attempted to address the meeting, and the gteatest con-
fus►on prevailed. For some time his attempts were vain, but,
through the interference of the Chairman and Mr. Scobell,
order was restored and the individual addressed the meeting.

In consequence, however. of his wandering from the question,
he wits ca led to order, and met with cries of " Off, off," amid
•

which he retired to the back of the platform. )
One of the members of the late National Convention here
attempted to thrust himself to the front of the platform, but was
prevented by those around him, and by an inspector of po-
lice, from doing so. The appearance of the policeman caused
the greatest noise and confusion, and there appeared every in-
clination on the part of the Chartists, in the body of the hall,
to make a simultaneous rush towards the platform, The police-
men retiring, order was in some measure restored, and after a
few words from the Rev. Mr. Burnett, recommending order,
the resolution was put, and declared by the Chairman to be
carried unanimously.
Captain SAUMAREZ moved, and Dr. VAUGHAN seconded,
the following resolution, which was carried unanimously
ft That this meeting, in view of the manifest progress of the
Anti-Slavery cause in various parts of the world, consider
that grateful and reverend a-knowledgrnents are due to the
Most High for the measure of success with which He had
favoured it, and they take encouraprnent to prosecute with
renewed zeal and diligence its noble and Christian objects."
Mr. O'CoNNELL then rose to move several resoluti.ns, and
was received with great cheering. He could not help rejoicing,
that under existing circumstance, so much unanimity and good
tempt!. rpoßiged awn them. As lie was corning tq the meet-
ing, one of his gQo4,nattired friends hay asked him why he was
going to the Anti-Slavery meeting, at the same time observing
that there were parties who differed among them, and that
there would be a split. To this he (Mr. O'Connell) answered
that with respect to the anxiety to spread liberty over the
whole globe there was no difference of opinion. If he differed
from his Learned and valued Friend Dr. Lushington, he was
spit entitled tq stand Von the same platform with him.—
( Hear, hears 40 cheers.) It was s4iri that the business
of the Anti-Slavery Society was at an end ; that could not
be, for there were ~yet six millions of skives in the country.
--(Cheers.) This business could not conclude so long as one
,slave remained in the world.—(Cheers.) With respect to
the question now before the House, he would vote for the in-
troduction of Foreign Sugar into this country, provided
01} lief ti.x was placed tlpop it than uvon that which ryits tho