The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-07 00:00:00

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34(1 1-1 \''''''"Att, "4 .; . . A tneetlug of rho Members of the Cr.ioniht ocils: 4 :..,
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I ook place yesterday, at the Socrety's House 15, SG_ .. .\ •
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meaiures I.t_ly proposed by her MAjesty's a.verrmuint, ycj -
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relative to e Imial pro.lucc, and to decide upon the Lest '' \
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measures to be adore] with reference then to.
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At hall-past teo tee chair was taken by the Earl of
Mounteaehel, aid at this time the large room was com-
pletely filled.
' The Noble CHAIRMAN said it afforded him the greatest
pleasure teen elide at so important and influential a meeting
es the present. He should briefly state to them the reasons
and objects of the present assemblage. The Colonial So-
-clay was established for the purpose of wabebing with
attention all measures and matters relating to the interests
of the colonies, and indeed if it were not for havirg some
such objects in view, it might be classed with many of the
various clubs with which the metropolis abounded. Oa the
present occasion it appeared to him that the Committee
would have been wanting in its duty to the mem-
bers and the colonies, if it lad not called a
nee.ieg to tsk.e into comideration the financial
rowan tespeetieg the duties on sugar and tineer, as
proposed eithin the last few dais. He would °We've that
the Committee, iu bringi iv; the matter before teem, had
not furgotiett one of the ir fundsnamital ruler, namely, that
ne patty polities shoul•l be introduced into that Society.
They brought it forward %Wesel, reference to any party
politic, but as a question intimately connected with the
welfare of the colonies. Tu&l brevgh!. it forward without
reference to who were the Ministers by whom the me-
w.o was proposed. Whoever they were, whether ebey were
Whig or Tory, he trusted they would always be found at
their post vth:n the intez eats of the colonies were at stake.
Indeed, he hardly knew the political sentiments of the
gentlernee with whom he acted at their Board; and he
mentioned teat to show that they were influenced by no
party feelings on the present occasion. The Committee
had prep_red some resolutions, and a petition, which
would be submitted for their discussion and approval. He
'trusted that, if it met their approbation, the petition
would go before the Legislature as containing the semi.
meats of the great body of colonial proprietors at present
in London; f,.r he was justiLd in saying that almost
every influential person connected with the colonies was
now enrolled as a member of their Society. Ile suggested
that the Secretary should read the requisition, calling the
utcctind in the first instance.

PR ICE sd•

The requisition having bees read,
Mr. Ititmevtav referred the Chairtnao is the 27th rule,
which required 14 days' notice for calling any general or
special meeting. lift was anxious the subject should be
discussed, and impel the difficulty might be got over.
NlaTnew, M. P., said the 40th rule was frare'al
to meet that objection. If the irregularity was
the question was to he put to the meeting, and kcidel by
them. lie believed there never was a cl."o°,ion on which
they had been more completely takeia oy surprise than
upon that brought forward by the r.'..ancelior of the Ex-
chequer, and unless they could. take immeliate notice of
matte rA so deeply afre'l.i'.g the welfa-e of the colonies,
their ioefulnesa as a '„,,d-
-y would go for nothing. Ile
-oc
therefore moved.. that the Chairman do put it to the
meeting to 1P
alise their proceedings.
Mr. I..ll)(r.Vklr seconded tae Inotion,:which was tesa-
arrreed to.
ri ' CapteiMaellew then rose to move the first resolu-
tion. Ile thought it was framed in the very spirit of the
words of their Noble Chairman, lie thought it was im-
portant that they should lay aside all partisan and party
politics on an occasion like tho present —( Hear, hear.)
At the meeting cf the West India Proprietors, held on
Wednesday, the same opinions wore eloquently expressea by
Mr. Burge. He was persuaded that their Society was
virtually of no benefit whatever if it did not come for-
ward on important occasions Ile the present, and declare
their sentiments with respect to measures which were ca?
culated to produce such ruinous consequences to the
colonies. lie bel eved, if these colonies had been repo'.
sented in the Imperial Parliament, such measures would
never have been brought forward. --(Hear.)
Major 11. CADOGAN seconded the resolution. He did
not think she charge of being influenced by party or poli-
tical tveliugs could fairly attach to them on the present
occasion--the suTet came fairly and legitimately before
them, and he trusted they would discuss it with temper
and discretion,

The resolution, the purport of which was that it was the
duty of the Colonial Society, consistmg of upwards of one
thousand inemberF, connected with every community
in the col:mks, to take the earliest opportunity of consi-
sitiering questions affecting the interest of the British
colonies, was then put from the chair, aad carried una-
nimously.

The Earl of Ilmiewwee moved the second resolu-
tion. He denied that he was actuated by any party feel-
ings, because if the other party in the, State was in power
to-morrow, and brought forward similar measures he
should give them the most decided opposition.—; Hear,
hear.) It appeared to him that they were calculated to
effect the total ruin of these colonies. The calculation*
of the Cnancellor of the Exchequer appeared to him, as
regarded the West Indies, founded upon a fallacy very
nearly approachieg to a fraud. lie was not so well quali.
fled to speak on the subject of the Canadas, but he viewed
the measure, as a whole, as one deeply affecting the ship.
ping interests of the cluntry.—(llear, hear.) He did
not think the increase of their exports, that was eaten.
ted upon, was to betaken altogether as a benefit. for it
would lead to overtralling, and bring ruin upon thousands.
The Noble Earl concluded by movine the resolution,
which was to the effect that the me tsures brought forward
by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his Budget of
Friday eight, were fraught with the most disastrous con-
scqueace to the. Cetsadee, aad the Batt Red West Indira.
Sir DtiNee.s 11`llorGAt. seconded the resolution. As
regarded the Canadae be could speak from pereonel obser-
vation that the proposed measure was calculated to feed to
the soparatioa of these colonies from the mother country.
The resolution yeas carried unanimously.
Mr. MACKINNON, M. P., moved the next resolution. lie
would repeat the observations of his two Noble Friends, who
preceded him, that be utterly di ,claimed all idea of being
influenced by petty politics. Ile believed that if they et.
fected a dismemb rment of the c lades, they would go
far to effect a dismemberment of the 13ritiih empire itseif.
—( Hear.) These colonies, in a language wli ch could
not be misunderstood, had declared that they considered.
themselves an integral portion of the British empire.--.
(Cheers.) All their legislation and proceedings of late
years had been influenced and actuated by such consider-
ations, and those who would view the colonies in any other
light were not the friends of the best Interests ofthc country.
The great object should be to form markets for the consump-
tion of their home manufactures, but it appeared to hini that
1 the resolutions of the Char eellor of the Exchequer were
calculated to strike a death-blow at the integrity of their
colonial possessions, while they at rite same time would
stimulate a traffic in slave labour, which it had been their
object for halt a century to put an end to. He would re.
mind the meting of the resolutions of the House of Com-
mons on the subject of slavery, and the noble exertions
they had made to put an end to it for ever; but now, as
it appeared to him, these resolutions of the Chancellor of
the Exchequer would at the same time retard the civiliza-
tion and improvement of the negroes, while it would
greatly depreciate the value of property in the \Veit
Indies.--( tleae, hear.) Independently of that it would
shut up the market', which were at present open to them
in the West Indies, because 6 would be idle to say that if
these measures were passed the colonies could any longer tee
the valuable customers they had been for Brit,sh produce. It
was a mockery for that Government and country, whir!, had
in a voice of thunder denounced sla:e traffic, end had
spent such enormous sums in endeavouring to pea it down,
now to come forward with resolutions the dirtret object of
which would be to promote and encourage the
1 consumption of sugar the produce of slave la-
bour. If it was said (and he knew the argu-
ment was a very popular one, and one which would he
resorted in the House of Commons), that the effect of
these resolutions would be to enable the poor man to ob-
tain sugar at a lower price, he would refer them to the
vast continent of India where sugar to an enormous amount
could be cultivated. Last yoar they had received no lea.
than 50,000 tons from Bengal, and in the present yecr, if
the calculations were to be rel:ed upon, the quantity would
be upwards of 250,000 tons.—( Hear, hear.) He corn.
plaieed of the proposed measure alto as being a gross
breach of faith to the West Indian planters, and the re•
sult would be that not only would the civilization sad
improvement of the emancipated incises be retarded for
an indefinite period of time, but they would produce the
Teter ruin and dowefal of the planters —( Loud cheers.)
He thought under the circumstances they were called upon
as colonists asd Englishmen, to protest against measures
which were fraught with ruin to the East and West Indira
colonial and shipping interests. It would appear ,by alr)::
solution of the British and Foreign Anti-slavery SneietYt."
they touk the very same view of the subject, and that those
parties who were formerly opposed to the West Indies now
joined and fraternised with them in demanding the
measmes.—( Hear, hear.)
.1 e the resolution.
Mr. MONTGOMERY MARTIN secanuee present
They
d been for two
ttehrl
arfereeiwrThaathse British dopula.
aTilt:iios,ctoauntrytrywiwicars
oieflehnotrifioeodlowniitehs.the Westio!
and afforded an
centuries her firm allies and customers,
ea staple sit clew of
adia more thaw
quantity of tetielest
almost unexhaustsble supply
tconsumptionjoa o
l.
th e s
e ii
in i at eh de ince eoltavaeseeamsraltecacodsouutira.
‘tvbeestsoici social
se,onatltirtai :lei oil:
Government hail lately of.
;liege, bear.) The British of B.itish produce than anhy
ladles,
and_ o
wouldnh new
her
w eptohul colonies..
ny ia en:ve.;
fected a most important chang . ,
we
herself r ai
sr od s such uaf c
soh one
athbeoupteptoulbartiinoige ofofrwthaerd .
to the cultivation of sugar
bpurtesietnatp.peared to_ him to be fraught with as
hundred millions
()
which at the
at a loss was really
emigration f capital
injury
ojpultkrayn oetwonm PI(
;Ili ah°o:ieVreenadttO—Be
proceeding ;
the colonies• bud been rapidly
'is towards th • •
A steadily setting i these colonies, but it would
sou .•Iced. There was
now beere( . a constantly increasing red
ciliation of Bri i 6
tench mi seed a anddes
tinlomlocifnt tbl
steady p tL. produce to the amount
of five millions sterling to these colonies., the
rvreatast portion of which would now b 1
o lost,' Again,
let them look at the supply of sugar for the last few years,
it never had been more uniform in price, or more certain
and steady in the amount of the supply, These feels
were of the utmost importance, vievviur the queetien as
one cf revenue. He found that for 1; Itwenty-five
years e IA
employed.—(h
ialtiraeaiuniteprt ' hear.) th,
years the average supply of sugar from the West Indies
hal been 180,000 tuns, and taking that as the supply for
the present year, it would produce, at 245. per cwt..
4,320,000/. The Mauritius he would take at 30,000
tons, producing 180,000/. From Bengal 62,000 tottle
were coming home, and that along with teat which would
be procured, from Ceylon and Madras, would at the lowesj.
estimate amount to 100,000 tons, giving. 2,400,000/. tter.
ling, and that would give a total of eight millions to the
revenue, as being the sum likely to be obtained if no change.
took place. It the proposed measure was carried there
would be a reduction cf at least 150,000 tons in the pro-.
duce of the colonies, and even at the duty of 36r. per
cwt., the falling off in the revenue would be considered...ie.
It appeared to him that the question was ore which (1/,
affected them, whether they were colonists or not. ae.
nada, which was calculated to become the granary of Eng-
land would be deeply affected by the proposed atteratime
in the Corn-laws, and in that, whatever way they turpod,

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