The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-15 00:00:00

slave trade is not to be put down by hostile tariffs—that
slavery is supported because public opinion in the Brazils
and in Cuba has not advanced so far as our opinions have
advanced on that subject; but that, acting towards those
. .

countries in a friendly spirit, and extending our commer-
cial intercourse with those nations, we shall have a far bet-

ter chance of infusing our feelings into , the population of
those countries than if we give rise to their resentment,
and (awe the feeling of hostility, which will make them
adhere to slavery under a sort of feeling that the 'honour
of the nation is bound up in it, and that they will not
abandon it or be dictated .to by another country. Let us,
then, act in a friendly manner towards them—let us encou-
rage friendly intercourse. Oppose slavery, and the slave
trade will steadily advance over the world. We held opinions
in this country very Lady in favour of slavery and the slave
trade. That feeling has happily been abolished for ever in
England, and I have no doubt that the freedom of man
which gave rise to that opinion will be gradually extended,
and that as that opinion spreads throughout the world, na-
tions will tint it to their own interest to abolish that most
odious system--that system of keeping fellow-creatures in a
state of slavery. Ido not give the credit entirely of perfect
sincerity to all those who have professed an unwillingness to
eat sugar because it is produced by slaves. They may be
sincere ; but somehow it is difficult to believe in their sin-
cerity when we see a man very placidly smoking a Havannah
cigar, or carrying in his pocket gold and silver, all of which
are the produce of slaves, and yet professing to be so
extremely qualmish about putting a lump of slave-grown
sugar into his tea. That is a species of philosophy which
I do not yet understand.—(Laughter.) I should be sorry
to impute motives to any one ; but when I find that
feelino. Is expressed in Jamaica itself—Jamaica long aban-
doned' to the slave system, and persisting to the last in
slavery—when they are professing to have qualms of con-
science in eating a bit of slave-grown sugar, I must say
Ido not give them credit for perfect sincerity. I was
reading lately, in en account of the proceedings of the
House of Assembly in Jamaica, of a proposition to put a
higher duty upon slave-grown sugar, on coming into that
port, and one of the old members of that assembly,
long accustomed to the slavery system, and knowing the
real opinion of his fellow-senators, when he heard them
expressing such qualms of conscience at eating slave-grown
sugar, said, Well, I never expected to see the day when
Jamaica men would turn up their nose at a lump of Cuba
sugar."—(Laughter.) There are other questions of vast im-
portance which the present Government, I believe, are pre-
pared to grapple with. There is the question of education
of the people.—(Cheers.) I know not what plans may be in
agitation, but I sincerely hope, that whatever plan may be
adopted of advancing the cause of education amongst the
people, and for securing the moral training of the young,
that it will be consistent with the true principles of religious
liberty.—(Applause.) I believe that it is only on those
principles that any system of education can be successful,
and I am quite certain, that if we are to give, in any form
or shape, the public money, for the purposes of education,
we are bound to give such a system as all can partici-
pate in.—(Cheering.) We are bound to give a system
of education that will not be placed under the exclusive
control of any religious society.—(Hear, hear.) • Whilst
we say we respect the religious feelings of all sects—
whilst we do nothing to shock their sentiments of faith—
yet, at the same time, the civil Government of the country
must take care .in dispensing the money that is collected
from the pockets of all classes of the people, that that
money is expended fiiirly and impartially upon principles of
justice, and that no one sect shall be deemed the favoured
sect which is to have an exclusive privilege.—(Loud cheers.)
All governments have been favourers of the power of educa-
tion being placed in their hands. I know that that is a tenet
held by many gentlemen in the English Church; but I am
happy to say that different opinions are beginning to
pervade our Church. I believe there is a more liberal feeling
on this subject spreading itself amongst the members of the
Church of England. Unquestionably any system of educa-
tion that violates the principles of religious liberty must in-
variably fail, as it ought to fail. The Church of England
has endeavoured to draw a distinction between itself and the
Church of Rome, as not arrogating to itself that infallibility
which has lung been stated as appertaining to the Church of
Rome. For my part, I have generally observed that there is
a tendency amaiigst all men, whether as individuals or coin-
L:__-1 .I..mtsrau then rhlol..
right. Mr. S teel, an erni net Frit eonstant writer, a P6'&rreMeAtipf,
in one of his works, that there is only one difference in respect
of this matter, that he has observed between the Church of
Rome and the Church of England ; for the Church of Rome
appeared to be infallible, and the Church of England never
in the wrong.—(Laughter.) Now the fact is there are good
men and liberal men in all churches, and .to be found in all
religious sects; and there are also in all churches, and in all
religious sects, men who stand upon the opinion of their
own infallibility, and who are more determined to maintain
that ground than many of their coadjutors. But it would
be a safe rule, if it could be carried out by the civil Govern-
ment of this country, that it should not endeavour to con-
trol or interfere in the slightest degree with the religious
feelings of any portion of her Majesty's subjects; and I
have to close my remarks on the subject of education in
these few words—that my .feelings are in favour of a gene-
ral unseetarian system of education ; that I would not give
my consent to anything of an exclusive privilege on the part
of any religious society in the education of the people—
(Hear, bear)—but, at the same time, I hope that all men
will be allowed, whilst they may obtain secular instruction
in any schools that may be established, fully and freely,
without any check or control, to train up their children in
those religious feelings which they themselves may deem
best for their present and eternal welfare.—(Loud ap-
plause.) These are days for practical legislation ; the
days of mere party are gone by for ever, let us hope. It
would not do for me now to stand before the body of the
electors of Manchester to talk in a vague manner of the
blessings of our glorious Constitution, and the great advan-
tages of the wooden walls of Old England.—(Laughter.)
No, you want to heir the opinions of your representative
upon practical measures, and, I think the day is come when
the Ministers of the Crown will find themselves obliged, in
deference to public opinion, to advance—that they will rind
it impossible to stand still—that, if they stand still, they
will begin to retrograde, and the nation will place others in
their situation who will carry out good and practical mea-
sures.—(Cheers.) I was glad to see, from the announce-
ment in Loa-John Russell's speech, that he intends to deal
with the question of the sanatory condition of the people.
I think great :benefits are to be conferred on our town
population by some arrangements which would secure better
drainage and better ventilation, so as to contribute not
only to the physical comforts of the people, but also pro-
mote their moral welfare. I know not the practical plans
it is intended to adopt; no doubt they will be based on
those teports which have. been made by learned men and
Commissioners who have inquired into the subject; but all
I can say is, I shall be glad to give my hearty support to
any measure which will have the tendency to improve the
health and physical condition of her Majesty's.subjects, also
to raise their moral position and to increase their happiness.
—(Cheers.) I will not, electors of M uichester, detain you
longer; we shall soon have a general election—you will then
have it in your power, if you do not approve of my conduct
as a member of the Government, to signify your disapproba-
tion by not returning me to another Parliament. My earnest
endeavour shall be conscientieusly to discharge the im-
portant duties that are imposee upon me, and to promote
by every means in my power those principles of freedom 05
trade which I have advocated in Manche,ter; aril it will 17
my earnest de-ire to merit by my conduct the confidence and
approbation that you have been pleased to bestow upon me.
The Right Hon. Gentleman sat down amidst much cheer-
ing non; the gentlemen on the hustings, and a part of the
crowd.
The Rev. J. .CIIOLFIELD said lie had been requested by
the operative,cotton-spinners of Manchester and the factory
hands-generally, to ask Mr. Gibson whether he would sup-
port a Ten Ilours' Bill, if brought into Parliament ?
Mr. GIBSON said he would give a candid answer, which
was, that he did not wish to interfere between master and
man ; he would rather see such an arrangement brouffht
about between them and their employers —(Cries of " We
cannot.") He did not like to cut off at one blow one-sixth
of the labouring man's capital, and therefore he would not
vote for the Ten Hours' Bill.—(Groans, hisses, and cheers.)
The electors were subsequently addressed by Mr. R.
Psiiurs; and after thanks having been voted to tbeiaclayor,
the proceedings terminated about half-past eleveno'c
In the course of the afternoon, a deputation from
the
factory workers waited on the Right Hon. Gentleman on the
subject of the Ten Hours' Rill.

LISK EARD.
LISKEARD. SATURDAY.--Mr• C. Buller arrived at Liskeard
on Friday. The writ was read on that day, and the nomina-
tion will take place on 11iondiy. Should the borough be
contested, the election will take place on Wednesday.

KIRKCUDBRIGHT.
The election for this place is appointed fer the 17th inst.

DUBLIN. JULY 12.
DUNGARVAN ELECTION.—RETUEIN OF MR. SHIM—The
election for this borough, rendered necessary by the appoint-
ment of the Right Hon. R. L. Shell to the office of Master of
the Mint, took place yesterday, at eleven o'clock. A letter
was received in town this day, announcing the return of Mr.
Shell without opposition.

PRINTERS' PENSION SOCIETY. GRAND RURAL
FEssi.—On Monday a ate took place at the White Hart.
Bromley, on behalf of the funds of the Printers' Pension
Society. As early as ten o'clock in the forenoon the town of
Bromley presented a scene of happiness and amusement.
business being in a great measure suspended. Between ten
and eleven o'clock Mr. Batty's equestrian troop arrived, and
preparations were made for the commencement of their day
performance. The bands of the Royal Artillery and Sappers
and Miners, from Woolwich, were also in attendance, and
throughout the whole time the company were delighted with
the performance of favourite music. The amusements were
varied to meet every taste, and the greatest satisfaction pre-
vailed. The classic grouping of Mr. T. Thomson was warmly
received, and the morels dancers also met their share of
praise. A ball was held in the evening. The grounds were
numerously and very respectably attended.
ACCIDENT AT ORIcxET.r.-ii. Tucker. Esq.,. solicitor.
.of Ashburton,- was recently so severely atm& on the mouth
by a cricket ball that bls front tcall were displaced.—Ply-
mouth 77in
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