The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-28 00:00:00

BILL.

On the motion that this Bill be read a second time,
Lord G. BENTINCK said he did not wish to oppose
the Bill ; he simply rose to entreat the Right Hon.
Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer to

extend the powers sought by the Bill. It
related to the introduction of free labourers,
the formation of roads, railways, buildings, car-
rying out a better system of drainage, and other
public works. Now he apprehended that he should take
fuller powers in order to enable the Government to
make advances upon the coming crop, which he appre-
hended would be of the greatest advantage under the
depressed state of those colonies. In support of this re •
commendation, he read a recent dispatch of Lord Harris
to Earl Grey, stating that estates were being abandoned
for the want of capital, that capitalists declined to lend
money, and that unless aid was afforded by the State,
great destruction of the crops would take place. If a
sugar crop were neglected for even six months, his Hon.
Friend the Chairman of Ways and Means would bear
him out that it was more profitable to prepare new
plantations than to clear away the weeds that
had injured the old one from neglect. If the cultivation
of sugar was neglected, as he feared it would ; if the
slaves of Cuba were to revolt, which was not unlikely,
the quantity of sugar that would come into this country
would be reduced, and its high price, which would be-
come as great as during the war, would prevent even
its consumption in any quantity. Thus the revenue
would suffer. He believed, therefore, he was justified
in calling upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer to save
the colonies from impending ruin, and to prevent a re-
duction of the revenue upon sugar, by adopting the
suggestion he had taken the liberty of throwing out.
Pitt and other statesmen had, in a similar emergency,
adopted the course he had pointed out, therefore, the
principle was not new. (Hear, hear.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was not
insensible of what had fallen from the Noble Lord. The
object of the Bill was to construct works like those men-
tioned by the Noble Lord and others, of which the
public in the colony were to have the benefit—not to aid
in the cultivation of private estates. He was inclined to
believe that there were parties in the colony who would
lend money on good security for the cultivation of the
estates, if the planters might prefer to avail themselves of
them. The Government were not disposed to alter the
purpose of the Bill.
Mr. FORBES inquired what the Government would
do if the people of Jamaica could not,pay the ordinary
taxes? Would they authorise the Government to levy
taxes, or continue to support a colony which could not
pay its own expenses?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it
was extremely inconvenient to answer questions which
depended upon matters which might er might not occur.
Mr. HUME deprecated the interference of the Colo-
nial-office in the most minor matters of the colonies,
instead of leaving them 'to settle their own affairs.
So much were they interfered with that the
hearts of the colonists were broken, and they
cared not to struggle under such circumstances to
improve their condition. .In proof of this, he cited
from the Lucia Gazette the details of a dispute between
Colonel Torrens and Judge Ready upon some trifling
matter. The judge was suspended. An inquiry took
place, the judge was reinstated, and Earl Grey directed
that the expenses should be paid out of the revenues of
the colony. The colonies ought to know what was to
be done for them. The question ought, therefore, to
have been answered.—(Hear, hear.) The management
of our colonies was altogether defective, and until they
were allowed to conduct their own affairs, the present
abuses would continue. The House ought not to sepa-
rate without the Government stating what was intended
to be done.—(Hear, hear.)
After a few words from Mr. Barclay, Major Blackall,
and Mr. Hawes, who said the recent accounts from the
colonies were more cheering,
The Bill was read a second time.
SAVINGS BANKS' BILL.

This Bill was read a second time, after some discussion,

ROYAL MILITARY ASYLUM BILL.

The report on this Bill was brought up and agreed to,
and the Bill was ordered to be read a third time to-
morrow, at twelve-o'clock.

SLAVE-TRADE (EQUATOR) BILL.

The third reading of this Bill was postponed unti
after the other orders of the day were disposed of.
SLAVE TRADE (NIUSCAT) BILL.

The receiving of the report on this Bill was postponed
until after the other orders of the day were disposed of.
TAXING MASTERS COURT OF CHANCERY

(IRELAND) BILL.
The report on this Bill was received, and the Bill was
ordered to be read a third time to-morrow at twelve
o'clock.