The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-22 00:00:00

SLAVE TRADE.

Lord DENMAN then rose to move that an address
be presented to her Majesty, praying that her Majesty
would be graciously pleased to enforce the observance of all
treaties for the suppression of the slave trade, and to order
the prosecution of all British subjects engaged in theslave
trade. He considered this trade as a great crime, and
he regretted to perceive that an opinion was gradually
growing up that it was impossible to put it down, and
Committee of the House of Commons, appointed to in-
quire into the subject, had reported that the squadron on
the African coast had not only failed, but had
done more harm than good, and that it would be
better that it should be removed. This was calculated
to excite an apathy in the public mind on this subject,
and to induce a toleration of this most horrible trade.
He was prepared to contend that although the squadron
had not succeeded in entirely destroying the trade, yet
it had greatly discouraged it. At Gallinas and other
places on the coast of Africa, it had been entirely
suppressed, and the importation of slaves had been
reduced in Cuba to less than one thousand per
annum in the year 1845. An unfortunate cir-
cumstance, which had occurred in this country,
had tended to increase the slave trade. A report had
been circulated in Africa that a revolution had occurred
in England. that Lord Palmerston had been sacrificed,
and that the slave trade was to be revived. The cap-
tains employed in the suppression of the slave trade had
been subjected to actions at law for their exertions in
putting down the slave trade. Had the blow which
those officers struck been followed up, he believed the trade
would have been abolished. Many had quitted it because
it had become a losing concern, and he stated that on the
authority of the evidence of a person examined before
the Committee, who admitted that he had been engaged
in the trade. It had been said that the effect of the
blockading squadron had aggravated the horrors of the
trade. lie did not believe it; be considered it was one
of those fallacies which was taken for granted for want
of proper reflection. The overloading of the vessels was
not in consequence of the effects of the blockading squa-
dron, because the greater the number the slower the
speed of the vessel, and therefore the greater their
danger. The political economists said leave the slave-
traders to themselves, they will not destroy their own
slaves; but slaves were not cattle—they would not sub-
mit to the treatment of slaves, and therefore the slave-
trader would destroy hie own slaves. The Noble and
Learned Lord then animadverted severely on the
manner in which the Committee had attended
to the evidence of one witness, who admitted
that he had been a slave•trader, who stated that he de-
spaired of the efforts of the squadron putting down the
slave-trade. lie should have said that he feared that
those efforts would be successful.—(Hear, hear.) He
was the more earnest an this subject, because he was de-
sirous of stemming the under-current of public opinion,
which was now setting in on this subject, and which
would bring us back to the same state of apathy with re-
gard to the slave-trade which prevailed in 1788. Some
judgment ought to be exercised in the selection of offi-
cers to be employed in the suppression of that trade. It
was a very unpopular service, and those officers only
ought to be employed in it who were enthusiastic in the
cause.
(LEFT SPEAKING.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took the chair at Twelve o'clock.
SUGAR DUTIES BILL.

Mr. WILSON presented a petition Tiont the sugar
refiners of London, praying that the Bill with respect
to the Sugar duties, may be deferred until next session,
in order that an acceptable measure may be divised.
On the motion for the third reading of this Bill,
Lord G. BENTINCK said, having been defeated on
his former motion, he had felt it his duty to submit the
following, in the hope that it would prove more
acceptable to the House than its predecessor:--
" And whereas it is expedient to admit sugar, without
payment of duty, to be refined for home consumption,
under the lock of the Crown, be it further enacted, that
it shall be lawful for any person or persons who may be
now, or who may be hereafter engaged, under the pro-
visions of the Acts of the 3d and 4th William IV.,
c. 61, and Bth and 9th Victoria, c. 91, in the trade of
refining sugar in bond for exportation, to enter the
products extracted from the same for home consump-
tion, anything in the aforesaid Act or Acts, or
any other Act to the contrary notwithstanding,
at the rates of duties levied upon foreign sugar, as set
forth in the third schedule of this Act, under the same
regulations as are now or may hereafter be applied
by her Majesty's officers of Customs to the exportation
of such sugar ; provided always that such person or
persons as aforesaid
of previously give bond to the
Majesty's Commissioners of Customs
satisfaction
her shall
to use such sugar only as shall have been imported
in ships privileged under the navigation-laws
to import sugar for entry to home consumption."
He said his object in proposing the amendment was to
place the English sugar bonder on an equal footing
with the sugar bonders of Holland, Belgium, and
Hanover. At present the bonder was compelled to
complete no less than twelve different papers in order
to show that he intended to use the sugar in the way
specified. Great inconvenience was the natural conse-
quence of the present state of things ; yet there bad not
been a single conviction for fraud. The refiners did not
ask to be allowed ,to refine sugar in bond for
home consumption, , but for foreign, paying the
foreign duty upon it which came into the country in
foreign bottoms. They were ready to give up this
privilege provided the others were conceded to them.
He did not see the Noble Lord the Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs in his place ; if he had been he
should have liked to have asked him what he intended
to do with the Dutch duty, if the plan of the Govern-
ment were carried out. If they did not give the re-
finers of England the privilege he sought for them,
they would compel them to send their produce to foreign
nations to get it naturalised. Surely they would not
compel them to adopt so humiliating a course
He asked them for fair play, and to encourage as they
were bound to do the skill and enterprise of their coun-
trymen.
The. CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER opposed
the clause. He admitted that there were great difficul-
ties in the way; and in consequence the Government
had not yet clearly seen their way to the adoption of a
a general system, for the refiners themselves said that
whatever system was adopted must be universal. The
attention of the Government would be earnestly
directed to this matter during the recess, and
no doubt next session they would be prepared
with an acceptable plan. Why the refiners of Lon-
don, with trifling exceptions, opposed the principle
sought to be established by the Noble Lord; it could
therefore only emanate from one or two. They bad
stated this to him (the Chancellor of the Exchequer),
stating at the same time that any measure, for this pur-
pose, must be an universal one. Dutch sugar would be
expelled from this county; it would come in afte
admr payis.-
ing the usual duty; Dutch raw sugar was neat_
sible, but refined sugar was on the terms he had d stated.
He defended the plan of the Government, which be con-
tended did not interfere with the skill or industry of the
country.
Mr. BERNAL hoped that the time was not far dis-
tant when all sugars would be admitted into this country
on equal terms, for the benefit of all pa
rties. He
ck) com
his seal, but imagined that he had been misinformed by
plimented the Noble Lord (Lord Georentin for
those with whom he had been in communication as to
the real wants of the refiners. He wished to tell his
Right Honourable Friend (the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer) and the House that they. had been playing in
a cruel manner with important interests. By their
Ivacillating discussions they had driven down sugar 3s.
a cwt.—(Hear, hear.) The present price of sugar was
altogether uureraunerative.—(Hear, hear.) He im.