The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-12 00:00:00

THE REMEDY

is one easily applied if we were only in earnest.
Aro we so I believe not. Political chicanery
fears to soil its pure hands with aught that smells
of "nigger." Southern influence raises its potent
voice and says, " Peace, be still !" The political
deep is quiet, and its angry voice is sunk to a low
unquiet moaning murmur ; it may be like unto a
sound heard on the "middle passage." • • •
Moneyed interest raises its note of alarm, and who
dares to gainsay its influence ? Who pities Logan ?
Not one.

There is a need for the revision of the laws regu-
lating the suppression of the slave trade. The
convention of 1842, which drew up the treaty
called the Ashburton treaty, made the trade piracy,
which of course affixes the death penalty to any-
one convicted as a slaver. Such a thing as capital
punishment being inflicted upon any slaver was
never and never will be heard of in our country. A
lesser penalty would go far to ensure conviction,
and men would be guarded about engaging in a
business which would consign to labour in a state
workshop for a term of years or a lifetime. It is
now death or nothing, or, rather, it is nothing.
I should even advocate the allowance of the right
of search within a specified distance of the coast,
say 200 miles. Of two evils let us choose the least.
The exemption from search is the virtual safeguard
of the slaver; under the cover of a flag which does
not tolerate the right of search, he may pursue his
traffic with impunity. For instance, a slaver be-
comes familiarised, after a short stay in African
waters, with the different men-of-war in those
waters ; he gets to know them and their nationality.
Pursued at sea he knows his pursuer by sight, and
hoists a flag which exempts him from search, and
he is safe. An American vessel, with cargo aboard,
having the American colours flying, might pasi
under the very guns of a British man-of-war un-
molested. The latest instructions to the British
cruisers on this coast from the commanding officer
on this station run about as follows :—" Not to
capture, visit, or in any way to interfere with United
States vessels, whether those vessels have' sldves
aboard or not." - I do not say that these instruc-
tions have not been violated ; I believe they have.
I would extend the provisions of the law, and
make those having capital invested, and those in-
directly interested in the traffic, equally amenable
with those navigating the vessels carrying the live
cargo.

Let the number of casks, buckets, amount of food
in the shape of rice, salt fish, farina, &c., be limited
as well as the cooking apparatus, lumber, planking,
&e. ; materials so handy for a slave deck. A viola-
tion of law relating to these things should make a
prize of a vessel beyond the waters of the United
Statea, where a mock trial and monetary interests
secure a guilty triumph of the slaver.
And finally, in the name of all that is sensible
and reasonable, if we are going to be in earnest in
wiping out this stain so foul upon us, let us signify
our earnestness by sending to the West Coast a
proper and adequate force. The idea of sending
there, as chasing craft, a lot of old by-gone sailing
vessels, is simply ridiculous, and an insult to the
common sense of the age in which we live. Ten
years after England and France, we begin to dis-
sever that an efficient arm of the naval service is
small, light draught, swift screw steamers, and it is
to be hoped that in imitation of those powers, in
the course of time we will have there the only really
effective vessels on the African station. Let us
do something or nothing; take away a squadron
which is costing us millions of money, or else ren-
der it really efficient. This we can do. Let us
throw down the gates and say to the negro, " Get
you beyond the waters and be the white man's
slave ;" or let us say, " Arise and shine, for thy
light has come; a new glory, even that of the star
of the west, has risen upon thee."

PRESENTATION TO LADY RATCLIFF, OF
BIRMINGHAM.

It will be remembered that when Sir John Rat-
cliff retired from the office of chief magistrate of
Birmingham, to which he was thrice elected, the
members of the cbuncil, in addition to eloquent
expressions of high appreciation of the useful and
dignified manner in which he had discharged the
duties of his responsible position, determined in
the month of November last to mark their sense of
Sir John's many excellencies by a more enduring
and tangible evidence. It was therefore decided
that the testimonial should take the form of a por-
trait of Sir John, and that Lady Ratcliff should be
presented with the same, as the most graceful mode
of expressing the feelings of the council towards
their late respected mayor. Accordingly Mr. W. T.
Roden, a local artist of great eminence, was entrusted
with the production of this work of art, which was
privately exhibited in his studio a fewday ago, prior
to its removal to the Royal Academy. The portrait
is a full length, the canvas measuring about Oft.
by 6ft. As a likeness it is remarkable for fidelity,
whilst as a work of art it sheds new lustre on the
genius of our local artist. The portrait represents
Sir John in his Court dress, in which he received
her Majesty the Queen when she visited Bir-
mingham, and knighted him in the Town-hall.
The artist has made those colours in drapery sub-
ordinate to his purpose, which would, to mediocre
talent, have proved the chief difficulty in produc-
ing a work of this kind, and has so preserved the
tone of the picture as to secure a life-like portrait
perfectly natural and easy, and a painting which
must challenge the admiration of all true critics.
The presentation of the portrait, richly framed and
bearing the arms of Sir John Ratcliff, was pre-
sented to Lady Ratcliff on Saturday morning last,
at the Wydrington, Edgbaston, by the testimonial
committee, accompanied by Mr. Stanbridge, the
town clerk. The deputation were received by Lady
Ratcliff with marked consideration, and Mr. Palmer
then read an address which referred to the principal
events of Sir John's municipal career, eulogised his
conduct as chief magistrate, the duties oe'f which
office he had discharged in a manner which re-
flected the brightest honour upon himself and the
corporation. On behalf of the committee Mr.
Palmer then presented the portrait, the frame of
which bears the following inscription :—" Borough
of Birmingham. This portrait of Sir John Rat-
cliff, Knt., thrice mayor of this borough,
was presented to Lady Ratcliff, by subscription of
members of the Council, 1860. Painted by W. T.
Roden, Esq." Lady Ratcliff read the following re-
ply :
Gentlemen,—l beg you will accept my grateful acknow-
ledgments for your valuable gift, and for the expressions of
kind feeling and -respect towards Sir John Batch ff by which
it is accompanied. I shall esteem it very highly on account
of its intrinsic merits and the motives which have led to its
presentation. I assure you it is most gratifying to me to
receive so marked a testimony of approval of my husband's
conduct, during the time he filled the civic chair of Bir-
mingham, from gentlemen so well qualified to appreciate
his endeavours to promote the welfare of his native town.
It is not within my province to advert to municipal affairs,
and I shall therefore not allude to them further than to re-
mark that this, as well as every other department of public
life, is necessarily accompanied by much toil and anxiety.
This anxiety, however, is amply compensated by the testi-
monial with which I have been so highly favoured to-day.
In Iced, gentlemen, any words of mine would fail to convey
to you my feelings on this occasion. I will only add that
from my heart I thank you.
The deputation were then entertained at luncheon,
after which several complimentary speeches
were delivered.