The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-27 00:00:00

member for Perth, which I think if allowed to go fortli
without some explanation might create considerable misap-
prehension as to the impression they intended to coavey,
becatise the hon. gentleman stated that the English Govern-
ment had for a long course of time encouraged and pro-
moted r3:Zvery and the slave trade in other countries. Now,
I believe what he Tx, J2nt was this, that by consuming slave-
glan.d indirectly encouraged
grown produce the people 0;
slavery and the slave trade. Well, tn.. is a ques ton as
has been frequently discussed in this house, a.- a t
upon full
deliberation those who have advised Parliament todiseot..7e
the consumption of slave-grown produce hare not been suc-
cessful in convincing Parliament that that would he either
a wise or a right method of putting the slave wade down.
But I wish it to be understood that the efforts of the Go •
vernment for putting down slavery and the slave trade have
been most exemplary, have been of long continuance, have
been most energetic, and, to a great degree, successful—
(cheers)—and that is one reason why I object to the word-
ing of the first resolution, because taken as it stands it would
imply that our efforts had been altogether and entirely a
failure. We set the example ourselves of abolishing the
slave trade and the condition of slavery. Has that remained
a fruitless example ? Why France has followed our example.
France has abolished first her slave trade and then slavery,
and no condition of slavery now exists in any territory
belonging to France. Well, Holland has abolished the
slave trade. We have concluded treaties with Spain and
Portugal, giving means and providing machinery for put-
ting a stop to the slave trade. We have concluded treaties
innumerable with chiefs on the coast of Africa for putting
a stop to the slave trade from their territories. Well, to
say that this country has been encouraging slavery and
the slave trade in other nations is to assert that which
is at variance with the most notorious his-
torical facts, and it is a calumny on the British nation and
the British Government. (Cheers.) Our efforts have been
greatly successful. We have induced by our example and
by the efforts made by the British Government ever since
the ysar 1815, when at the great Congress at Vienna the
Britishrepresentative persuaded all the confederated Powers
"to agree to a declaration that the slave trade was a curse to
Africa and a disgrace to Europe and ought to be put down—
ever since that time we have made every effort to put an
end to the slave trade. Well, we have succeeded greatly.
In the first place, with regard to Brazil, which used to import
fifty, sixty, and seventy thousand negroes yearly, a number
which in human misery and suffering represents three times
that extent, because at least three times that number had to
be torn from their homes and families, in the centre of
Africa, in order to produce the residue, the slave trade has
entirely ceased ; and if we had only accomplished that, it
would have been a great glory to the British nation. Well,
Portugal used to be the most active instrument of slavery.
I will not undertake to say, because 1 know it would not be
true, that in the Portuguese colonies in Africa a great ex-
tent of slave trade does not still go on, but it goes on with-
out the consent and without the wishes of the Government
of Lisbon ; and that Government, when representations are
made to it on the subject, expresses its concurrence, and
does all it can to discourage slavery as far as they have power
to prevent it, and now very little slavery is carried on under
the Portuguese flag. Holland carries on no slave trade, and
yet she used to carry on a great deal ; and therefore the slave
trade is confined almost exclusively to that centre of abomi-
nation, the island of Cuba. (Cheers.) The number of
slaves imported into Cuba some years ago was compa-
ratively small, but I am sorry to say that within the last
few years the number has greatly increased ; and why ?
Because the American Government from motives which per-
haps one ought to respect, from a mistaken sense of national
honour, has interfered to cover with impunity that prosti-
tution of the American flag which covers the abomination
of the slave trade. In speaking of the slave trad it is im-
possible to express too strongly one's sense of indignation
at the profligate, shameless, and disgraceful bad faith with
which the Spanish nation has acted with regard to it.
(Loud cheering.) As far back as 1817, • the Spanish Go-
vernment bound itself by treaty to abolish slavery, and the
slave trade, and we paid £400,000 for compensation to those
who might suffer by that change of policy. In 1835, after
the Government of England had mainly contributed to the
establishment of a free constitution in Spain, we asked, as
the only acknowledgment of the services rendered, that
Spain would conclude with us a treaty by which machinery
should be established for mutual right of search and mixed
commissions, in order that the engagements of 1817 might
be concluded, and an effectual stop put to the slave trade.
Well, the memory of our services to Spain being fresh we
obtained that treaty, and if it had been fairly carried out the
Spanish slave trade would have ceased. It is most extra-
ordinary that a nation which taken individually has the
highest sense of honour and good faith, should when taken
in the aggregate be guilty of such a shameless abandon-
ment of honour. (Hear.) No doubt the conduct of Spain
would give us a good cause of war, if we thought propgr to
avail ourselves of it. We have repeatedly warned them in as
strong language as I am now using, and the papers before
Parliament contain records of it; but lam sorry to say
they have been dead to a sense of their duty with regard to
their national engagements. I hope that is only a remnant
of that debased feeling which their arbitrary Government
in former days inflicted upon the Spanish nation, and that
those more generous feelings which belong to a constitu-
tional government will soon have their sway. (Hear.) I
am sorry to say that we have notreceived from the govern-
ment of the United States that co-operation which we had
a right to expect, because they are hound by treaty to work
with England in suppressing the slave trade. But the Ame-
rican government prevents our cruisers from meddling with
ships sailing under the American flag, except at their own
risk and peril in the event of the ship being found to have
American papers as well as the American flag, it would be
considered an insult to the American nationality to search
the ship. A great difficulty arose, some two or three years
ago, on the coast of Cuba. We thought it right that there
should be an intercepting squadron on tie coast of Cuba as
well as on the coast of Africa, but a clamour arose in the
United States against that proposal, and we were:obliged to
withdraw our cruisers from that station. My noble friend
made not long ago a proposal to the American Government
which, if they had been disposed to co-operate with us in
the abolition of the slave trade, I think they ought to have
accepted, as it would have put an end to the abuse of the
American flag. When slavers sailing under that flag were
boarded by British cruisers they presented American papers
as a proof of their nationality, but when they are searched
by the American cruisers they throw the American papers
into the sea, and thus destroy the only proof of nationality
which would enable Americanofficers to seize and condemx
the ship. What my noble friend proposed was, that the
British and American cruisers should sail in couples, so
that if the slaver threw away the American papers the
British cruiser could seize her, and it they were retained the
American cruiser could seize the vessel. (A. laugh.) I
cannot too strongly express my concurrence in the
opinions of my hon. friend behind me (fir. Buxton),
whose name is associated with all the most honourable
and vigorous efforts to put an end to slavery and the
slave trade. However, the main object of the motion of
the hon. member is, I believe, that the Government should
encourage immigration. I should hope after the statement
made by my hon. friend the Under Secretary for the Colo-
nies as to the increase in that immigration from year !e
year, that the hon. gentleman will be satisfied with
having elicited an expression of feeling on the part of the
house which will fortify the Government—(hear, hear)—
in their future communications with other governments
upon this subject, and that ho will not expose the house to
the painful duty of dividing on the previous question.
(Cheers.)

Mr. CAVE briefly replied. He denied the charge made
against him by the noble lord the head of the Government,
that he had uttered any calumny against this country. On
the contrary, he had stated that when the bill of 1846 was
received at Havannah the whole town was illuminated. He
repeated his objection to the Chinese being carried to Cuba
—it would be much better to have Africans than Chinese
for that purpose. He said that without fear of contradiction
that Spain was not to be trusted in this matter. Spain had
already worked two races to death in Cuba ; and he trusted
the r oblo lord would not encourage Spain to drag a third
race to what the noble lord so properly termed " tho centre
of abominations"—Cuba. After the observations of the
noble lord he should not press his motion, being satisfied
with the general tone the debate had taken. (Hear, hear.)
The motion was then withdrawn.
TRANSPORT SERVICE.

Mr. LINDSAY moved for a select committee to inquire
into the organisation and management of those branches of
the Admii alty, War-office, India-office, and Emigration
Board, by which the business of transporting, by means of
shipping, troops, convicts, emigrants, materials of war,
stores, and any other similar services, is now performed.
The motion was agreed to.
LOCOMOTIVES BILL.

On the motion of Mr. GARNETT this bill was read a
second time, and was ordered to be committed on 13th
March.

The house adjourned at 10 minutes to 10 o'clock.

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