The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-17 00:00:00

THE SUGAR QUESTION.

We have been requested to give insertion to the
following letter, which appears in the last number of
the Friend, a monthly periodical :
" Bristol, July, 1844.
" Dear Friend,—l presume it is in the recollection
of the Committee of the Bristol Auxiliary to the
British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, or some
of them, that the efforts made by the Committee of that
Society, to uphold the law which, in effect, prohibits
the importation of Cuban and Brazilian sugars for
our own use, was objected to by. me and some others,
as erroneous in principle and 4njttriotis in its effects;
and I have now to request thee to submit to the Com-
mittee of the Bristol Auxiliary, that as the British
and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, at a special meet-
ing, called together for the purpose of considering the
propriety of continuing to support the prohibitory
law, has authorised their Committee to continue their
support of that law ; it appears to be my duty to
withdraw from the Bristol Auxiliary of that Society,
because—

" Ist. The refusal, by those who govern this coun-
try, to permit the importation of Cuban and Brazilian
sugars, for our own consumption, is a direct infrac-
tion of the law of God—' Whatsoever ye would that
men should do to you, do ye even so unto them. -
" 2d. The refusal to import and use such sugars is
highly injurious to the people of this kingdom; is
partial in its operation, weighing heavily on the mid-
dle and labouring classes of the community ; and is a
breach of the ancient constitution of England.

"3d. Every prohibitory law is an impediment to
the progressive increase of that commercial inter-
course between nations, through which they confer
reciprocal benefits on each other, and which is, in the
ordering of Providence, instrumental in preparing
mankind for the reception of permanent and universal
peace. Therefore, every law which prohibits or re-
strains the progress of commerce, tends to prolong the
practice of war, and ought to be repealed.
" 4th. Though this nation, and those by whom it is
governed, are awfully responsible for the breach of
the Divine law, to do as we would be done by,' they
are not responsible for the conduct of other nations,
over whose internal arrangements they have not, and
ought not to have, any control.
" sth. The lawfulness or unlawfulness of using
sugar, or any other produce of slave-labour, is a ques-
tion of conscience, like that respecting the use of meat
which had been offered unto idols, which was pro.
posed to the Apostle, and by him answered, " What-
soever is sold in the shambles, that eat, making no
questions for conscience' sake;' yet the consumption
of that meat contributed to the encouragement and sup-
port of idolatry.
" 6th. As the Apostle asks, Why is this my liberty
(to eat such meat) to be judged of (or condemned)
by another man's conscience ? for if I by grace be a
partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which
I give thanks ?' So they who would thankfully eat
the prohibited sugar, may ask, why they are to be
deprived of that liberty by the judgment of other
men's consciences ? and they have the precept and
example of the Apostle to support them, in claiming
to have the law, by which they are deprived of that
liberty, repealed by the Parliament of England.
" 7th. Though the British nation has, of late years,
been sufficiently enlightened to perceive the unchris-
tian nature of slavery so clearly, that it would be
criminal in us to practice it, our having liberated our
slaves does not justify us in imputing criminality to
those nations which have not been so enlightened, and
continue to retain a system of labour which was prac-
tised by their forefathers, has been sanctioned and
established by the laws of perhaps every civilised
nation, and was recognised in that law which was
given through the instrumontality of Moses to the
Israelites • nor have we a right to refuse to share the
benefits Of commerce, and to cultivate feelings of
kindness and good-will with other States employing
slave-labour, in order to do away with slavery, or
even to prevent an increase of their present sufferings,
because it would be to do evil that good may come
of it
" These are my conscientious convictions, the re-
sult of long and serious consideration ; and they
are respectfully offered to the consideration of
the Committee of the Bristol Auxiliary Society, in
the hope that, though they may, not concur with
me in these views, they will give me credit for
estimating very highly the character, talents, and
humanity of the Committee of the Parent Society,
and for the desiring the abolition of slavery and com-
miserating the condition of the negroes as sincerely
as ever; and I will thank thee, as the Bristol Secre-
tary, to lay this paper before the Committee, on be
half of their friend, _ _ _

"JOSEPH REYNOLDS
"To Thomas Doyle, Secretary of the Bristol
Auxiliary Anti-Slavery Society."

EXTORTIONS OF BOATMEN AT DOVER AND
RAYRF.—Repeated complaints have been made of the
impositions practised by the boatmen of these places for
landing or shipping passengers at low water, when the
packets cannot lie at the quays. This has occurred so
often at these ports, that it has had the effect of diverting
a great deal of the traffic, while the route by Brighton
and Dieppe, which is exempt from these annoyances, has
received a proportionate accession of patronage.
LIVERPOOL, ORMSRIRK. AND PRESTON RAILWAY.
—Such has been the demand for shares in this promis-
ing undertaking, that the Provisional Committee gave
notice that no applications would be received after
Thursday last.—Preston Guardian,

BOROUGH OF MAR YLEBONE
REGISTRATION.

The revision of the lists of voters for the opulont and
extensive borough of Marylebone has been appointed to
take place on Monday next, the 23d inst. The Con-
servatives have made no kss than 1,174 objections,
whilst the Reform Association have made 586. The
claims of both parties are altogether insignificant, but
there are several hundred individual claims on the part
of persons who are lodgers, and by the Chartists, who
have formed themselves into a " Suffrage" Association.
The number of voters in the register for the borough last
year was 14,749. On the lists at the present time the
number is 15,784, making an increase of 935 ; but that
number, it is expected, will be much diminished by the
revision.