The Sun.
London, England, 1845-06-25 00:00:00

officers of neither squadron could proceed to force, without the I
consent of the other, nor enter into treaties but in common, he
was very doubtful whether their joint co-operation s ould lead
to any successful result. He agreed with the Hon. ".'ember for
Gateshead that what would put down the slave-trade most
effectually was the extension of legitimate cornmesce.—( Hear,
hear.) He did not wish to say anything harshly of the French
Government, but he thought, that when that Government
saw its subjects lift behind in commercial enterprise, it threw
obstacles in the path of those who had been more successful in
their career. In conclusion, he saw with regret that the system of
force was still to be persisted in ; but as a treaty had just been
concluded on the subject, he saw no advantage which would be
gained by pressing the present motion. He thought the better
course would be to leave it to her Majesty's Government to
follow up their treaty, and if it should turn out that the ad-
vantages anticipated were not realised—that, instead of putting
down the slave-trade more effectually, no other result fol-
lowed but increased expense to the country, he would then
put it to the Richt Honourable Baronet at the head of the
Government whether he would not consider it more wise and
more expedient to try a different coarse of policy from that
which was at present carried out.—( Hear, hear.)
Sir ROBERT PEEL said, the Noble Lord would not
attribute it to any disrepect towards him, if he (Sir R. Peel)
declined following the Noble Lord with regard to the po'irsy
of the convention which had been completed bptween this
country and France. That subject would come on for discus.
sion upon a future occasion. He (Sir Robert Peel) thought
that the Hon. Gentleman who had brought forward this
motion had proceeded on very exaggerated and erroneous
grounds. He (Sir R. Peel) would in the outset admit,
that the measures which had been adopted by her Majesty's
Government had not been successful for the abolition of the
slave-trade. He must also admit that the horrors of the
slave-trade contined—he trusted that they were abated in some
degree—but they continued to an extent which every friend
of humanity must deplore.—( Hear. ) He must, how-
ever, remind the lion. Gentleman, that when the
proposals were made for the abolition of the slave-trade, it
was foreseen that the measures which had been adopted would
lead in some cases to an aggravation of the evils which were in-
tended to be abolished. Throe who had been averse to the abo-
lition of the slave trade. contended that any steps that might
be taken for the abolition of the slave trade would tend to in-
crease its horrors amongst the illicit traders. The general
feelings of humanity, however, prevailed over objections of
that kind. The Hon. Gentleman had contended that, compa-
ratively speaking, the horrors of the slave trade had been less
than had been represented. He (Sir R. Peel) held in his hand
a copy of the evidence of a person who had passed two months
on board of a slaver. This evidence was of the most harrowing
description. He could admit with the Honourable Gentle-
man, that the feeling respecting the slave trade had some-
what subsided in this country; but in England the
people were subject to hot and cold fits. They
' would take up a subject with the utmost earnestness and
afterwards look upon it with indifference. The evidence which
he held in his hand detailed the sufferings to which slaves were
subjected on their passage in the slaver. The witness said that
the slaves frequently attempted to rise, but finding that they
were unable to do so they begged to be allowed to throw them-
selves overboard. Many of them died of mortification f rom the
wounds which had been inflicted with the thumb screws.
The witness was asked if he had ever seen any merriment on
board, and he said that he had on one occasion, which was that
of the funeral of the slaves who died. The rest of the slaves re-
joiced that one of them had been released from the suffer-
ings which they were compelled to undergo. The Noble
Lord, speaking of the interference of this country
with the slavers, said, " how indignant would we
feel—how indignant every independent country would
feel, if they were subjected to interference of the sort
to which Brazil and Cuba were subjected ?" Why, they were
subjected to that interference in consequence of the slave trade.
So far from their having a right to complain of the interven-
tion of this country, it was this country that had a right to
complain of the constant violation of treaties by Brazil and
Cuba. He deeply lamented the failure of the exertions of this
country for the suppression of the slave trade, but he still
thought that there was a prospect of ultimate success ; and,
therefore, it would be unwise in us to withdraw our efforts for
the suppression of that trade. The conduct of Portugal within
the last two years had been most exemplary. The Portuguese had
lent to this country the most sincere and cordial co-operation
for the suppression of the slave trade. In two instances, two
officers of the Portuguese navy had been promoted for having
taken two slavers. In one case the Portuguese captured, on
the 27th of May, 1844, a Brazilian brig called the Cassador,
having 850 slaves on board. The commanding officer on that
station recommended the guard marine for promotion to a
lieutenancy, on account of the vigilance which he had displayed
for the suppression of the slave trade. That recommendation
was attended to, and the Earl of Aberdeen had the satisfaction
of congratulating the Portuguese Government upon it. In
the other case, the officer also distinguished him-
self in the suppression of the slave trade, by
effecting the capture of a Spanish slave-trading
vessel, and in that case also the Portuguese officer was pro-
moted to a lieutenancy. Those promotions had produced the
most salutary effect on the Portuguese navy. The conduct of
Portugal with respect to the slave trade had been such as to
deserve the grateful acknowledgments of every friend of hu-
manity. He believed that if a unity of action were determined
upon between this country, France, and Portugal, to suppress
the slave trade, their efforts would be successful. He trusted,
therefore, that the Hon. Gentleman would not push the motion
to a division, as its effect would be to injure the efforts which
this country was making. Although there had been great
expenditure and much sacrifice of life in our efforts
for the suppression of the slave trade, yet we had
the consolation of knowing that those efforts had tended
very materially to diminish the horrors of that dreadful
trade. That the slave trade existed to a great extent, he
was quite willing to admit, and, therefore, it was more neces-
sary that this country should set an example of its efforts fit
the suppression of that trade. If they were to remove their
squadron from the coast of Africa, the horrors of the slave trade
would be further extended, and, ultimately, they would find it
necessary for Great Britain again to adopt the course at present
pursued with far less chance of success than there was now.
Under those circumstances, he trusted that the Hon. Gentle-
man would not press his motion to a division.
Sir C. NAPIER really believed that if sufficiently energetic
powers had been put in force the slave trade would long ago
have been put an end to. Portugal, the country whence the
slave trade had originally emanated, had taken ateps to abolish
the dealing in slaves altogether.—( The Hon. and Gallant
Member was proceeding in his observations when an Hon.
Member rose, and moved that the House should be counted.
Forty Members not being present, the House was adjourned.)