The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-03 00:00:00

TALLOW.

There is a steady business doing, and prices remain un-
altered, both for present and autumn delivery. The home
make is very good, and meets a good demand. By letters
received from St. Petersburgh this morning, the quotations
were the same as last post. Town Tallow unaltered in value.

ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY--TIRE
FREE TRADE QUESTION.
(THIS DAY.)
A special general meeting of the Anti-Slavery Society,
convened by the following circular, met this day at Exeter
Hall, in the Lower Room, at eleven o'clock :
"British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society,
"27, New Broad-street, May 23, 1844.
" At a special meeting of the Committee of the British and
Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, held at No. 27, New Broad-
street,: on Wednesday evening, the 22d instant, it was
resolved :
" That a special general meeting of the members of the
British and Foreign Anti- Slavery:Society be summoned, in
conformity with the Bth rule of its constitution, to meet at
Exeter Hall, London, on Monday, the 3d of June next, at
eleven o'clock in the morning, 'to consider that part of the
constitution of the Society, whicif pledges it to the adoption
of fiscal regulations in favour of free labour.'
"As a member of the Society, according _to the sth rule
of its constitution, you are respectfully invited to attend.
This circular, which is not transferable, will be your ticket of
admission to the said special general meeting, on inscribing
your name and address, in a book to be prepared for the pm,
pose, at the Hall, " I am, yours respectfully,
" JOHN SCOBLE, Sec."
Among those present we observed, John Bright, Esq., M.P.,
Joseph Sturge, Esq., Rev. J. H.', Hinton, J. Scoble, and
several other friends of the Anti-slavery cause.
On the motion .of Mr. E. SMITH', of Sheffield, seconded by
Mr. J. J. GURNEY,
SAMUEL TUKE, Esq., was called to the chair.
After some short preliminary discussion, the Secretary read
an explanatory statement of the course pursued by the Com-
mittee of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, in
relation to fiscal regulations in favour of free labour.
The Rev. J. J. HINTON then rose, to bring under their con-
sideration an entire class of measures in regard to the slavery
cause. A principle which had been admitted from the be-
ginning of the formation of the Society was now called in
question. The interests of humanity were involved
in the decision to which they were about to come.
There had, no doubt, come over tbe public mind a change of
opinion on this subject. The subject of free trade had not ac-
quired the hold of the public mind at the time the Society
was formed which it had at present. After the instruction at
the last general meeting it was impossible to leave the ques-
tion undiscussed. He believed that all parties, too, were
equally anxious for the extinction of slavery. The question
did not relate to any particular measure, it related to the
principle whether or not it were proper to adopt fiscal regula-
tions in favour of free labour. Fiscal regulations in favour
of free labour were powerful as an expression of popular
opinion against slavery. It was a practical discountenance
of slavery, and the force of public opinion thus expressed
was very great. To be added to that was the pecuniary
disadvantages applied to slavery and the slave trade by
adoption of these regulations. These regulations fostered the
growth of a commercial principle, antagonistic to slave
labour, and as slave labour was dearer than free labour, the
latter would' eventually drive slave. labour from the field.
These were the reasons in favour of fiscal regulations favour-
able to free labour. One of the main objections made to this
principle was, that it must be maintained by force. They
required to be maintained by force no otherwise than all
other fiscal regulations. To object to it on this ground was
to object to taxes, police, judges, and juries. The Society
was pledged to pacific measures, but that meant not warlike
measures. 'War, not force, was the antithesis of peace. He
admitted that, other things being equal, free labour was
cheaper than slave labour; but he did not see the inconsis-
tency with which they, were charged. They might still call
upon them to cut short the struggle between free labour and
slave labour by fostering the former. But was free
at present on an equality with slave labour? Certainly not.
The slave master had greater facilities for increased produc-
tion thin the masters of fre! men. The two elenients there-
fore were not in a fair state of competition, and it was neces-
sary tv finter fro labour, and if they put free labour and 414Y0