The Sun.
London, England, 1842-03-23 00:00:00

free ; but in the great majority slavery prevailed. One of tw o
things, however, would occur, either the emigration would
consist of run-away slaves, who had lost their masters, with
whose manners and institutions we had no right to interfere,
and had taken refuge- in our settlements ; and in this event it
must be evident that we incurred a risk of bringing down on
neav
us the jealousy of those neighbouring tribes, with whom at
present we were on the hest possible footing. Or, on the
other hand, under the name of license to emigration,
to the colonies for the purpose of obtaining free colonies, they
would begin to enter into free traffic with their chiefs, and stray
suspiaions would attach that we were attempting a w sle
trade on the coast of Africa. These obstacles might perhaps
be surmounted ; but he (Lord Stanley) was sure that they
would not be surmounted unless the whole of the facts were
entered into ; and if they could summit them, as it was thetr
duty to prevent a new slave trade, as it was their duty to de-
clare to the world the mode in which they proposed to accom-
plish it ; if they could surmount these obstacles, then they
might be justified in holding out the prospects of a free emigre-
firm from certain parts on the coast of Afr,ca ; and be (Lord
sStrtanneleesy)suchdidanD Oetm e
grsal
tt
ot en fay,
btehaattteunix.d:odr
wthitohsegreciractube.na-
nefits to the individuals who were subject to that ernigratien,
with great benefit to the interests of humanity:. and to the pro-
motion of Christianity throughout the continent of Africa. He
sincerely thanked the House for the courtesy with which the
!louse had listened to him—( Hear, hear)—ane for the atten-
tion with which they had heard an address on a subject which
might be dry.—(Hear, hear.) He thought, however, that the
matter required the consideration of the House, and he only
hoped that he had not said anything which could
lead to an offensive feeling towards the planters
on the one hand, or the supporters of entire
abolition on the other. Ho had endeavoured to state the ease
without either prejudice or exaggeration, and he hoped that
the House, if a discussion should ensue, would in the course of
that discussion speak also without prejudice or exaggeration ;
as that if the matter were referred to Conamitte the two im-
portant questions would be duly considered.—(Hear, hear.)
The Noble Lord concluded by moving for a Select Committee,
to inquire into the state of the British Possessions on the West
Coast of Africa, more especially with reference to their present
relations with the neighbouring Native Tribes.
Major C. BRUCE seconded the motion.
Dr. BOWRING said he had listened with great pleasure
to the speech of the Noble Lord. He hoped the enquiry
would be extended to the Niger. In Africa the blacks were
many, and the whites were few ; and he could net but think
that they were entitled to be considered, and though he was
anxious that the interests of the planters should not be neg-
lected, he desired the House to look to the multitude among
the negroes and not the minority among the whites.
Mr. V. SMITH said he thought the Committees proposed
by the Noble Lord would experience great difficulty in prose-
cuting these inquiries, having to inquire into the existing re-
lations between employers and labourers, the rate of wages,
and the expense of provisions. With regard to the first Com-
mittee, he thought their energies must be very limited. The
Noble Lord had not sufficiently pointed out what was to be
the course of examination, especially with reference to the
crust of Africa. It seemed that the Committee was framed
for the purpose of making that inquiry here which the Niger
expedition was intended to prosecute on the coast of Africa,
with of course much amp:er means of obtaining the pro-
posed end. So far as the cause of the failure of
the Niger expedition was conoerned he hoped the
Noble Lord would not persevere in his proposal, bat confine
the inquiry to the state and relations of the various tribes en
the African coast. He trusted also that the Report of Dr.
Madden, who had taken so distinguished a part in the sup-
pression of slavery all over the world, would be submitted to
the consideration of the Committee. With respect to ,the
Committee, he quite approved of an inquiry into the manage-
ment of the estates in the West Indies, and he felt convinced
that much good would result from that inquiry.
An Hoe. MEMBER, whose name we could not learn, sug-
gested an alteration in the words of the motion, but
Lord STANLEY thought the words as they stood were quite
enough to cover everything.
Mr. WAKLEY said he did not think that the Noble Lord
expected to get much information from. the proceedings of
this night, but a report will be useful. The Noble Lords
speech exhibited such a happy state of things among the negro
population, that it was most undesirable any interference
should take place. Yet it seemed there was to he a Committee
to inquire into the matters mentioned in the raotion. He was
apprehensive that this interference was not one of
favour to the emancipated labourers. Twenty mil-
lions had already been paid to the proprietors of
the soil in the Nt est Indies, as a compensation for their
less be the emancipation of the negroes. The Noble
Lord showed that the negroes themselves were undergoing-th
change and improvement which he had anticipated in his able
addtess on the subject in 1833.—( Hear, hear.) But what
could they expect from this movement ? Many per-
sons would be apprehensive that these labourers, in their
improved condition would be completely swamped be the tide
of emigration from Africa to the West Indies. Se was ap-
prehensive that the free labourers would be reduced to a state
of privation and distress, by the competition of the immi-
grants who would work for less wages. Analogous results
had taken ;place in England, only from the change
from the I oath to the North of England. He feared that
every obstacle would be thrown in the way of emigrants
returning to Africa if they wished it. He was really appre-
hensive that in this matter a pressure had been put on the
Noble Lord by the planters ; he hoped, however, be would
rather look to the condition of the emancipated negroes, than
to the interests of the planters who had already been paid
twenty millions.
Mr. H UTT said he was glad a motion of this kind had been
brought forward, and ho should have much satisfaction in
supporting it.
/11r. DICKENSON said that the change in the system of
slavery had been attended with considerable loss to the planters
of Demerara, and on their behalf he expressed his approval of
the motion.
The motion was then agreed to.
WINDOW TAX.

Cap'. I'ECHELL moved for returns of the assessed taxes
en windows iu the twelve larged towns in England.—Agreed to
EASTER HOLIDAYS.

On the motion that, the House go into Committee on the
Corn Importation Bill,
Sir K. PEEL said he was afraid that if he were to get his
resolution agreed to on Wednesday night, he could not carry it
up to the Lords, and as nothing stood on the paper for Thurs-
day, he thought it better to adopt the usual practice, and move
to-morrow (this day) that the House adjourn for the Easter
holidays. He begged to state, therefore, that he swell move
the adjournment en Wednesday (this day).
INCOME TAX.

Mr. HAWES hoped the Hon. Baronet would put off his re-
solution respecting the income tax uutil after Easter, in order
to give the public an opportunity c f considering the measure,
which as yet they had not had.
Sir R. PEEL said that he had no chanee of having the
resolution with respect to the income tax reported till after
Easter ; and it would then be competent to any Hon. Mem-
ber, on the bringing up of the Report, to move any amendment
upon the resolution. But as the tax in question was to be
the basis of all our financial legislation, and as other
most important interests were involved in the matter, he would
feel it his duty to submit the resolution to the House on to-
morrow, with a hope that it would be immediately assented
to. The amendments of Hon. Members might be moved on
the bringing up of the Report ; but the resolution should first
pass through Committee.
Dr. BOATING observed that the adoption of the resolution
would greatly prejudice the cause of those who were opposed to
it upon principle.
Sir R. PEEL said that it was his wish, no doubt, that the
principle of the measure should be affirmed by the House.
Colonel Sllo'llolll' would move for certain returns
relative to the amoulit of duty paid upon fire insurances.--
Agreed to.
The House then adjourned at a Quarter past One o'Clock.