The Sun.
London, England, 1827-01-04 00:00:00

inefficiency of their past legislation for the accomplishment
Of that purpose. Again and again haS England made re-
presentations to them on the subject; the most damning
facts were pointed out; but assurances of zeal, and pro-
mises of future vigilance, were -the only remedies of the
Mischief that could be obtained. For more than ten years
has France been under a formal obligation to do her ut-
most to suppress the Slave Trade; and now she confesses
that, in consequence of the defects in her legislation, the
Slave Trade has, during this long period, been prosecuted
to a great extent under the French flag, by French sub-
jects, and in French ships. By the former law of France,
punishment was inflicted only on the owners and the
captains of ships, proved to have been engaged in the
Slave Trade. The alterations now proposed are two-
fold--first, to increase the severity of the penalties—
secondly, to extend them to the officers, the crew,
and the persons, who knowingly insure the voyage.
The change, so far as it goes, is an improvement; but
if the French Ministers are sincere in their desire to free
their country from this stain, they must go much further.
It is of little use to increase the degree Of punishment, and
to bring a greater number within the reach of its lash,
unless means are taken for facilitating the discovery, and
promoting the conviction of offenders. The charge
against France has always been, that the Laws, which
were in force against the Slave Trade, were not executed
—that they were violated with impunity—and 'in some
cases, under such circumstances, that it .was difficult to
avoid imputing connivance to the Local Authorities.—
What assurance have we that the new law will be more
vigilantly and conscientiously enforced than the old. When
a party is eonvicted of the offence, the punishment will be
more efficacious than it was formerly ; but the difficulty
lies in procuring the conviction." The proof of the crime,"
says the Minister of Marine " could hardly he obtained,
on account of the system of denial to which the crews
of ships, against which proceedings were instituted
were wont to adhere. Under.the temptation of pecunia-
ry recompense, they were accustomed to perjure themselves
before the tribunals." If the crews would not co-operate
in the conviction of offenders; when' they themselves had
nothing to fear from the law, will they be more Willing
witnessed now that they themselves- are liable to punish-
merit as participators in the crime ? The bribe &impu-
nity which is promised to them, if they-become informers,
' within fifteen days after the arrival of the ship in port, is
'not likely to have much influence over the debased and
hardened minds, who alone can engage in this detestable
traffic. The only means by which the Slave Trade can
be effectually' checked, is, to expose ships concerned in
it to an extreme probability of seizure' while the
crime is in -progress towards completion. This would
be best effected by the exercise of a mutual right of
search within certain limits ; and those Powers who
refused to accede to such, a plan, are bound at least to
take every precaution against the abuse of their own
flag. It is to little purpose
,for France to make laws
against the Slave Trade, unless she will maintain, on those
coasts where that traffic is carried on, cruisers so nume-
rous and so vigilant, as to take away from Slave Traders
under, the French flag, all reasonable hope of escaping un-
detected and uncaptured. It is absurd to allow them to
complete their crime, with scarcely - any risk of hindrance
or prevention, in the vain hope, that they will be checked
by the possibility •of detection and punishment, when they
return to. Europe. Thenew law, defective as it is, shews
at least a good disposition on the part of the French Mini-
sters; and_ for this 'disposition they deserve the more
praise, as the Slave Trade is a subject which excites no
general or public sentiment of abhorrence in France.
Whatever steps the Government take towards the aboli-
tion of this traffic, they have the merit of leading, instead
of following, the nation.—New Times.