Star.
London, England, 1818-03-19 00:00:00

better had resort been had in the instances in quesa
tion to the Droits of Admiralty. In conclusion, the
Honourable and Learned Gentleman expressed his
earnest and anxious hope, and indeed his sanguine
expectation, that by the stipulations which had been
entered into between some of the Governments of
Europe (which he trusted would be very speedily
extended) and more especially by the admission of
the right of search, the great measure of the total
abolition of the Slave Trade would ere long be com-
pletely accomplished.
Lord CASTLEREAGH, in reference to what had
just fallen from the Honourable and Learned Gen-
tleman, was persuaded it would be satisfactory to
to him and to the House to be informed, that the Go-
vernment of the Netherlands had signified their rea-
diness to assent to the principles of the Treaties
with Spain and Portugal ; and that a Treaty to that
effect was in a state of great forwardness—(hear.)
Mr. WILBERFORCE contended, that the Hon.
and Learned Gentleman had tailed in making the
distinction on which his whole motion rested. As to
the parties, whose claims were under consideration,
instead of being Spanish, it was probable that they
were all of other countries. Unhappily the arts of
fraud were brought to such perfection, that it was not
easy for a Court of Law to detect impostors. He
could not help thinking that this circumstance was
one cause of the great solicitude manifested on this
subject. The trade having chiefly existed to the
south of the line, it had been, in a great measure, dis-
continued for a great part of that portion of Africa
in consequence of the French having been driven
from Senegal in the beginning of the late war. There
had been, indeed, an entire cessation of the trade on
that part of the coast, and in consequence of that
cessation the result had been as flattering as the most
sanguine abolitionists could wish. The natives find-
ing it advantageous began to employ themselves
every where in the pursuits of honest industry—va-
rious plantations were seen on the Senegal—the na-
tives began to shew themselves without fear. What
had been the effect since the restitution of that Co-
lony to France ? Now nothing but desolation was vi-
sible ; vilages destroyed ; smoking ruins. The poor
negroes had all been obliged to abandon their homes.
To the honour of his Noble Friend the abuses to
which criminal neglect in that quarter had given rise,
had no sooner been stated to him than he exerted
himself with the French Government to have the evil
remedied, and it was but justice to the French Go-
vernment to say that it had shewn itself alive to the
principles of humanity. The French Government
had actually removed one Governor already for fa-
vouring the trade. After the cessation of the trade
to the North of the Line by Spain and Portugal there
were only two great Powers remaining, France and
America, whose consent he had no doubt would also
be obtained. He could not believe that France, after
the declarations which that country had made, would
nut consent to every measure necessary to put a com-
plete stop to the trade. He could not but think this
the more when he considered the person who was
now at the head of France, and the humanity for
which he was distinguished. That person knew what
it was to be unfortunate and to suffer, and he had no
doubt that he would eagerly countenance such steps
as would lead to the prevention of such scenes of
violence and suffering as now took place. He could
the less doubt of the conduct which America would
pursue on this subject, from the pledge which the
American Government had given. He had no doubt
that that Government would shew itself as friendly
as it ought to be to the rights of man, and that it
would lend itself to laws for the abolition of the Slave
Trade, by the passing a law for making the carrying
it on felony, and punishing it as such. He thought
the sincerity of the Spanish Government cote..l net
be doubted after having agreed to the right of search.
Mr. MONEY wished to correct a statement cortainad in a
Morning Paper of that day, relative to what he said in the House
on the night before. He was made to say—{Order, order!)
The SPEAKER.—Does the Honourable Member mean to
address tha House on the question before them?
Mr. MONEY said, he wished to take that opportunity of
pointing out a misreprzsentation.
Mr. BANKES rose to order. The Honourable Member
ought to know, that no stranger had a right to send forth the
proceedings of that House to the public. If the Honourable
Member wished to accuse any person of a breach of privilege,
be might do so.
Mr. MONEY continued. With respect to the ques-
tion, he thought the money voted to Spain for the
abolition of the Slave Trade was given for a most
just and noble purpose—a purpose which reflected
honour equally on the Govervment and the country.
He was convinced such was the general feeling, that
if a public subscription had been opened for the pur-
pose, the pence of the poor, added to the pounds of
the rich, would have accumulated to double the sum
voted by Parliament to Spain. While on his legs,
he wished to make an observation or two on the sub-
ject of the Treaty with Portugal relative to the Slave
Trade. By one Article of that Treaty, it was stipu-
lated it should not be carried on.uearer than five de-
grees south of the line ; whereas, by another Article,
it was said that no capture was to hold good, unless
the chase commenced north of the line. Thus, though
no trade was to be carried on within five degrees
south of the line, by the Treaty, yet it was impos-
'Ale that it could be prevented from extending to
the line itself. He thought the parts of the Treaty
to which he alluded required some consideration.
Dr. PHILLIMORE, in reply, stated, that with
respect to the question immediately before the House,
the Noble Lord had completely misunderstood him.
The question was, whether the Spanish Claimants,
who had obtained sentences of restitution in the Ad-
miralty Court of this country, should be placed by
this Treaty on a different footing from that on which
they would have been if this arrangement had not
been entered into ? The present question did not
turn on the right of the Spanish Crown over their
Spanish subjects--here British subjects were also con-
cerned. He still maintained that the credit and cha-
racter of this country would be impeached, it the de-
cisions of its highest tribunals should be nullified. It
had been said, that the remedy of the claimants was
r not against the public, but against the captors ; but
would it be just that the captors should be forced to
indemnify the claimants? The good faith of the
country was pledged to give, either the restitution of
the thing itself, or the value in money. The Decrees
were obtained long before the date of the Treaty.—
.He found no fault with giving to the King of Spain
400,000/. but when the Treaty was entered into, the
case of these persons who had obtained sentences of
restitution, ought to have been taken into cortsi-