Star.
London, England, 1818-05-21 00:00:00

, •
..; • •....i• •••

over his negroes ? He really thought it trifling with
the attention of the House to bring such a question

under its consideration.
Mr. GOULBURN said, that according to the
opinion alluded to, which was in conformity with
law, the Governor had the power of pardoning Slaves
condemned to work by the sentence of the Courts;
but not those so condemned by their masters.
Sir S. ROMILLY remarked, that, the Honourable
Member who spoke last but one, rather rashly ha-
zarded an opinion which was not justified by the case.
The motion was agreed to.
PUNISHMENT OF SLAVES.

Sir SAMUEL ROMILLY rose to move that a
Select Committee be appointed to take into conside-
ration certain Papers laid before the House relative,
to the treatment of Slaves in the Island of Nevis, and
to report thereon to the House. He was surprised
to understand that there was to be any opposition to
the motion, after the statement he had made on a
former evening, proving the cruelty exercised to-
wards two male and two female Slaves. Here the
Honourable and Learned Gentleman repeated the
statement which we gave in detail at the time, rela-
tive to the severe flogging of two Negroes, for re-
ceiving two pair of stolen stockings, and the subse-
quent flogging of two women, their relatives, for
shedding tears at their punishment. It was impor-
tant to inquire whether, when such cruelties occurred
and the parties were brought to trial for it, justice
was impartially administered. In this case of Mr.
rHuggins, all the circumstances in mitigation of the
defendant's conduct were completely disproved at
the tri:tl, and yet the Jury acquitted him. The As-
sembly had thought proper to send home their ac-
count of the transaction, and to add, net only the
speech of the Counsel for the prisoner, but their own
comments, in notes. It. was not the character of
Mr. Huggins that he impeached, but that of the
Jury. It was proved on the trial, that the men who
were flogged were so ill on the next day that it was
necessary to send them to the Hospital ; and yet it
was said, that they went the next night to a masque-
rade, though no such circumstance was adduced in
evidence. But the Agent for the Island had also
sent other papers on the subject to the Secretary of
States Office ; and the Assembly had recorded in
their minutes Huggins's speech in his own defence—
a speech made precious to the trial. But the House
would no., be surprised at this, when they heard of
whom the Assembly was composed. The Speaker
was one of Huggins's bail, another member was Ed-
ward Huggins, his father, the next was his son, an-
other was his brother, another Mr. Clarke, his retain-
ed Counsel ; and, in short, all the rest were persons
who were connected with him, and took a lively in-
terest in his fate—(hear, hear). It appeared on the
whole of the transaction as if the Governor and
Council of the Island had sacrificed themselves in
order to protect Huggins; and he should ask, it
were not even on their account necessary that some
investigation should take place? He did not mean
to state that lie punishment to which he alluded
was at A. ex:r tordinary ; but, whether it was or not,
still if i, were uanterited it called for redress, and, in
order ti afford such redress, inquiry was necessary.
The chew:lst ,nces of the punishment, too, were
worthy of not ee. Poor unprotected female slaves
were to be wilittped with the greatest severity, and
for what?—for iothing mote than their being pos-
sessed of those feelings of humanity, tenderness and
compassion, which were an ornament to the highest
class of their sex in any country—feelings which did
honour to society—(hear, hear). It seemed also as
if Mr. Huggins intended to practice a refinement on
cruelty, by blending a sort of indifferent politeness
with his severity—(hear, hear). When he had pu-
nished the young man, and was about to punish the
female slaves, who shed tears at the sight of such
severity, he (Huggins), turning to one of his atten-
dants, said, " Now bring out the Ladies ;"—(hear,
hear)—and while they were extended on the ground,
and receiving their punishment, he was heard fre-
quently to say to them, " now cry !" as if taunting
them with the possession of any feeling of humanity
—(Wear, hear). He should not go into the subject,
any further, but should move—" That a Select
Committee be appointed to take into consideration
the Papers laid before the House, relative to the
treatment of Slaves in the Island of Nevis, and to
report to the House thereupon."
Mr. GOULBURN argued, that it would not bel
proper to judge persons by a Comrhittee of that
House, where no evidence could be rdduced of their
conduct. The Papers were, in his opinion, entitled
to no consideration beyond the facts adduced before
the Jury on the trial, and it rev uired no further exa-
mination here. He repeated his former observations
on the subject, and contended, that if there were any
blame attached to the contents of the papers, it rest-
ed with those who sent them. It was extremely in-
expedient for the House to re-try a case without evi-
dence, in which evidence had been submitted before

the proper Authorities in the country where it was
tried. He should have no objection to the motion,
provided the duty assigned to the Committee be to
exclude them from the re-trial of the case which had
already been tried before a competent tribunal.
Mr. WILBERFORCE implored the House not to
adopt the opinion that it had not the power to in-
quire into the administration of justice abroad as
well as at home.—[Mr. GOULBURN denied that he
had given such an opinion, and repeated what he
had said.}—He was to understand his Hon. Friend
had not laid down such a doctrine ; he must have
misunderstood him. But if an inquiry were not to
be gone into, for what purpose had the papers been
produced? It was clearly proved that justice was
not impartially administered in the West Indies—
(hear, hear)—and if ever there were a case which
called for the most serious investigation, it was that
made out by these Papers. The Hon. Gentleman
then argued, at some length, on the misrepresenta-
tions by which we were deluded as to the happiness
and kind treatment of the Slaves, and that there was
no place but the House of Commons where the mal-
administration of justice In the Colonies could be in-
vestigated. He thought it a little too much to believe
•
; what had been stated, that Mr. Huggins had bought
; an estate of Mrs.llutton, and paid 16,5001. to gratify
the Slaves, in their wish to become his property—
.l ( Laughter )--and that she, out of humanity, in wish-
ing to transfer them to so good a master, had con-
sented to take 35001. less for it than she could have
got from any body else. He concluded with de-
I cluing, he felt it to be one of the most solemn duties

the House could eeercise to attend to the welfare
those poor creatures, and to see that the adminiswe-
tion of justice was not perverted with impunity.
Mr. MAR RYATT did not think the case called foe
the investigation of the /louse ; with respect to the
observations of the Honourable Gentleman about the
sale of the estate to Mr. Huggins, there was a good
reason for the Lady letting him have it for 16,5001.
:other than part with it to another person for 20,0001.
and the reason was rather different from a principle
of humanity towards the slaves, he paid the money
down for it—(Laughter).—When he had sold slaves,
he invariably patted with them to masters of their
own choice, and sold them on that account for a
tat deal less than he could have obtained for them
he had not given way to their feelings. He there-
fore would wish Gentlemen were not quite so incre-
dulous as to the fact of planters making sacrifices on
the score of humanity. The proceedings against
Mr. Huggins had been ordered by that very Gover-
nor and House of Assembly that had been accused
of a partiality in his favour, but in this instance he
thought that partiality could not easily be detected.
From examinations taken before the Magistrates pre-
vious to the trial, and from affidavits subsequently
made, he contended the case of Mr. Huggins had
been much exaggerated, as, though the number of
lashes inflicted on the offending negroes for the bur-
glary and felony they had committed was certainly
great, it appeared that many had suffered as much
who had only received 30 lashes. They were known
to hare been at a mask and dance on the next night,
and on the following Monday both had gone to work
without being desired to do so. For the punishment
inflicted on the women, he must say, to him the
story appeared very improbable. That they should
have been flogged merely because they commisera-
ted the sufferings of others, was too outrageous for
belief. But if the truth were this, that they had been
exciting, others to acts of insubordination—if it were
their object to overawe the Manager in the perform-
ance of what he considered to be his duty, then, he
thought, some slight punishment might be necessary.
He was not one of those who thought the mother-
country ought net to look vigilantly to the treatment
of the slaves in the colonies, but he considered pub-
lic discussions on such subjects very injurious, and
this, therefore, was the last course that ought to be
resorted to, when an application to that department
of the Government to which the superintendance of
the. colonies was confided had failed. The language
held on the emancipation of slaves by the African
Institution, and by persons generally in this country,
he was likewise of opinion might do much evil, as it
went to break the charm that bound the slave to his
master, and to excite in his mind an idea that any
effort he might make to emancipate himself would
be considered perfectly justifiable ; and in conse-
q fence, at no distant period, such scenes as had al-
ready been witnessed in come parts of the West In-
dies, might ensue. He proceeded at length to shew
the effects likely to arise from treating this subject as
it had been treated. Under all the circumstances of
the case he could see no grounds for any interference
on the part of the House on the present occasion.,
When a case of real abuse should be brought for-
ward, he would be ready to second a motion for
taking such steps as the justice of the case might de-
mand. At present he was of opinion no inquiry, as
to the verdict which had been called in question,
seemed justified by the facts which had transpired.
Mr. GORDON was surprised at hearing a sort of
defence set up for Mr. Huggins; he did not think
the African Institution deserved the reflection which
had been thrown on them; and as an individual con-
nected with the West Indies, he was anxious not to
be mixed up with the opinions expressed by the last
speaker, on the inexpediency of a public inquiry into
the matters connected with the treatment of slaves in
the Colonies. He thought the dominion of the
whites would be best maintained by kindness to the
slaves. A stronger case than that now before the
House, had, in his opinion, never been brought for.
ward. He could hardly believe that he had rightly
heard the last speaker, when he said die jury appeared
to have been justified, under all the circumstances of
the case of Mr. Huggins, in finding the verdict they
had returned. He telt that an inquiry was properly
demanded, and was wholly with the motion.
Mr. BARHAM was of opinion that in so small a
society there would be found a difficulty in carrying
the laws, whatever they might be, into effect against
the most powerful persons in it. He hoped from this
case a conclusion would not be spread beyond what
the premises would justify--that it would not be in-
ferred that because one abominable case had occurred
in which judgment could not be obtained, that such
was generally the state of the administration of jus-
tice in the West India islands. He could wish the
small islands in the West Indies to be consolidated
with larger islands. Such a measure he believed to
be highly de,irable, both for the welfare of the Bri-
tish empire and for the interest of the small islands
themselves. lle repeated it to be his hope that Gen-.
tlemen would not draw too general a conclusion
front a particular case, for he was satisfied that in
the larger islands there existed a strong disposition to
improve that system, which never could be made a
good one, by giving all possible effect to the laws for
the protection of slaves, and their situation generally
was better than that of the peasantry of most coun-
tries. lie expressed his thanks to the Honourable
and Learned Gentleman for bringing this motion for-
ward, which met with his entire approbation.
Mr. W. COURTNEY considered the case one in
which the House was called upon to interfere. To
form a proper judgment on it, they ought to confine
themselves to the trial. All the circumstances of pal-
liation brought forward by an Honourable Gentle-
man, were founded either on examination taken be-
fore, or affidavits made after it. The evidence be.:
fore. the Jury had proved that Huggies had been
guilty of those acts of cruelty which were now stated
to be so preposterous as to outrage belief; and since
diey had, notwithstanding, acquitted-him, it was fit
that an inquiry into the real nature of the transaction
should take place, in order to ascertain what was the
state of the administration of justice in that World.
Mr. WARRE had heard with astonishment that
the slave in the West Indies was better off than the
free peasant in most countries. All he could admit
was, that the most favoured slave under the most le-
nient and most indulgent master, might be on some
comparison with the most wretched peasant in the
most despotic country. The conduct of Huggins
towards the unfortunate women he had punished,