Star.
London, England, 1817-01-09 00:00:00

JAM d1C.1%

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY. 06TOAER 29.
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In the speech with which his Grace the Duke of
Manchester opened the Session, he said among tidier
things :
" ft is with sincere regret I announce to you, that
tEe tranquillity oa t:/e Island :if Birb.does has been
interrupted by a p 41161 but most daring insurrection,'
which, though speedily subdued, has betaintittided
with much individual loss and calamity,,and the de-
struction of a great number of Negroes, who have
unhappily fallen a sacrifice to the fatal delusipn, that
their emancipation had been intended by the tritish
Parliament.
In noticing this distressing event, it would be
unjust to that class of persons in this island who have
prude.ntly resisted all attempts which may have been
made to mislead them, viire I neat to bestow the
highest praise on their peaceable and orderly con-
duct, affording at once the most satislactory proof of
their fidelity and geld disposition, and the consi-
derate kindness of those under whose protection they
are placed.
Atilt:nigh there are some matters of great im-
portance, which must necessarily engage your atten-
tion. and which I shall make the subject of a future
communication to you, I am desirous to recommend
to your particular consideration, whether, as hom
lapse of tim?. and change of circumstances the wisest
and best.laws require occasional revision, some fur-
ther legislative regulations may not be necessary to
promote the moral and religious instruction of the
Negroes, as well as to improve their general comfort
and happiness."
'To which the House of Assembly replied—
" We sincerely regret that the tranquillity of the
Island of Barbadoes has been interrupted by an in-
surrection, which, though subdued, has been attended
with much individual loss and calamity, and the de-
struction of a great number of Negroes, who have
unhappily fallen a sacrifice to the fatal delusion that
their emancipation had been intended by the British
Parliament ; a delusion which has been insidiously
spread by the practices of certain associations in the
Mother Country, and has occasioned great discontent
among the lower classes in these colonies.
" The peaceable and orderly conduct of the slaves
in this island, notwithstanding such attempts to mis-
lead them, is worthy of the highest praise, and may
justly be attributed, as well to their fideligeamnd, good
disposition, as to the protection afforded by the
laws and the considerate kindness of those under
whom they ate placed.
se We are always desirous of paying the utmost
attention to what may be recommended to us by your
Grace, and it is our intention to inquire whether
further legislative regulations may be necessary to
promote the moral and religions instruction of the
Negroes, as well as to improve their general cougott
and happiness, pursuant to the Resolutions of the
late House of Assembly, at the close of the last
Session."

The above Message was ordered to be referred to
the Committee as the state of the island.
carol=

House in such Committee ; and being resumed,
two Resolutions were reported, and agreed to as fol.
bws :
That the Leghlasure of hanks has progressively adopted
aq =roam measures to reader the condition of thislaves as fa.
wearable as was consistent with their reasomble services sad the
NU) of the inhabitants, and that this Legislature is alone tom.
pcent to deternshse upon stick haunt enessures so. may be expo.
diem to easursbute funksr so this salutary object, bat that the
ammares beet ealetiLited to promote the advantage of the slaves
meet be gradsally adopted, otherwise the benevolent disposition
of the inhabitants of ibis colony asay be insidiously so perverted,
. ss memo* so be Mama to themselves and destructive to their
dives.
" 2. That It be recommended to the House es appoint a Com-
mittee to take hoe consideration the state of religion among the
elms, and investigate the means et &Busing the light of genuine
Cbsititisnity amongst them; to inquire into the conaequauctrof
"'posing dim to sale under writs of reatlitimi firfrear, or set-
' Pig them to permits who do net mean fa employ them la their
fanilli.e er en their propel** s to review the misting laws for
the proteedea of slaves, and to readder whether their individual
&MIMS and natural Increase can be promoted oe Inaba' posi-
tive emetneente I and, if necessary, to being in a all or hills for
those rooms."
Committee appointed accordingly.
NOicilitft 6.
Molise in Committee on his Grace the Governor's
• Message of the Ist instant ; and having resumed, one
Resolution was reported as follows s
a That it be recommended to the House to send a
Message to his Grace the Governor, thanking him
• foe the communication contained in his message to
the House of the Ist instant; to assure his Grace that
the House properly appreciates the care with which
Dix Majes: y's Ministers have guarded against the in-
4erference of Parliament in a question, the considera-
tion of which exclusively belongs to ;he Legislature
of this island J an interference which mast ever pro-
.. coke the utmost irritation and alarm in the minds of
his Majesty's loyal subject' at Jamaica, as a direct
invasion of their most sacred and important rights;
that although the House will never seller its pn-
ceedingt to be iniuunced by an apprehension. that
the wisdom and justice of the British Parliament will
allow the malignant and ualesoded aspersions which
• have been cast upon the inhabitants of this island to
operate to their disadvantage, and although it hAs
been distinctly proved that no clandestine or illicit
• importation of slaves has taken place here, the House
is still willing to satisfy, if possible, even the preju-
dices of those who may have been deceived into a be-
lief that a change of circumstances may afford new
facilities to a violation of the Abolition Laws, and,
will, in compliance with bit Grace's recommenda-
tion, proceed to adopt such-measures as may appear,
• best calculated effectitally to emote a strict and faith-
ful observance of those laws, in a moaner least bur-
thensome to the inhabitants of the Wand."
• And a motion being made to amend tied. said re-
port by striking out, dm the first wad "0 That," all
the remaining words of the said repeat. end 'instead
theism( to insert the followieqg yeas:
alt be recommended to the ilostsoqp a Mes-•
sage to his Once the Goratwir,ito kiwis his Grace
that the Home has taken his Grace's Message, se.
commending a Befastry Bill, into their most serious
e xisideratitn. Thy lament that in risniciatita
• of the most offensive priteuittins4 and imovieted by
the cOntessiita of evsry minor party of falsehood aid
hypocrisy,haS bad such sueneuito with his Majesty's
Ministers as to tierce thitn, lit any shape, to inflict
contumely and oppression upon Ins Majesty's loyal

subjects of this country : for in ne other light can I
they consider the threat conveyed in their instructions
of the alternative of registration or interference.— I
They allow that this would not have operated to pre-
vent their making some enactments for the registry
of the slaves, had they not been convinced that a mea-
sate of this kind would only cause unnecessary trAti-
ble of every description in its minute and complicated
parts, and add to the many and burdensome taxes
levied on our Constituents for the contingent expenses
of the public, which, from the distressed state of the
country, are already more than they can well bear.
Such grievous impositions are more heavily aggra-
vated by the continuance of the war duties, and the
removal of the drawback on our traduce. Wherever
they turn they can find nothing good to come out of
such enactment, but they foresee every thing that is
productive of mischief, expense, and confusion. This
House, however, is ready, by such enactments as
may not impugn or infringe our constitutional rights
and privileges, and the security of our persons and
property, to demonstrate to Ministers the utter ex-
tii.ction of every chance of illicit importations of
Negroes."
A debate thereon arising, and the question being
put upon the said amendment, the House divided,
and the Ayes went forth—Ayes, 4—Noes, 2.5 so it
passed sa the neg +five. and the report was agreed to.