The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-02-07 00:00:00

Ely Zthrrpool &tanbarb.

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FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 7, 1840.

We are glad to perceive that the subject of immigra-
tion into the British Colonies, especially into the
Mauritius and the West Indies, was brought under
the notice of the. House of Commons, .on Tuesday
evening last, in the shape of a motion by Mr. Vernon
Smith for extending to the Colonies the act 5 and 6
Wliilam IV., for regulating the carriage of passengers
in merchant ships. From the tone of the remarks
which dropped from Lord John Russell (which will be
found in our abstract of the proceedings in Parliament)
we begin to hope that there is some prospect of obtain-
" justice to the West Indies." Lord John Russell
very properly observed tbat the subject of the intro-
duction of the Hill Coolies into our tropical Colonies
was one of great importance. It is, indeed, of the
highest possible importance. It involves the prosperity,
nay, the very existence of those Colonies. It ie a sub-

ject which cannot be too frequently or too earnestly
urged upon the attention of the British pbblic. It
concerns the welfare of the merchants, manufacturers,

and operatives of this country, quite as 'Much. as it
affects the interests of the planters and ,others in the
Colonies. It is some source of consolation that Go-
vernment has taken the question into serious consi-
deration. A calm and dispassionate examination of
the merits of this question is all that is requisite. All
that the West India planters demand is an unbiassed
investigation of their case. This granted, relief must
speedily follow. They have truth and Justice on their
side, and their case must, ultimately, prove tri-
umphant. Mapna est veritas et prawalebit.

It is satisfactory to learn, upon the authority of Lord
John Russell, that the immigration of Hill Coolies into
the Mauritius has proved a successful experiment—
that these men have received good wages, have been
Well treated,—are perfectly aware of the conditions on
which they removed to the Mauritius,--and able to
enforce those conditions on their masters. This is a
complete answer to the mischievous agitators of the
Anti-Slavery Society, as far as the Mauritius is con-
cerned.

We regret to find that Lord John Russell is not

Ily convinced of the utility of extending to British

Guiana the advantages enjoyed by the planters of the
Mauritius. The introduction of the Hill Coolies into

the former Colony, we contend, has answered quite as
well as in the latter. The conditions imposed upon

le Hill Coolies in Berbice and Demerara are as

unobjectionable as those which are in force in the
Mauritius. The remark that they are well paid and
comfortable is equally applicable in both cases. On
these grounds we venture to hope that the British
Colonies in the West Indies will obtain the same pri-
vileges as the Mauritius, and that the promised order
in Council will make no distinction in favour of the
latter to the detriment of the former. The West India

planters have repeatedly declared their readiness to
abide by any conditions which the British Parliament
or the Government may think needful for the pro-
tection of the immigrants. What more can be desired
by the most sanguine friend of humanity ?

The people of Great Britain are still very inadequately
informed on the subject of the resources and capabili-
ties of our noble Colonial empire in the West Indies.
if this were not the case, we should witness a greater

degree of alacrity in complying with the wishes of the
planters in those Colonies. We do not deny that the
planters have selfish objects in view. But, we would
ask, are not the objects and pursuits of the merchant,

the manufacturer, and the tradesman, in this country,
equally selfish. The fact is that all commercial enter-
prise is in a primary sense, essentially selfish. The
realisation of wealth, as well as the obtaining Of the
means of existence, in every department of life, involves
the abstract principle of selfishness, which is but
another name for self-preservation—the first law of
our nature. But it should be remembered that the
benefit of large classes of the community is-frequently
identical with the benefit and prosperity of the whole.
It is so in the case of the planters in the West Indies.
Their prosperity is one of the best guarantees for the
prosperity of this country. If we look at the immense
amount of manufactures consumed in the West Indies,
we shall at once perceive how inseparably their inte-
rests are connected with those of the mother country.
The resources of our Wrest India Colonies are only
very partially developed. This is especially the case
with British Guiana. If that splendid colony were
fully peopled it would confer advantages upon this
country of unparalleled extent. It would far more
than make up for the loss of the market in the whole
of the States of North America—a loss to which this
country ought to look forward, as, in a few years the
Americans will becqme exporters of the goods which
they now purchase from England. What would be-
come of the manufacturers of Great Britain if the
supply of cotton from the United States were entirely
stopped ? As, this is likely to be the case, it behoves
the manufacturers to foster those Colonies which are
capable of furnishing an adequate supply of so impor-
tant an article. British Guiana alone would do so.
That fine appendage to the British Crown contains
100,000 square miles, which multiplied by 640, gives
64 millions of acres. Allowing only one individual to
each acre,
this Colony is capable of sustaining a popu-

lation of SIXTY FOUR MILLIONS. This is a very fair
estimate, it must be allowed, for a country in which
almost every acre is available for purposes of cultiva-
tion. We shall only mention another fact at present,
in illustration of the value of British Guiana. Nearly
the whole of the 64 millions of acres of land which it
contains consist of crown lands. These lands would
produce, if there were an adequate amount of capital,
and a sufficient
.supply. of labour, to bring them into
cultivation, at least £5 the acre. At present, uncul-
tivated land is sold in the Colony at per acre. . But
taking the lower. estimate of £.5, the British crown
might eventually derive the enormous sum of THREE
.HUNDRED AND TWENTY AiumoNsirom,the sale of
land alOne ! We shall feel it our duty to recur to this
subject again and again,- until the value of this Colony
is more fully appreciated.

We have always been of opinion that there are not
more intolerant and tyrannical beings in existence than
your Dissenting brawlers for liberty of conscience.
Facts of almost daily recurrence serve at once to jus-
tify and to strengthen this opinion. It is seldom, in-
deed, that these clamourers for religious liberty possess
any power, without exercising it in the most arbitrary
and oppressive manner imaginable. We are induced
to enter upon these remarks in consequence of a gross

instance of Dissenting persecution, for conscience'
sake, which has just fallen under our notice. We learn
from our excellent Conservative contemporary, the
Shdield Patriot, that the Rev. J. A. Miller, who ap-
pears to be a Dissenting Minister in Sheffield, upon the
formation of a Protestant Reformation Society in that
town, had the unparalleled audacity to join the com-
mittee of that association, and to render his services in
prosecuting the objects which it has in view. For this
act of presumption the Rev. J. A. Miller was called to
account by " the Deacons of Queen-street Chapel."
Those high and mighty personages, in the impertinent
note which they sent, in the first instance, to their mi-
nister, state that, " after mature deliberation," they
thought that " such a connection was incompatible with
his principles, as a Dissenter, and of injurious tendency
to the church and congregation of which he was mi-
nister." They then formally request him to " with-
draw
his name from the Committee, and to give his
written assurance" that he would do so. Now, mark
the modesty of these superlatively liberal Dissenters.
They say to Mr. Miller—" WE think such a connec-
tion incompatible with YOUR principles as a Dissen-
ter ;" thus assuming the right of judging for their Mi-
nister, and denying to him the right of thinking for
himself. However, the Rev. J. A. Miller, of Queen-
street Chapel, seems to possess some degree of moral
courage—a quality very rarely exercised in any contest
between the Minister and the Deacons of a Dissenting
congregation. He ventured to remonstrate with the
Deacons on the subject of their note. He said that
" the incompatibility of the connection which he sus-
tained with the Protestant Association, either with his
principles as a Dissenter, or with his duties and use-
fulness as a Pastor, had necer, in the slightest degree,
been seen or felt by himself;" and assured his persecu-
tors that " the light 'in which that association was
viewed by him, and which, in his conscience, he be-
lieved to be its proper light, was, that of a body.of men
anxious to prevent, by all lawful means, the increase of
Popery, and that alone." Mr. Miller's appeal is, we
are bound to say, characterised throughout by a meek
and Christian spirit, while, at the same time, he ven-
tures to judge and to act independently. From his
letter we learn, incidentally, that at a "Monthly Con-
ference" of the Dissenting Ministers of Sheffield the
subject of the " Reformation Committee" was dis-
cussed, and that the whole of the Conference differed
from Mr. Miller ! It thus appears that to oppose Po-
pery is incompatible with the principles of Dissenters
The Dissenting Ministers of Sheffield have broadly
and unequivocally declared this to be the case by their
opposition to the Reformation Society. It cannot,
therefore, any longer be a matter of surprise that Dis-
senters should be found co-operating with Papists.
The Dissenters, as a body, seem - to have repudiated
the title of PROTESTANTS. This title is not.applica-
ble to them, declining as they do to oppose Popery:
But to proceed. Mr. Miller's remonstrance bad no
effect. The Deacons were inexorable. Either Mr.
Miller or they must " resign , office." The Deacons
threatened. to do so, in anticipation that Mr. Miller
would voluntarily retire. The issue of the dispute was
that " at a regular church meeting" it was decided
that the Trustees of
.Queen-street Chapel" should
call upon Mr. Miller to resign. This invitation he de-
clined, on the ground that the trust deed only required
the Minister " to maintain and espouse the doctrines
agreeable to the first thirty-one articles of the Church
of England." Here the matter rests, affording a beau-
tiful and edifying illustration of the " incompatibility"
of liberty of conscience with Dissenting principles

In fulfilment of our promise we proceed to offer a
few remarks on O'Connell'S last specimen of " enor-
mous lying." His speech of Friday last, during the
debate on Sir J. Y. Buller's motion, was fully equal to
any of his previous productions in its outrageous dis-
regard of the truth, and in its reckless and malignant
slanders. We allude in particular to his virulent attack

upon the. Rev. Hugh MReile, whom the "Tom Pep-
per" of the House of Commons charges with exclaim-
ing at Manchester, " War, war to the knife," against
Popery. Let O'Connell point out any' expression in
Mr. M`Neile's speeches, either at Manchester or else-
where, which resembles the one which we have just
quoted. We defy him to do so. O'Connell, in
quoting from Mr. M‘Neile's speech the expression
"we are ambassadors of Christ," says that " there is
nothing about ambassadors in the bible ;" thus im-
puting a lie to Mr. M‘Neile. True, there may be
nothing about ambassadors in the Papistical version of
the bible; hut there is in the Protestant translation.
Mr. M‘Neile, of course, quoted from the'latter. Who
is the liar now ? O'Connell's allusion to the exclama-
'nation of Mr. NPNeile "What peate while the woman
Jezebel liveth ?" is, again, equally false and malignant.
He says, " Who was the woman Jezebel ? He knew
that many persons had said the Queen. Let them
(the House of Commons) take notice he had not said
so now, but he did think so at first." The repetition of
this miserable and hacknied slander is quite in keep-
ing with O'Connell's character. It gave him an
opportunity of calling in question the loyalty of the
Conservatives. But we are utterly sick of wading
through the mass of disgusting abuse in which the
great mendicant indulged. We apprehend that very
few of his statements. will pass current for truth in
this country. He has sunk so low in public estimation
that very few, even among the liberals, have the cou-
rage to stand up in his defence. The day is not far
distant when his own countrymen will repudiate him
as the most worthless.and unprincipled vagabond that
ever preyed upon the public. He will soon be found
out as the greatest enemy of his country, which he
has done all in his power to bring to ruin. Let him
beware lest his end prove as tragical as his career.
has been disgraceful-and rebellious.

We have received a great number of communications
on the subject of the celebration of the Queen's mar-
riage, as far as Liverpool is concerned. They all agree
in recommending that Monday next should be observed
as a general holiday. We cordially concur in the
suggestion, and sincerely trust that it will meet with
attention in the proper quarters. We trust that it will
be considered quite superfluous to urge the subject on

the attention of our Conservative friends. Their un-
flinching loyalty is too well known, and too generally
acknowledged, to require any appeal to their feelings.
We look to them-for an example in this matter. They
will, no doubt, give their clerks, and others in their
employ, as far as practicable, an entire holiday, and that
without making any deduction on account of absence.
They will thus furnish• the best answer which they can
give to the slanderous imputations of disloyalty in which
the Radical press has so largely indulged within the
past year. The humbler classes, in particular, ought to
meet with much consideration, as the periods of relaxa-

tion. from toil which fall to their lot, are, " like angel
visits, few and far between." There is also another
class to whom a holiday would be a boon of very great
rarity. We allude to the cleilts in our mercantile es-
tablishments, banks, Sic, whose situations are extremely
confining. Eiy all means let them have a holiday. We
call upon our brethren of the press to agitate for a holi-
day—a holiday for all, not forgetting the shopkeepen'
assistants; the schoolmasters ' and their scholars, the
milliners and their apprentic(:s, (the ladies must not be
ove,r•urgent in insisting upon, the execution of their or

ders,) the master-tradesmen and their workmen, the
carter and his horses.. There must be no exception.
It ought to be a day devoted to innocent hilarity : and
we feel convinced that the loyal folks of Liverpool will
fully respond to our call. Indeed, we are almost afraid
it is a work of supererogation to offer any advice on
the subject. The event of a Royal Marriage is one of
such rare occurrence that it ought to be nationally ob-
served. Long, long may our gracious Queen Victoira
and her illustrious consort (that is to be) live in the
fruition of every domestic felicity ; and long, long may
their progeny continue to sway the sceptre of the largest
empire on the earth—an enipire.on which the sun never
seta.*4Y4 ,144mper. will .be quaffed on Monday next
to the health of the royal couple. With this toast, our
Conservative friends. will, of course, associate a hearty
wish for the deliverance of the illustrious bride from the
trammels of a Whig-Radical Ministry. Monday next
will be also celebrated by many a happy union of hand
and heart in the holy bonds of matrimony. This should
enhance the general joy. It will be, in truth, a me-
morable day—a day fraught with tender remembrances
—a day which will be looked back upon as

" One of the greenest spots in memory's waste."

The very large space which we have been compelled
to devote to the proceedings of the Town Council, pre-
cludes us from offering any remarks to-day On the
subject of Dock Warehouses. We must, therefore,
content ourselves with referring the attention of our
readers to the excellent speeches of Mr. Bushell, Mr.
Hodgson, Mr. Sandbach, and others, in opposition to
the projected scheme.

Want of space also compels 119 to pretermit several
articles on political topics.