The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-05-21 00:00:00

EMANCIPATION SCHEME.

The following comprehends the heads of the measure,
with the observations made thereupon, by the Committee
of the West India body :

I. That every slave, upon the passing of this Act, should be
at liberty to claim before the protector of slaves. custos of the
parish, or such other officer as shall be named by his Majesty
for that purpose, to be registered as an apprenticed labourer.
OBSERVATION.—The direct effect of this clause is to deprive
the owner of his property; and its operation would impose this
obviously additional hardship upon the proprietor, that while
his able and effective people would take the advantage of it to
place themselves in the condition of apprenticed labourers: the
unserviceable, the aged, the infirm, to whom by law he is bound
equally, would be left a burthensome charge.
11. That the terms of such apprenticeship should be :
I. That the power of corporeal punishment should be alto-
gether taken from the master and transferred to the magi-
strate.

OBSERVATION.---The only object being to secure the labour
of,the negro, the substitution of any authority which may be
efficient according to the various circumstances of different co-
lonies, to attain that end, would he most desirable.
2. That in consideration of food and clothing, and such al-
lowances as are now made by law to the slave, the labourer
should work for his master three-fourths of his time, leaving it
to be settled by contract whether for three-fourths of u week or
of each day.
OrisEavATION.--This clause, whilst it professes to reserve to
the proprietor, for the limited period of twelve years, the services
of the negro in the character of an apprentice, yet the subtrac-
tion of one-fourth of those services deprives him at once of at
least one-fourth of the gross production of his property. Upon
this fact the question presents itself, whether this fourth of his
gross roduce is not equal to his entire net revenue. If it
should be equal to that revenue it follows, of course, that this
clause, instead of enabling the proprietor to derive, even during
this limited period, any benefit from the services of the appren-
tice, takes away from him his entire property.
3, 4. That the labourer should have a right to claim employ-
ment of his master for the remaining fourth part of his time, ac-
cording to a fixed scale of wages.
That during such fourth part of his time the labourer should
be at liberty to employ himself elsewhere.
OBSERVATION.—These clauses are most objectionable, as
being imperative upon the master, while they are optional to
the negro. There may be periods when his services would be
useless to the master, others when they would be most valuable.
By these clauses it would be in the power of the negro to force
his services upon the master during the former, and pertinaci-
ously withhold them during the latter periods.
5,6, (also -§ V.) That the master should fix a price upon the
labourer. at the time of his apprenticeship.
That the wages to be paid by the master should bear such
a proportion to the price fixed by him, that for the whole of his
spare_ time, if given to his master, the negro should receive
one-twelfth of his price annually, and in proportion for each
lesser term.

Thai the half yearly payments herein before authorized to
be made by the: apprenticed negroes be taken in liquidation
of so much of the debt contracted by the planters to the puldic.
OBSEAVATIoN.HThe clauses demonstrate the delusiveness
of the supposed compensation. The owner is to pay wages for
one-fourth of the services of the negro during the period of
apprenticeship.' Thus a portion of the services.of the negro,
to which the owner is entitled, is taken from him to create a
fund for the repayment of the sum to be lent to the owner as a
compensation. Its operation on the property is precisely the
same as if the national debt were redeemed- by taking a portion
of the dividends of the fuudholder to constitute a sinking fund
for the redemption of the whole.
7. That every negro, on becoming an apprentice, shall be
entitled to a money payment weekly, in-lieu of food and cloth-
' ing, should he prefer it, the amount to be fixed by a magistrate,
with reference to the actual cost of the legal provision.
OBSERVATION.—The privilege here conferred upon the
negro, of electing to have a weekly money payment in lieu of
his food and clothing, would, from the improvident habits of a
great:proportion of the population, be productive of the most
injurious consequences, not only to the interests of the master,
but the welfare of the negro himself.
In those Colonies where a large proportion of the land is
exclusively appropriated to the cultivation of corn, plantains,
and ground provision (from which public stock the negro is pro-
vided) much of such provision is of a perishable nature ; and
should the negro demand money payment instead of provision
in land, the loss of the planter would be inevitable, while
at another period he might not be enabled to comply with the
choice Or caprice of the negro, should he again demand provision
instead of money payment. These observations equally apply
to Colonies which import their supplies from other countries.
.Objections similar in principle apply to the clothing, which is
now regularly furnished from Europe by the master.
8, 9. That every apprenticed labourer be bound to pay a
portion, to be fixed, of his wages half yearly to an officer to be
appointed by his Majesty.
That in default of such payment the master be liable, and in
return may exact an equivalent amount of labour without pay-
ment in the succeeding half year.
OBSERVATION.—To make the master liable for the fault of
the negro is most extraordinary ; it may be highly inconvenient
to the former to make an advance; but suppose he can and
does, may he not be deprived by the death, or illness, or
absconding of the negro, from getting his equivalent in labour
during the following half year ?
10, IL ;That every apprenticed negro, on payment of the
price fixed by his master, or such portion of it as may from
time to time remain due, be absolutely free:

That every such apprentice may borrow the sum so required,
and bind himself by contract before a magistrate for a limited
period as an apprenticed labourer to the lender.
OBSERVATION.—In this way the services of head and indis-
pensable people, such as bo►lers in the sugar-house and arti-
ficers of ail descriptions, may at any time be abstracted from
the estate ; and that to the suspension for the time of the work
when in progress. It may, by means of these clauses, be com-
petent to any person to effect the utter ruin of the proprietor.
111. That a loan to the amonut of fifteen millions sterling
should be granted to the proprietors of the West India estates
and slaves, on such security as may be approved by the Com-
missioners appointed by the Lords Commissioners of his Ma-
jesty's Treasury.

CBSERVATIO.—The sum here proposed is quite inadequate
to the value of the rights invaded; but being granted upon
loan only, it cannot be considered (whatever its amount) In
the light of compensation. Again, the moment that the rights
of property are invaded, the compensation, in whatever form
it shall be agreed to be given and taken, must be' immediate
and peremptory. Besides, an advance of money in the shape
of loan may be no accommodation to proprietors of encum-
bered property, who may not choose to avail themselves of it,
because they might not think that they could derive any re-
turn equivalent to the interest they would be required by Go-
vernment to pay; yet whose right to compensation—if compen-
sation be intended—is surely not weakened by the circninstance
of declining voluntarily and unnecessarily to become debtors4p
the public.
The proposed measure, in the compensation it professes to
give, as well as in its various details, has been framed without
any regard to that class of proprietors whose negroes are unat-
tached to any estate, comprising. a proportion of at least one-
sixth of the whole negro population.
Neither does it contemplate nor provide for the interests of
annuitants, and various other claimants under family settle-
ments,‘ secured upon negroes only.
IV. That such loan be distributed among the different Colo-
nies in a ratio compounded of the number of slaves and ti.e
amount of exports.
OBSERVATION.—This clause is founded upon principles upon
the fairness and accutacy of which an immediate opinion can-
not be expressed.
V. That the half-yearly payments hereinbefore authorized to
be made by the apprenticed negroes be taken in liquidation of
scr much of the debt contracted by the planters to the public.
See observations of 5 and 6 Head IL
VI. and VII. That all children who, at the time of the pass-
ing of this Act, shall be under the age of (six) years,, shall be
free, and shall be maintained by their respective parents.
That on failure of such maintenance they be deemed appren-
tices to the masters of the parents (without receiving wages) ;
the males till the age of twenty-four, the females till the age of
twenty; at which periods respectively they and their children,
if any, shall be absolutely free.
OBSERVATION.—As such allowances as are now made by law
to the slave, namely, his house, grounds, &c. are made with
reference to the support of his family, the master will; under
these clauses, though deprived of all beneficial interest in the
child, be still subject to its maintenance; nor, in the present
state of negro civilization,: could any greater injury be inflicted
on the child than by depriving him of the protection of themas-
ter, by resigning him wholly to the care and the exclusive con-
troul of his parents.
VIII. and IX. That this Act shall not prevent his Majesty
from assenting to such Acts as,may be passed by the Colonikil
Legislatures for the promotion of industry, or for the preven-
tion of vagrancy, applicable to all classes of the community.
That upon the recommendation of the Local Legislatures, his
Majesty will be prepared to recommend to Parliament to grant,
out of the revenues of this country, such aid as may be deemed
necessary for the due support of the administration of justice,
of an efficient police establishment, and of a general system of
religious and moral education.

OI3SERVATION.-These clauses admit that the proposed mea-
sure would require an efficient police; an admissmn'which is
still more strongly made by Viscount Goderich in his communi-
cation with the deputation of this body.

It will be observed that this sudden and entire alteration to
be effected in the present state of 800,000 negroes, is proposed
without the previous establishment of a police deemed essential
to secure the industry of the negro population, and the conti-
nued cultivation of the Colonies, no less than to prserve
peace and good order.
Moreover, these clauses appear to contemplate the establish-
ment of a stipendiary magistracy. and police on a most extensive
scale ; no data are, however, given on which its extent,
.and
the expense it will entail, may be estimated, nor is it distinctly
explained by whom the cost of it is to be defrayed.
If it be intended by the Government that this stipendiary
magistracy should regulate the whole internal police of the Co-
lames, and that the influence which attaches to the possession
of property in other countries, ..1 Is SO eSSeollally use-
ful to the purposes of practical government, should in these
possessions be entirely superseded, such a measure must have
the effect of fixing an unmerited odium on every proprietor,
and consequently appears to be inconsistent with the stability
of any society to which it may be applied.
In conclusion of this examination the committee add,.
"From these short premises, and this brief review, tne' Com-
mittee cannot; pause fearlessly to assert, that without reference
to the infiingei'nent of the constitution granted to the colonists
by the supersession of the functions of their own legislathres,
the intended measure involves an unparalleled violation of the
rights of property—of spoliation of the weaker by the stronger
party. chat it is not even calculated to advance the comforts
and well-being of the slave—that it endangers the continuance
of the Colonies as dependencies of the British Crown, and ut-
terly destroys the possibility of their productive cultivation—
that it will entail severe additional taxation upon the people of
these realms, while the resources of revenue will be impaired
to a degree that could not be conceived by those who are igno-
rant that the taxes raised upon Imports of West India produce
amount to seven millions, and the exports of British manufac-
tures to the West Indies to four-millions and a half annually—
that 950 ships, having a tonnage of 240,000 tons, are-employed
in the direct trade—that British merchants, on the 'seertrity of
mortgages guaranteed to them by the national good faith, have
lent monies to an immense amount, probably exceeding forty
millions, all of which will be lost, and involve them, and all
tradesmen dependant upon and connected with them, in bank-
ruptcy—and that, as at present, the British Colonies supply
nearly one-half the total quantity of sugar imported into Eu-
rope, the destruction of those Colonies will have the direct
effect of giving an irresistible impulse to the Slave Trade to
supply this dehciency from foreign countries.

FUNERAL of CULLEY.—We extract from The Stan&7cl an
account of the conduct of the mob who chanced to witness the
interment of this unfortunate man, who was murdered in the
execution of his duty. Who can read without a shuddei this
exhibition of popular feeling, which we should hardly expect
from a race of African savages. Let those who have fostered
this spirit look to it in time—let them remember the fate of
Philippe Eyalite.—"Yesterday afternoon, the body of the mur-
dered policeman R. Culley, was interred in the burial ground
of St. Ann's, Soho. His remains were followed to -the grave
by upwards of 200 of the police. When the procession arrived
at the church it was met by a crowd of upwards of 300 persons,
who behaved in a most unbecoming manner, by expressing
their disapprobation of the conduct of the police in the late
affray, and that in a loud and discordant manner.—Culley was
27 years of age, and was a fine, stout, muscular man. He had
been married about two years. He has left no family, but Eis
wife is far advanced in pregnancy.—Mr. May, superintendant
of the A division, has already received between £4lO and £5O
from various individuals for the relief of Culley's widow. It is
expected that government will bestoW upon her a pension.

EAST INDIES.

A Cape of Good Hope paper of the 13th of March has the
following notice of the failure of Mackintosh and Co.,' of Cal-
cutta, news of which had just reached that place :

"This distressing event seems to have been distinctly caused
by the failure of another great house a few weeks previously.—
'I he panic created by that occurrence among the native money -
lenders was such as could hardly have been foreseen, and which
could not possibly occur in any more enlightened community,.
where the true mercantile value of money is understood. Under
the influence of this panic no voice from heaven—no security
which earth can offer, save so much of it as may suffice to bury
his gold under his hearth—will satisfy the timorous, the. igno-.
rant, and therefore distrustful liiricloo of the safety of his
funded wealth.

"The run made upon Mackintosh and Co., and the exertions
made by the partners to meet demands thus suddenly poured,
upon them, are perhaps unprecedented in the history of com-
merce. We understand their payments amounted to upwards,
of £600,000 in the short space of about three weeks, which intei-
venedbetween Alexander and Co.'s failure and their own.

" That a mercantile house, professing to give 8 per cent. for
funds intrusted to their management, should at so short a notice
be able to disburse so enormous a sum is of itself the highest
and most honourable testimony to the talents and prudent ma-.
nagement of the partners. Accordingly, we have heard nothing
here among mercantile men or others, many themselves suffer-.
ers, but a universal expression of sympathetic admiration,. in
which lye heartily concur."

11)0tirn•
FAREWELL.
Fsauwatly how bitter is the sound
When oke by friends sincere !
And yet own I've sometimes found
Bliss in these partings drear.

For I have seen the tear-drop fan
From beauteous maiden's eyes,
When lingering o'er the word `• Farewell,"
She strove to drown her sighs.

And feelings I have seen arise
Which ne'er 1 thought had been ;
Feelings of somewhat closer ties
Than friendship weaves I ween.

I've felt the pressure of her hand
Thrill thro my every vein ;
And oft I've thought in distant land,
From love we bliss may gain.

V. E. P. P.

A DREAM OF SUMMER.

Witbbreath of balm and cheek of bloom, o'er mountain and o'er

main,
A gracious visitant from Heaven, the summer comes again ;
The woodlands with her welcome the valleys wake with song,
And peopled are the lonely hills with' voices silent long.
And oh ! the blossoms and the beams, and incense-breathing air,
Methinks from heavy thoughts might wile the spirit bowed with care ;
Methinks, forgetfulness of grief to aching hearts might bring,
And sooth them back into the dreams of hope, love, youth, and spring.
Blest season of sweet nature's prime, why pass away so soon
Thy golden days and azure nights, that melt beneath the moon ?
Would I might stay thy raving wing, and chain thee to our strand,
Or like the cuckoo join, thy flight, on—on from land to land !
I long to leave the homes of men—the hot and toiling town,
And mid the summer's fail'y haunts alone to lay met own—
'Mid some sequestered dim wood-glen, where musiemaking streams
Would cheer my waking reveries, or carol through my dreams.
With soft and low, but happy sounds, while passing to the flood,
And where its silvery gleam would break upon the twiliht wood—
Where, tranced upon the glad green earth, begirt with grassy waves,
I might forget her seas had storms, and that her shores had graves !
Or turning from the world away. where I might lift mine eyes
Beyond the hills, where hope hath reared.her bowers amid the skies,
Till fancy traced the promised land, in sunbright clouds of even,
And through their glorious vistas gained a pawing gleam of Heaven !
Edlnburgh Observer.