The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-06-29
Gurope
BRITISH P.dRLIdHTE.R-2,.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
March 12, 1910.
SLAVE TRADE.
(CoNcLUDED.)
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(CoNcLUDED.)
Mr.. STEEHEN wished that his honorable
friend Oh the other side (Mr Brougham)
had not thought it necessary to preface his
motion with any remarks. but had spared
ms observations till the production of the
papers. But as the American government
had been represented as unfriendly 10 the
abolition, he was ANXIOUS 20 say few words
on thai point. There was great deal Of
slave population in America but sill there
was evidence to shew that the American
government was as frien dIy to the abolition
as 1t coald be. in consistency with a due re
gard to popular feeling. 20 prove this,
Mr.. Stephen mentioned that slave ship
had been brought in, and Condemnation APP
piled for in the prize court. 1t turned out
that the ship was American property, and
there was no doubt but she must be restor
ed. Mr.. Monroe. the American minister
stated at that time that the American go.
vernment wished to give no protection to
the claimant but if the ship was to be re
stored, then he claimed her for the govern
ment, on account of her Carrying on the
trade contrary to the law. He also instan-
ced another case of the same kind Among
the commissioners under the treaty the
majority were Americans and consequently
almost all the disputed points were carried
In their favor; but when claim was made
ior slave ship it was rejected with indg
nation. lheSe things went to prove that
the Americans we're not unfriendIy to abo.
lition. He thought that distinction might
be made between the slave trade and ether
branches OF trade, and an arrangement
made on atparticular point; but the art;.
Gle in the abortive Treaty could never have
answered any very good purpose. Ii ought
TO be Kept In view, however, that at the
time the slave trade had not been altoge, her
abolished He believed that there was
disposition IN the American government to
c ncur IN this object, and he thought it but
just to state that opinion.
Mr.. BrouSham was aware, shat in order
to elect the object, there must be some ar
rangement with America, because. other.
wise, there could be no Proceedings in the
Prize Courts y; bnt what he submitted was.
that there appeared in the correspondence
disposition in the american goy eminent 10
coDcede, SO far as 20 afford hopes that some
arrangement might be made on this partic.
uar point. The right honorable gentleman
IN his opinion, had dealt harshly
with the American government. L hey had
given proof OF their disposition to abolish the
slave trade. 1t ought 10 be recollec ed that
they had set us the example of abolition.
a pretty strong proof that they were sin
cerely ANXIOUS for the success of the nea
sure. And yet the right honorable gentle.
man had said---:.nd so grave and serious
a charge had seldom been SO lightly made,
hear hear that the only object OF The
Americans was 70 get possession of part
OF our slave uade He did not believe
that this was the case, and if he had belicv-
ed 1t, he would have been cautious how he
stated IT. Hear ! Her } lie would hum
Oily recommend to the right honorable gen
lleman, who had so lately been secretary of
st5.e tor foreign affairs, and might, perhaps,
BE- very soon called to- that Office again, to
be Cautious how he preferred 50 grave and
serious a Chargs. (hear heGr! } The right
honorable gentleman has said tnat the per
mission to seize must be mutual. Bot the
same argument would be applied to the or
dcrs In Council. America had been then en-.
gagged IN war, she might upon the principle
OF reciprocity have annoyed our whole trade
by searching Tor pieces OF black and white
paper. called certificates OF origin. But the
however, never was brought for
ward till now. lie concluded by again OBJ
serving that the inference he had drawn
from tie CORE poudence was. that there was
an opening which afforded some hopes of an
Oh this particular subject.
Mr.. Canning IN explanation SAID, mat his
observation was that the Americans ,Sould
conc to no express agreement on the subject
OF permitting onr cruzers to seize ships VIC"
ia,ng their own laws
Mr.. Barham had always been of opinion,
that unless tie trade was abolished by c,hef
governments, It would soon revive in our own
colonies. IL WAS only by treaty vi n other
powers that the trade could be efFcctually a..
polished
Mr.. HfiberJorCe expressed his great sa
'isiaction that whatever Httle difference
ibere might be on minor points, there was
one universal concurrence in the desire h
carry the object Of abolition into copulrtr
effect. On nat object he himself aud thos
Who had taken aypaflicpilr interest in the