Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-08-05


and the seniiments, which had made him, nj all
times look upon the slave trade as n traffic reprovcd
lay religion, justice and humanity and that he
ready 10 concur in such measures his allies should
think practicable, tn secure the total and definite
abolition oi this ,Iaihc
The penipoteutiaries Of Austria, of France, and
o! Prussia, also declared that their suvereigns con
tnued firm IN the principles, in favor Of which ihev
had pronounced themselves, since the congress of
vienna; aud II was agreed TO record these
principles, Ivy declaration analogous that of the
| 9th OF Feb 1915.
With respect TO the particular measures proposed
Nv The duke oil Wellington, The plenPoieniiaries OF
France reserved TO themselves To make them the
subject oil their reflections, aud submit tive result OF
those reflections to subsequent conference.
(oished) MErrERNicH, NkssELRoDE,
LEBzELrEHs, CHATsAUBHIAED,
FERRoSAY, HATZFELDT,
IAriscuEFF, CARAVAN,
WELLIsGroN, LIEvEN.
Proces Verbal Of the conference Of Ferona 93th No
RENDER, 1922
The attention OF this conference was directed tn
| the communications made 10y the Duke OF yelling
ton, AT the meeting held the 2ih November re la
| tive 10 the abolition of the slave trade.
The Plenipoientares of Ausi,ia, of France, Of
Prussia, and oil Russia, read their answers to thu
, said communications. These answers are hereuuto
| annexed
After the reading OF the papers, the DUKE Of Wei
iing'on considered il his duly TO notice an observa-
| uoa in the answer of the French Plenpotentiaries
pufpor'ins, - that deiIberaon, which would tend
to ubise all governments 10 apply TO the slave trade
the puniSlImeniS Inflicted for piracy, could not, in
their opoon, he within the province of political con
terence. The Duke OF Wellington, in referring to
the expressions contained in his memorandum, re-
marked, that his proposition had absolutely no other
object than TO engage maritime powers, who have
abolished the slave trade, to concert among them
selves the measures to he adopted in order 10 de
clare this traffic piracy, and punish il as such.
fiscount Chaeaubriand replied,'' that the Pleni-
p"ien''aries OF his most christian majesty had per-
| iec'y understood, that the Duke required each GO
vernmen separately, TO pass a law assmiiang the
trade IN slaves TO piracy ; hut that they could not
| sign declaration III which this desire should he
expressed, because they could prescribe to their
government the tile, form, ienour, aud extent of any
| law.
| On the nbser, of several Of the Penipoten
h''ies, that ~ would he drfiic ult atopt measures
against COMMERCIAL intercourse with Portugal and
hrr cnlpnIes with reference To the non abolition of
ne slave trade, without having first animated the
same 10 tue portuguese government, and without
n1S,ng heard them upon the subject, the Duke of
Wellington observed, that lie never had il in conem-
pidtion to propose different coarse !; and that he
equally admitted the necessity Of entering into
explanation with the Portuguese government, before
SUE II measure should be carried INTO effect
The project OF a general declaration was after
wards read, the object Of which 10 show, thai,
The allied powers still adhered, with regard the
drhniive abolition of The trade, those principles
which were proclaimed la the declaration signed M
Vienna, the Bib 81 February, 1915 This project
was adopted in the form annexed under letter l.. /;
aHd II was dgrecd % il in the proces-verbal
under the head oi' resouiiDrs"
lhe Duke of Wellington moreover expressed "a
DESIRE IN order 10 concert further measures
TO effect the deGnive abolition of the slave trade
that the allied courts should establish a conference
IN London. Tie Plenipotentiaries Of Austria, Prus-
STA ana ftnssia declared themselves in favor of this
pr'p"I", ana the f'enIpo,en!iaries OF France re.
served 10 themselves To refer ito their court.
(o'gned) METTERNIcH, FERRoNAY,
HEssELRoDE, CHATEAUBRIAED,
18ARAMAN, WELLiNoToS,
HAPzFELDT, LiEvEN
1ATisCHEFF,
Answer of the Plepipoentiaries Of France TO the
Memorandum OF his grace the Duke Of Wellington,
relative To the Slave Trade.
(Extracts only are giyen-the Document is Iong3
lie memorandum which his grace the Duke of
Wellington submitted TO the conference at the sitting
oil The Zlb o this month, has been taken into cous
deTa'ion by the Penipotentares of his christian
majesty.
They commence by nvowing tha, the French govern.
ment participates in the soicifude of The English
government TO suppress traffic, equally repI ehensi-
ble ~ the eyes both of GOD and man. The number
oil African slaves conveyed 10 the colonies for some
years past, even u were less than is estimated by
England, would DO still far too great The accumu.
lated suiferimgs OF these victims Of an Infamous cupi-
dny, awaken feelings Of the greatest horror Chris.
tan nations cin never do too much zee the stain
which the slave trade has impressed upon their char.
acter and TOO much praise cannot I've given to En-
gland Tor the zeal she has evinced iu The prosecution
VI This beneficial des,gn.
II public opinion is less decided in France than IN
fnsand on se question before US, i To be alirbui-
ell To causes which il is our du,y 10 develope A
people 50 bnnaue, So generous so disiuieresied as
'h"t OF r"nGe-a people always ready TO give The
example OF submitting to sacrifices deserve To have
explained what may appear 10 be an inexplical,le
| anomaly in their character
The massacre of The colonsis of ST. Domingo
and the burning OF their hahitaons left Ia the Grsi
Instance, painful recOlectInns amongst families who
lost relations and fortunes IN those sanpuinary reyo-
luons. 1t should he permitted 10 call 10 mind these
misl0riunes OF the whites, when the English memo.
| Tandum paints wiib so much truth the suarrings Of
the blacks, 10 order TO show that every hing which,
eNcues piiy, naturally influences public opinion "
Is evident that the abolition Of the slave trade would
nave been less popular in England, If il had been
the Antilles 49, "
Moreover the abolition Of Ibis traRic was nos de.
creed 10 f'anCe by national law, discussed I'm the
trliune-- IS the result Of stipulation in - treaty r.,
winch France has atoncd for her victories F,om
mat moment The measure was coupled N the eyes of
W." muHliuue, win foreign considerations, merely
because they believed to be in,posed mon Them
and u, therefore, became subject 10 bnt onpopnIar;
" "hich attends compulsory measures the same
Unng would have happened w any country where
public sp'fh and proper degree Of national pride
exist
motion in parliament, ever honorable IN its an.
thor WIS finally crowned wHh success in England
but Tor how many years was IL not reieclsJ brCote
was carried into Haw, although The measure was
supported by one Of the greatest ministers England
ever produced During these proiracfed deba'es,
public opinion had Ue 10 mature and to come 10 An
Ultimate decision. Tue mercantile interest which
lorFsaw the event, took IFS precautions; number
vi negroes, exceeding the wants Of Tie colonists
were conveyed INTO English islands and successive
generations oi slaves provided CIT M the void
10 be occasioned Ivy tie abolition, when IL should
take place, Of casual slavery.
NO advaniaRe Of this description was possessed by
ttaece-good fortune aud opportunity faiied her.
The first convention between France and ENGLAND
aer tie restoration, recognized the necessity OF act
ing with prudent caution ~ = matter Of so cotnplex
n1iorc an additional article TO that convention nj.