Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-05-23
FRENCH CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES.
Sitting f25tk. March.

port.
Two petitions from several Merchants OF
Hayre and Paris, praying for the adoption oil
more effectual and severe measures against the
Slave Trade. gave rise to an animated DEBATE.
The petitioners set forth that, so far from the
law against the Slave Trade being observed, 1t
was notorious that the trahc was carried on by
French vessels with an activity constantly IN
creasinp. Under these circumstances, the law
was an evil rather than an advantage; for pre-
Sious to It's existence, the trade was subject to
regulations, which prescribed the number OF
slaves and the tonnage OF the vessels; whereas
now, in order 10 escape the search OF cruisers
the traffic was carried on by cutters, in which
four times the number were crammed into the
same space The treatment Of the slaves on
board was so atrocious, that three or four thou
sand negroes, who had died Of fatigue and
wretchedness, were annually cast into the sea.
In addition TO these, living ones were sacrIhced
to avoid the pursuit Of the cruisers. The Com
mi,tee was willing TO believe that this repre-
sentation was at least exaggerated, and that
the Government had taken active measures TO
rerress the abominable traffic, but under all cir
cumstances, il would propose that the petitions
be referred to the President Of the Council
Gen. Sebastian said that the horrible traffic
in negroes was prohibited by alaw. This law
afforded Ministers the means Of preventing it,
and they were culpable if the Infamous conf
merce existed; or the law was insufficient, and
jnthat case Ministers were culpable for not hav-
ing asked Of the Chambers other means for its
prevention. Negro vessels enjoyed scanda-
ious impunity. More than 80 had sailed this
YEAR from the port Of Nantes These vessels
were actually recruiters, established upon the
coast of Guinea for the neighbouring black Re-
publics in the Antilles. (Slrong sensation.)
If a maritime war were 10 break out, the
Colonies OF the Antilles would become Negro
Republics, and the whites would be sacrificed.
The continuance Of such state OF things would
end in the subsection OF the French Flag to the
insulting visits that England was anxious 10 i'm
pose upon il. But the existence OF this toer-
ance was not surprising, Tor wherever there was
slavery, il was supported by the French Admi-
Observation-Disclosures murmurs from the Minis
terial benches. Yes; to the traffic In negroes
il was sought to add that of whites. Ministers
suffered Turkish agents openly to recruit Tor
the army of the Satrap Of Egypt. ltwasunder
the eyes of Ministers that all the vessels, which
exist at Marseilles were freighIed on account OF
Ibrahim Pacha. 1t was under their eyes tha,
French officers were sent to train Egyptian
troops and that cannon Of French manufacture
were transported to Missolonghi, for the pur-
pose Of cutting down the intrepid and unfortu
nate defenders Of that fortress. Posterity would
REQUIRE of Ministers an account Of deeds which
the nation censured, and against which the
Chamber officers had expressed Indignation
The murmurs uttered seemed TO indicate that
Hon Deputies did not believe the facts stated,
but they were too true. He (the honorable
member,\ would propose, therefore, that the
Petitions be referred to the Minister of the Ma
rine, as well as the President Of the Council
The minister Of the Finances replied, that
the petitioners had pointed out an evil, but had
not indicated any means to remedy il; and,
moreover, the facts which they announce were
altogether incorrect. Ministers had been re-
presented as Indifferent to such acts; and this
reproach was made at moment whena Com
mission had Just reported upon the measures
taken by the Government TO prevent the inia-
nous traffic, and had shown that every thing
compatible with freedom oftrade had been done
In short, the French Government not only ex-
ercised vigilance in theii own ports and culo-
MES, but even in foreign colonies; and cause
was now pending in the Court Of Cessation, in
which foreign ship-owners were prosecuted for
having carried on this traffic in colony not
belonging to France. 1t was alledged that the
laws were insufficient, but if they were made
more severe-if the offence were made capital
the Judges would refuse to apply the penalty.
With the traffic in negroes, it was sought TO
connect what had been called the traffic in
,chites. Ministers had been charged with op-
pressing the Greeks and aiding their enemies.
The best answer that could be given 10 such
an accusation was a report maze to the Co
vernment, by Rear-Admiral de Rigny, Com
mander of the French station in the Leyant.
His Excellency then read the Report, dated
the 5th Of November, 1925, in which it was
stated, that three Tuscan, seven English, eight
austrian, three Sandman, one American. and
two Spanish transports were attached to the
Ottoman fleet, but no, one French. 1t also gave
details Of Ibrahim Pacha giving up, a, the Adj
miraps request, a number Of Greek women and
children that were in his power. The rumour
of French brig having fired upon the canoe
of Canaris bad been proved to be false. On the
contrary, no fewer than 1000 Greeks, men, wo-
men and children, had been saved by his Majes-
tvs vessels, which never had transported Ell.
Their troops or ammunition belonging TO the