Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-07-02

1he Johooing Documents copies Of ,ohich haze been
submitted to the consideration Of the British public
WEST INDIA COMMITTEE Rooms, 90,
ST James street, LIST March, 1888.
The acting Committee of est India Planters and Nj r.
chants respectfully invite your attention 10 the enclosed
statement exhibiting the Of large class ofyour fell
Legislature.
The Yves, India cOonss do propose to vindcae the
system oil slavery but they consider that Ito use the words
oil Lord Stowe 81" be sin, il is sin in which the
country has had its full share of guilt and ought TO bear its
proportion OF the redemption
The cooists themselves ready bear their share
of any national sacrifice which NAV be reouired for tho
purpose OF cautiously substituting better system il such
should be The national determinations; but they mean to
shew by The accompanying paper, that Great Britain is
herself responsible Tor the establishment and actual exist.
ence of colonial saverythat with the view of extending
the market Tor her African trade she passed laws and
made grants oil land expressly eGoning cultivation in the
colonies by slave abour and thus through The inst
mentality OF her subjects all eagerly ndipg for par;
cipduon III The traffic, she gradually peoped the West In
ia colonies with slaves, and received the value of them
In money, consequently that any measure of the egsa
tive interference tending impair or endanger the value
oil property so acquired must either be accompanied bv
adequate compensation give death blow to that conf
dence In the national faith and character which has hhcr
try
But without reference the Just claim of the planter o
compensatory there are other considerations which ought
10 Suggest caution 10 the Statesman and the phanhro-
pist, when dealing with the question of slavery
IL WIN be admitted that, under any changes of system
The continuance OF active cultivation in the colonies bv
Europeans is not only of vital Importance TO the
OF the mother country but indpensaby necessary to the
desired OBJECT oil raising the negro in the of society
While, therefore, il remains uascerained by actual eX
pertinent that the negro will give continuous labour and
Tor reasonable wages, free anand while the weight
oil evidence and experience discourages the expectation
O M Willingly consuming to do so-tbere must be the
greatest dangerS-bat any hasty change of system unac
companied by regulations cacuara insure the slaves
becoming AN industrious peasantry and 10
duties and obligations of society would lead 70 Tho
immediate destruction of the colonies throw the black
population into state of barbarism
That you may be enabled TO Judge of the effect which
such calamity would produce the interests of Great
Britain, as well as the irresistible impulse would give
10 the slave trade, in which foreigners still persist the
committee beg leave to remind you that the present annu
al gross revenue derived from West India produce il
seven mllon the value of British manufactures annually
consumed Ia those colonies Is four millions and half: and
the number OF ships employed in the direct trade nine
hundred and fifty, hundred aud forty thousand tons
exclusive OF extensive cross trade consant ,ain
tanned between the colonies and British America Also
that the British colonies at present supply nearly one half
OF the sugar imported into Europe.
IHE ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF WEST INDIAN
SLAVERY.
One very important question now about TO occunv the
attention OF Parliament is that which relates 10 the eman-
cpahon oil the negroes In whatever way this ybe ef
ected much injury must necessarily fall on the West In
dian proprie,ors To bearing their share the national
loss, they make complaint on the contrary thev ara
most willing to do But in opposition TO any scheme o
emancipation which may propose make their properv
he SUBJECT oil hazardous experiment, without pre- viousy
providing certain aud adequate compensation thew earnest
~ seek TO draw your attention, member of the egsa
ure TO such acts as will enable you Judge how far the
he
guilty oil the West India propetors, or OF the British ma
lion. ~ $50
IN loeol he Slave Trade instituted in the reign
:" queen E'ZaGeb, who personally osk share In H.
Al mat lime The West India colonies did not exist
In 1867 Charles H. granted ON exclusive right in his,
Slave lrdde TO Queen Catherine the Queen Dow per the
Duke OF York and Others no formed themselves into a
trading company, they undertaking supply the N est
India Planters wih 5000 slaves snnudy In In. SANE
year that monarch issued Proclamation inviting his sun
lecs 10 transport themselves 10 jamaica agreeing TO ao,
lands 10 every individual who would 90 to reside in IL a
stand ana signify his resolu ion 10 plant there
he Slave rade continued 10 be iostcred Jurino ,
regns oil Charles III. and James III but still u,der mo-
nopoly.
In 1872 petitions from the manufacturers in Grea, II
tam oil wooen aud other cloths, and the makers of the VA
rious articles necessary TO the Slave Trade with Africa
were presented to Parliament ailegins the trade
crampcd by being IN the bands OF an exclusive comma.
ny, and praying tlat il might be opened
In consequence oil these and similar petitions IN te
rouse oil Commons committee OF the whole House in
1922 resolved That for the better supply of the planta
tons, all the subjects of Great Britain should have Liberty
10 trade 10 Africa Tor negroes, with such limits as should
be prescribed by Parliament ); and by statute and 10
William Ill c. 26 the trade accordingly laid martial
nnkhe preamble Of that Act stating that the traL.
nIpefcdl and advantag cous to tho ki9cdon,
kati2ns and colonies thereunto belongino u
naSgeat Britain however, we're sill
ed their goods for negroes,
West India propretors.
The House OF Commons adopted their arounenIs0