Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-08-17
EMANCIPATION BILL.

The annexed letter, says the New York Journal
Of Commerce, contains what we have not met
with in any of the London papers,-an outline oil
the bill about to be presented to Parliament for
the abolition of slavery in the West Indies.
LONDON, July 9th, 1885.
Some details Of the Bill for the abolition Of
Negro Slavery have crept out, notwithstanding
Mr.. Secretary Stanley refused to allow the West
India body to have copy Of it. On finding,
however. that they were in possession Of much Of
it, he made virtue of necessity, and on Satur.
Its title admits the ownership of the slaves, thus
acknowledging the right Of property in them.
have no doubt but this will create much discus.
sion, as the nti.slavery party have invariably de.
MED the right Of one man to hold another 10 bond.
age and to treat him as mere beast Of burthen.
There are many altere lions and departures
from the resolutions which passed both Houses.
For instance, previous to the slave becoming an
apprentced laborer, he is to pass through an in.
termediste condition, On the 1st Of November
next. the bill will commence its operations, for
90 that day, all arbitrary punshments will cease,
add the slave will have his labor reduced to pc.
Rod Of ten hours day, For all offences he must
be brought before Justice Of the Peace, who will
have su mmary power Of inflieting punishment,
and who is not to be Interfered with in any way
BY the drivers or planters. The owner, if he
forces his slave to work for longer time, will be
guilty of misdemeanor, and subject to the same
authority.
This state of things is to exist until the first Of
Aug. 1884, when the system OF apprenticeship
will commence, aud that too, without the execu.
ton of any indenture or other deed for that pur-
pose. The original resolutions left it optional
with the slave, to claim his liberty or not, and
stated IL years as the duration Of slavery. The
bill makes the time of apprenticeship 4. fixing
its expiration for the year 1845. 1t also classes
slaves under three heads, with the singular ii.
ties Of 'rredial attached predial unattach-
ed'-and non. prsjiaI.' They are to labor on
~ u hours a day! The domestic slave. and
mechanic, is only to have 6 years OF modified
slavery, but the field slave the time above stated.
The platter is not to be allowed to have the pow.
err OF engaging the slave, for more than ID hours
in the week, in addition to the As allotted to him
under this bill.
No colonial laws are to BE- permitted to inter.
fere with its operations, and the King is to have
fol! power to appoint Justices and judges to have
the same carried into effect The other portion
of the bill is occupied with plan for raising the
,t2U,OoU,UUO steriins tof the compensation, "h'e"
is to be by way Of loan on the security of term
nable and perpetual annuilies, to the charged on
the consolidated fund, and which as natural
will increase the national debt
You have now got the whole of he information
which can collect on this important subject,
and have no doubt but it will be highly interes-
ting to all in the U. S. who are anxious for the
abolition Of slavery, and who cannot but be
panied that their own free country should be
disgraced by its presence.