Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-08-27
From the Richmond Enquirer.
THE SLAVE TRADE.
TESTIMONY OF AN ENGLIsHMAN.

THE SLAVE TRADE.
TESTIMONY OF AN ENGLIsHMAN.
The N. Y. Express gives an interesting
sketch of debate in the British House of
Commons on the subject of the African slave
trade. The important fact was elected, that
under the very expensive treaty between Great
Britain, the United States and France, to Keep
a squadron on the coast of Africa TO watch
and capture slavers, the iniguitous traffic still
continues with undated vigor. The evil,
contends the Express, can never be remedied,
as long as the great demand for slaves in Cuba
and Brazil is allowed to be supplied. These
are the two great slave markets Check the
current of traffic 10 these two points and the
atrOcious evil will die out
| Mr.. Bothwck, a member of the British
House of Commons, called upon Lord Pal
merston, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, to alb
rogate the treaty he had made with the United
States and France on this subject. In the
course of his remarks, he expressed the idea
that Eng land owes TO mankind the exertion of
her great power to put down the trade in At
RIGA which her own people began. 1t is to
her that the United States are indebted for the
introduction of slaves, even against the remon-
strances of their own colonies. Mr. Both
wick, IN pressing the annulment of the treaties
OF England with other powers TO keep up At
rcan bockadlng squadrons, presented the fol-
lowing facts, which should forever seal the
lips of British fanatics to any denunciation Of
the system of slavery in our country
England first engaged in slave dealing in
1862, when John Cooking fitted cut thirty
eight vessels, the largest being 100 tons and
the smallest 40, to carry negroes from Africa
to Hispaniola, now st. Domingo, where they
were sold. From 1852 to 1862, the trade in
creased to such an extent that during that time
no fewer than 71,115 negroes were imported
into Jamaica, and sold at the average of g3O
each. From time to time English dealers con-
tracted TO supply foreign powers with slaves,
and an cUery instance the contracts were sane
toned by the British Government 1t was a
curious fact that the first attempt to put an
end to the traffic in slaves, was made by the
planters themselves. In 1747, the Assembly
of Jamaica passed two bills, the object of
which was to suppress the slave trade; but
the British Government refused to sanction
those measures, and directed the Governors of
the West India colonies 10 inform the assem-
|blies that If they passed any more bills Of Il
similar nature, they aroold be deprived of the
poocer of legislGtlng for their orn affairs and
the reason assigned for that proceeding was,
that the Slave trade ras gerry profitable to the
citizens Of tile mother country. In 1894, the
House of Commons took step towards the
ultimate abolition of the slave trade, by pass
ing bill prohibiting the sale of slaves to TO-
relgners. The House of Lords, however, re-
jected the bill and it was not until-in con-
sequence of the famous agitation headed by
Wherefore and Fox, and countenanced by
Pitt the anti-sIavery feeling took such a
strong hold of the public mind, that the Iegis-
lature was obliged to grapple with the ques-
ton and, finally, in 1907, the slave trade, as
far as Great Britain is concerned, was made
felony"
We hope, then, (says the Express,) soon 10
hear England, in the earnestness of her atone
ment, demonstrating with Spain and Brazil in
and Rio Janeiro A little British thunder of
the old sort, would soon clear the air, we be-
lieve, on the coast of Africa, by making Cuba
and Brazil too hot for slavers to fit out from,
or go back to.
Il Democrat IN England-Mr. Surge, a
candidate for seat in Parliament for Leeds,
addressed an assemblage of from eight to ten
thousand people, to whom he held forth in the
following strain:
"He commenced by declaring that, holding
that every one of his ellow-citizens uncon-
vcted of crime, was entitled to the right OF
suffrage, he would not consent to be put in
nomination for Parliament, if he had not the
support and confidence of the non-electors, Sc
uniustly deprived of q voice in the choice oil
rulers He was infavor of a total separation
of Church and State-of entire freedom o.
trade-the abolition of the game laws, anG
those of primogeniture and entail, Would a.
bolish all oaths and capital punishment. He
saw no necessity for supporting, at an annua
expense of g2o,OOoOOO, q standing army an(
navy He would allow no man, in receipt o.
, pay and pension from the Government, to hold
|, a seat in Parliament. He wished the people
of Leeds to have full understanding of his
sentiments but he would use no influence tc
obtain a vote. He deprecated the common
custom of canvassing for votes; he would no
solicit one if his election depended upon it
We are glad to learn that there is every pro
! liability of the election of so thorough a re
former lie has the support Of the Leeds bIer
curry, the most influential paper out of London
in the United Kingdom"