Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-02-02
ENGLAND and The .Slave Trade.


British cruisers in the Gulf of Mexico have
been unusually active within the last few months
ia their efforts to suppress the slave trade be-
tween Cuba and the coast of Africa. The Gu
ban authorities though bound by the treaty stip-
uations between Spain and England to co-ope-
rate with the latter power in its attempts to put
an end to thistraffic, do all they can to foster
and encourage it. The latest adyices from Fla
vana inform us that British subject had been
expelled from Cuba without the formality of
trial aud without any assigned reason. This
proceeding is said to have been based upon the
fact that the individual in question had assisted
British cruiser in the capture OF Spanish slave
ship and thereby rendered himself obnoxious to
the authorities of the Island 1t is thought that
a serious Disagreement between England aud
Spain may possible grow out OF this matter.
The same advces also speak ola ru'nored dill
ference between the British and Spanish mem-
bers of tho court of adjudication on seizures OF
slave ships. and that the former had threatened
to retire from their judicial office.
England claims great credit to herself for her
persevering and energetic exertions to suppress
tine slave trade, aud she would have the world be-
lieve that her conduct is Influenced purely by
motives of humanity. We are much Mistaken
however, if her present extraordinary anxiety to
arrest the importation of slaves into Cuba does not
spring in great measure from selfish conslde-
rations. Acting under the delusion that the
negro population of her colonial possessions
: could be induced to work without coercion, and
that free labor was cheaper than slave, she Some
Il ad her sla n
West Indies This measure has proved most
isastrou to the interests ofthose lonies tkeir
exports have fallen off to enormous extent and
England discovers too late that free negro labor
in these islands cannot compete with slave labor
in Brazil, Cuba and the United States. Now the
demand for slave labor in Cuba. is supplied by
importations from Africa and it is the opinion OF
those best informed on the SUBJECT that were this
supply cut off there would inevitably be great
decline in the productions of the Island. Eng
land knows this well, and it is not unreasonable
to infer that in carrying out her humane designs
for the suppression ofthe traffic ia slaves she has
an eye to the interest other own colonies and de-
sires to cripple the productive energies of sue
cessful rival
Several years ago it proposed in the Bri-
sish Parliament that the Government should dis.
continue ali further efforts to prevent the slave
trade. and in the discussions that arose on the
question, it was argued by the opponents OF the
measure that the British West India Islands
would be totally ruined by its adoption-that the
colouists were then suffering under the compete
tion of slaves purchased at $500, and that thei
ruin would be completed if the price were reduces
10 500, as would Do the should all restraint
ON the slave trade be removed. Lord John hns
sch stated it as his opinion. that were such al
advantage given to Brazil and Cuba, the British
West. Indie. would BIO wholly unable to bsaf TN
competition.
Irthus appears that England has other moiive
than those Of humanity, not only for the Sigi
,snee which she exercs es in the Gull OF Mexico
bat for keeping large and expensive squadron
an ths eeast OF Africa. The considerations t'ia'
ss.yioaIy Influenced her conduct 10 a0oil'hing
ks.s -a-s- krads may have been disintefeste'' 'a'