The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-26

they in 1875 That declaration short that no
ord Carendon thoughts would be useful at the present
time 10 recall its terms to the public mind The decara
tion Of the eight Powers in 1916 was
That the Plenpotenaries assembled at this Congress
cannot do greater credit their mission better fnhl their
duty, and manifest the principles which acuate their
august soveregns than by endeavoring 70 carry TINS
their soveregns their wish Of putting end to scourge
which has 30 long desoaed Africa degraded Europe and
afflicted humanity Consequently Sc that the engage age
between the soveregns who parties 70 II cannot be
considered as completely fulfilled until the period when
complete shall crowned their united efforts
To that declaration the French government had ex-
pressed its emphatic determination TO adhere He had
stated the actual state OF affairs thought, after
the Of the French government there great
reason to hope that at distant day the system wncn
bad created such CONSERVATION among the we
wshers of Africa would be entirely abolished.
The Earl of DERBY did not doubt the sincerity
the French Government when they stated their be-
lief that in sanctioning this system they had no idea
of revival Of the slave trade Every one, how
ever, who was acquainted with the subject was fully
aware that as the noble earl had said, supply OF
free labor from Africa was absolutely impossible
(Hear, hear) Whatever precauton might be taken,
with whatever safeguards the system might be sur
rounded, it would speedily become slave trade in
disguise so thin and transparent that no one could
doubt its character. (Hear, hear) IT was well
known that in Africa the people had no power TO
dispose of themselves, and supply of labor could
only be obtained thence either by direct purchase or
by the indirect method Of enabling the lab0rer TO
pay the chief for license to quit the country,
which, in fact was sale by the chief of the
man whom he allowed to be taken away. There wirs
only one portion of the answer of the noble earl
which was not perfectly satisfactory, and that was
the statement that the French government, while
expressing its determination to adhere to its engage
mes to suppress the slave trade still did not consi
der the scheme which had been referred to came at
all under that denomination and that therefore they
could not feel bound to discountenance it. The no
BILE Earl had not given the House to understand that
he had been able to prevail upon the French govern
ment to put an end to the system which was object
ed TO, but only that they would put end to all the
Inconvenience attaching to the system. He Uord
Derby emphaticay declared his full conviction
that surround such system with all possible safe
guards 1t would be impossible to prevent abuses but
put an end to the system itself. (Hear, hear) The
French government were deceiving themselves and
neglecting the experience acquired by England II
they did not perceive that the maintenance of the
system as it now stood was identical in subtance
if not in form, with the slave trade ITSELF (Hear
hear)
The Earl of CLARENDON was extremely de
sirous in replying to the question of my noble friend
not to overstate, and therefore gave as nearly as
possible the words used by the French government
but have reason to believe, although ! cannot at
present venture TO state-(The noble earl did not
concnde the sentence save by slight gesture)
Earl GREY hoped and trusted that the system
which had been brought under their notice wond
be speedily abandoned. He relied fully upon hsg
Majesty's government not to allow this matter -
sleep. (Hear hear) 1t would of course be improper
under present circumstances to ask that the cor.
respondence should be produced; but il, unhappy-
which he did not apprehend- result of that cor.
respondence should be unsatisfactory, then he hoped
the papers would be laid before the House, as the
only means which they had of acting upon great
country like France was to publish the whole
proceedings, and submit them to the judgment
of the whole civilized world. He would only
add few words from his own experience. During
the time he haG the honor of holding the seals Of
the Colonial Office the subject of free labor had been
frpuupntlV " hie Hp Waa urpe
by persons connected with the West Indies to per-
init free labor to be imported from the coast Of At
rca. The government of that day were anxious to do
all in to relieve the colonies and agreed to
fit out steamer and make an endeavor to procure
laborers. They sent persons in whom they had con.
fdence TO the African coast and adopted every mea
sure which was suggested to them, save one. 1twas
urged that il would be act OF humanity 10 ransom
the unhappy prisoners taken in war, as they would
be in better condition as laborers in the West In
dies than as captives in Africa; but he Carl Grey)
always said that IL against the plain principle
that "you can't buy stolen goods without sharing
the guilt Of the thief" (Hear hear.) Upon that
plain principle the government would not allow shil
ling TO be given either 10 the immigrant board the
ship TO the chief of the African coast Upon these
conditions, however only some twenty or thirty
kroomen had been induced TO embark, and the re-
suit OF that experiment was In his opinion, sufficient
10 show what might be expected To happen at the
present day. He should only add that this was, in
his opinion, moment when especial care should be
taken to prevent so iniquitous a scheme as that
which said to have been set on foot, from being
carried into execution inasmuch Az il would appear
from the representations of those distinguished ira
vellers who had recently returned from Africa that
civilization was beginning TO penetrate into the heart
of that great continent-a state of things which il
was desirable TO foster, instead of promoting a
scheme by which the progress which had begun To
manifest itself was sure 10 be checked. (fIcar,
bear) The question was one Of the deepest import.
ance, not alone TO England, but TO the cause Of cvi
zaton throughout the world and he therefore hoped
that many days might not elapse before the govern
ment Of France repudiated all connection with the
movement upon which il was reported to have EN-
barked. (Hear, hear.)