New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-30

We print elsewhere . very interesting debate in
the House If Commons on the subject Of the slave
trade-a debate which fcreshadows, if We mistake
not, some pretty decisive measures on the part Of
the British Government for the final suppression OF
that trsffc. 1t was well observed in the course Of
the debate, that the suppression Of the slave trade
90 far from being failure-as some impatient
friends Of that measure aud the entire body OF it,
secret opponents join in proclaiming-has been,
considering The nature and magnitude Of the enter.
prise and the obstacles necessary to be overcome,
one Of the most remarkable achievements Of the
current century.
Fifty years ago the African slave-trade was re-
cognized as lawful and oectable traffic BY the
whole world. Bishops, lords, ministers aud leading
merchants we're among its jealous apologists and
defepders. A great amount Of capital was vested
in the trade. in which even pro essedly piOus men
ergsped-as ia still the case with our domestic
slave. trade here in Amsrica-withOut any surplus
OF conscience. To day this trade is forbidden BY
law and held infamous by public sentiment, not
OF ly throughout Christendom, bu; By several Mo.
hummedan States. 1t has, indeed, defenders and
apOlogists, but none who dare openly avOw them
selves such--nOt even the Judges Of the Federal
Courts in this strict-whlle nobody but the most
reckless and desperate Of adventurers dare engage
the business. In fact, the trade is totally sup
pressed except TO Cuba-and taat too, nOtwith-
standing the price Of slaves and the value Of
labor generally in countries in which slaves are EN-
ployed, has reached figure never known before.
With respect to Cuba it is not to be expected
that the British will daily with that island much
longer, certainly not if PslmerstOn remains at the
head Of affairs. The success of the energetic
measures resurted to in the case of Brazil points,
in way not to be mistaken, to similar measures
with respect to Cuba. The distinction alluded to
by Lord PamerstOn between the two cases does not
appear to amount to much. The long and the short
Of the matter is, that Spain long 1880, agreed,
in consideration of sum of money paid to her by
Engsnd to put stop to the African slsve-trade
That she has not done. She has gone on importing
slaves from year to year ever since, sometimes
mere, sometimes lees, but to such an extent that at
this moment it is probable that ut least from third
to half Of tho slave population of Cuba is held IN
servi'ude contrary to the provisions of the British
treaty. Here is ample ground to justify the En-
glish Government in proceeding to any extremlties
they may chOOte. What has prevented it hitherto
has been, not the want of grounds to act upon or
of means to carry out the object in view, bus the
want of resolute will to effect it.
How much the suppression of the slave-trade
has already done for the civilization Of Africa and
how much it promises to do is apparent from some
very interesting statements made by Mr.. Buxton.
Trade has. in all ages been the great civiizer Of
barbarous nations; aud this powerful agency is now
in full operation on the Coast Of Africa. In an
dtion to the great trade in palm oil and other
indigo nous productions which has lately sprupg up it
would appear that the cultivation Of cotton had
already been fairly introduced. The introduction
of the cotton gin fifty years ago into our Southern
States. through the genius of Whitney, made au
era in the cultivation Of cotton with In fact, it
became the basis Of our existing production
of cotton. Nor have we doubt that the
introduction of the cottOn-Rn upon the African
Coast-and it appears from Mr.. Buxton's state
ments that in the past year upward of a hundred
coitop.gDi have been bartered with the negroes for
cotton Of their own prOduction-will give similar
Impulse to its cultivation there. The plant is
indigenous. The soil and climate are favorabls.
Labor may be commanded to any amount. Indeed,
the difficulty always has been, not to grow cotton
hut to clean it. What reason is there why the
next fifty years should not show an increase in the
cotton produce of Africa quite equal to that which
in the past fifty years has taken place in the United
Statesf
In reference to tho cultivation of Gotten with u.s.
one of the speakers who took part in the debate
fell into gross bluDder; as indeed is but too apt
to be the case with members Of the British Psrlia
meDt who attempt references to American affairs
Mr.. Watkin is made to say that it is 3 melancholy
fact that while the British consumption Of cotton
has doubled itself in twelve years, the labor pro-
ducing it. has only increased 253 per cent since
$780, In 1890, the number Of hands engaged in
the United States in the cultivation of cotton did
not probably amount to o hundred Several years
later the expectation to England was confined to
few bags of Sea Island cotton aud those had great
difficulty in getting through the Custom-House BE-
cause cotton had never been known there except
as Wet India production.
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