New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-04-14

1t is well that the old Anti-Savery party of Great
Britain, the party of Wilberforce, and Clarkson,
ard Buxton, who achieved West India emancipa-
ticn in spite of the planters and constrained the
Ministry to accede to act which they would have
gladly escaped FROM has yet representative in the
British Parliament. The watchful eyes of BrOugham
are never blinded to any scheme, whether Of his
own Government or of foreign Powers, to resstab-
lish Slavery, under Whatever specious guise, any
where within the control or the influence Of British
legislation. And there is need enough of such
watchfulness. Commerce is never sentimental, and
not uniformly obedisnt even to the dictates of JUS
tee She likes labor st low price, and is not over
scrupulous at taking it when offered for nothing.
Perhaps it is not too much to say that she rather
prefers IT on those terms, provided plea of Chris
taniza,iOn and civilization for the heathen 10 ad-
vanced over which Exeter Hall may say grace
and Downing street issue protocols. III Coolies,
and Sepoy., ard barbarous Africans can be made to
DIG rusno, or raise cotton, grind sugar at few
pence per dim, it i, comforting doctrine 10 De-
eve that to the foot Of the right side OF the ledger
may also be added large credit in the conversion
of pscsns and i5oaters. We are little afraid,
moreover. that that respectable aud solid gentle
man, the British merchant. is not alene among his
peers of the world in these enlarged views Of the
combined mission of Commerce and Christianity.
Lord Brousham, however, still holds to the old
fashioned notion of man fret, and then trade. He
evidently thinks that Great Britain has taken the
troub!e-to say nothing OF the expense-of abolish
ING Slavery in her West India colonies, it is worth
while TO keep it abolished. Accordingly he arose
in his place n the House of Lords, few days ago,
| and asked Of eUnder. Secretary of the Colonies
| an explanation N regard to an act which, ne IN
derstood, had been passed in Jamaica, but which,
he hoped had not yet received the sanction of the
| Home Government. By this act it seems that i'm
migrants, whether Coolies or Africans were not al
lowed, when brought to the island, to choose their
| own masters, but were allotted according to the
will of public officer, called an Emigrant Com
| Ill ssoner; that they were not permitted to leave
| the grounds Of their mssters and if caught few
miles distant or out of the parish, might be ar.
rested without warrant and committed to prison;
and that they were compelled to work nine or ten
hours Ger day, with the exception of Sundays and
three holidsys.;n the course OF the year. Such an
act the noble lord mildly termed "retrograde
"course of proceeding" and one which, if perse-
yered H. was likely 10 reduce the free negro pop
ulation of the colony to the cOrdtiOn they occupied
before emancipation.
| To this earnest appeal the Under Secretary re-
Piled that an act bad recently arrived from Jamacs
| and was then under consideration of the Govern
ment. As il had not yet received the Royal ap-
probation he refrained from giving any information
in regard to it, as that would be al unusual pro-
ceediDg but be took care TO remind the House that
tho colonies had experienced great deal OF diff
Guilty in procuring an adequate supply of labor-a
n,sa which in the minds Of may lords and bishops.