The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-13

Powers 70 induce them TO take Ill possible stops = sup
press the slave trade. 81
Inhabitants respecting the slave trade IL O.
said he had wished that their ordships should be remind
ed OF the steps which they had taken 1882 and Of the
beneficial results which had ensued Upon that occasion
the Portuguese and Spanish slave trades especially
specified calling for more active for their sup
preston 1t appeared now that the Portuguese slave
trade had entirely ceased parity doubt through the
exertons OF this country, but ALSO in great measure
through the joint efforts Of the Portuguese and Brazilian
governments aud peoples. So completely had circum
changed that in Brazil col0red wore ad
mted to privileges and social intercourse, from whc
he grieved TO say they debarred in the United
States. The Spanish slave trade, however, still
survived Notwithstanding all attempts 10 put
tition he vas about 10 present had reference That
petition similar 70 which had been presented last
by the right reverend prelate opposite Bishop OF
OxfOrd) and adopted ut o public meeting held at
Spanish Town. and attended chiefly by free negroes who had
experienced the benefits OF our wise and humane con-
duct regard to slavery The petition, he had been in
formed on reliable authority, had been signed by
upwards of 500 persons principally people OF color and
it was circumstance worthy Of notice that out OF that
the expedient Of using mark for tho purpose of sigma
Ono of the grounds Of complaint set forth by the
petitioners the introduction OF slave sugar into
their markets; and, while advertng to that point be
might take the opportunity to state that although he and
his right reverend friend opposite hc Bishop Of Oxford
OF the people OF the West Indies they had always
during the great discussions which had taken place
the subject maintained that the produce of free labor was
entitled TO protection against the introduction Of slave
grown sugar The petitioners also catered length into
an enumeration Of other evils connected with the
stence Of the slave trade in Cuba aud Porto Roo dwe
upon the sUleripgs which IL entaed, and concluded
by beseechng their ordshs to use every means in their
power put end to the Dearous traffic. Justice and
the faith OF treaties which, 1920, had been scandal
ousy violated demanded that steps should be taken
with that But II not by treaties alone that the
Spanish government had sguied It's desire TO abolish the
slave trade. II had in 1885, given its assent TO law
not indeed, making the traffic pracybut declaring to
be unlawful and those who engaged In 1t liable to punish
of Spain E0t merely connivcd at but he might almost say
encouraged the evasion OF that law somewhat
makabe The observance non observance OF its pro-
visions depended almost entirely upon the character and
disposition Of the particular person who happened TO DC
chosen TO Oil the Office OF Captain General OF Cuba for the
time being. One Of them, Valdez whose conduct was
upon the whole entitled TO great appreciation, commenced
his administration by allowing the law 10 which he 0rd
Boueham) had just referred 10 remain IN obeyancc Tor
six months declaring that at tue end OF that time IT
should be enforced The consequence had been that
the slave trade hai become gre1ty Augmented
during that brief period But, be tba. rs 1t might,
General Wander had at its expiration redeemed his
pledge, and had succeeded putting the traffic
far by Of legal enactnent that desirable result
could be accomplished. The very after the had
for drst time been vigorously put into OPERATION
savers trading with Cuba had been reduced from So,
which was the annual average number, 10 81 while the
number of negroes imported into the colony had dwnded
down from IA 900 or Is 900 oetUcen 1900 aud 900
aonum. Such the change which single man
able u effect and he had doubt that General Valdez
had continued Governor Of Cba for time longer the
slave trade in that quarter would have been entirely sup
pressed Such however, had not been the case, and
abundantiy proved by official documents that the Go
terors By ,om he 'cas succeeded and oo toere for the
most part Of ruined fortunes had been selected for the
office by the Spanish government aoiM UteW uat they
might recruit their slender resources by means If gain
acquired by the sfdUe trade 1t being confidently assert
| ed that Of them had dmassed that lgay less
sum than 500 GOO or fl00Ooo IN The four fpe years
during ph'ch he held the position Of Captain General
1t was such persons, therefore, who had the greatest
interest in keeping the traffic for far as the planters
OF Cuba concerned the great majority opposed
nasmucb slaves being introduced the island for
the purpose Of cutvang the lands the cause
OF having large additional supply of sugar brought into
the ket ana consequence tended by their labor
diminish the profits OF the planter. He might also OBJ
serve that the Spanish independently OF their having
Dved at The slave ade had been guilty of fraud in asi
Tying the returns Of the pumoer OF who had been
imported into Cuba appeared Under the provisions OF
the OF 1885, that the of avers which happened
be seized by the house officers instead OF being
liberated at ouce upon their capture, compelled to
indentured apprenticeship Of i've years At tine
end OF the i've years tor which this apprenticeship
to continue the negroes taken to plantations up the
country and kept in slavery the
praton OF the period for which they bound, and in
defiance of the Law the subject Now he very
from saying that should remind the Spanish govern
ent Of tue debt OF gratitude never to be repaid under
which they had been laid by for their defence during the
Penhsular war; Some persons would say that kindness
and benecence often induced short memories aud pr
vate life Individual who had rendered you great
vice and reminded you OF that service did the indie
cae, not to say inoierahIe thing Of which mortal
was, perhaps, capable. To certain degree though not
entirely the might be said State there was
another reason for committing this ndelcacy. which
ives that the spanards denied the ept TO great extent
ana maintained that they worked their liberation
from France. They might as well ogst what happened
The day of which tins the anniversary, the great
battle Of St. Vincent where they league with
France and with France underwent defeat choose
Orget the Obligations which they owed arms and
the counses OF this country But II upon any
ceiling OF this kind that be would rely. As Sir r. Wal
pole said that gratitude consisted in lively ia.
vors to come so he (ord Bougham) would rather i'm.
press the 81 anish government that persistence in
their present policy ought To excite lively risks
and tears ior the future The Spanish government
ought 10 be made distinctly understand that we
had in hands the means Of efectually putting
down the slave trade and OF ellectually and sub
stantinily relieving our own subjects aud part
of theirs by refusing to admit their slave
grown sugar upon the same terms free grown
sugar suggestion OF that kind would not he conceived
be thrown away. There great many other sub
ects mentioned by these petitioners but he would only
allude TO that OF immigration, which had recently
dergone discussion. He hoped and trusted that
means would be found by which the question mmgra-
ton could be placed satisfactory footing. The mis-
fortune was that all the material facts connected with the
subject matters of dispute persons, for
stance, maintaining that there want Of labor
whatever, aud others that supply of labor absolute
| y necessary. The whole question demanding
Inquiry aud he would suggest the expediency OF appoint
ing committee of their lordshps' House 10 investigate
it, together with the measures which had been pr0pounded
IN the colonies themselves for obtaining that supply He
was sure that such committee would otherwise be ap
pointed in the other House, and he satisfied that from
their ordshps mode Of conducting these inquiries IL
would be better that they should take into their
hands The noble and learned lord apoogzed for having
detained their lordshps long subject which for 60
years and upwards had most deeply Interested him. and
concluded by presenting the petition.
The petition ordered lie on the table