Year: 1861

Housr OF LORDS Tuesday MAY 2S


Lord Broueham to call the attention of the noble
Duke the Duke of Newcastel 10 "a subject wi ich was
at this moment of extreme importance-the growth Of
cotton in colonies. He would not refer 10 tie
painful events which occurring in the Uniied
States but he considered that il had become absolutely
essential independently Of those events that we should
promote by every means in our power the growth OF
that staple. He would urge his noble friend to lose
no time in recommending to the different Colonial Gov
enors TO encourage by all means the growth OF cotton
in districts under their control He had received from


Jamaica sample fcOtton which had been submitted TO
the Judgment of persons of skill who had pronounced
10 be the nest they had seeD and which
would fetch high price 10 leave dou that II
would he remunerative to grow 1t. They estimated
the maj ke value OF the cotton at ls. per pound but
assuming it 10 he but I'd. pound Its cultivation
would he pr fit able if he informed, COS pounds
could be obtained from one acre at cost OF t8 With
due encouragen ent, an Unlimited supply OF cotton
could be obtained from various colonial Elements
and ne wished TO know whether the Government in
tended to hold ont any encouragement for the growth
of cotton in the British possessions.


The Duke Of Newcastle reminded bis noble and
learned friend that he had not observed the usual
tom Of giving notice Of bis question but be in
a position 10 give answer At once, be had no OBJ
lection do O He could bis noble friend that
the GOvernment-not only the Colonial Department,
but also the Indian Department-had not elected the
important question of the growth Of cotton, but the
real difficulty TO rd districts that suited
for that staple but to find districts where there
adequate supply OF labor 10 allow 70 be produced al
q remunerstive price. He was that in Jamaica
there was land capable OF producing the finest quail
tier of cotton. His noble friend asked what encour
agement the Government proposed 10 offer for the
growth Of cotton II the noble and learned lord meant
anything in the shape Of bounty, then most undoub
edly they not prepared 70 adopt any plan that
would be Ireudici TO the object they had in view
II the noble and learned lords statements were &C
curate-but he feared they were motif they
curate and cotton could be grown for IS and sold for
{ 49, surely that would be encouragement enough in
iteelf. The Government considered that the hest
couragement they could give would be by facilitating
the introduction of coOe labor into such of the West
India Colonies lad ai applicable to the growth Of
cotton; and with this view he had sought the sanction
of the Indian Government to the removal of the re-
strctions now existing 10 coolie labor When that
labor was introduced the West India Colonies would
have the opportunity Of trying the experiment of grow
ing cotton.


Lord Brougham entirely agreed that no encourage
ment Of pecuniary nature, and forced encourage
ment of any kind should be given. Lord Cannings
dispatch this subject laid down the true principles
most soundly and politely; to encourage by increas-
ing information, but above all 10 all possible
obsructons, was all that Government either could or,
If il could, ought TO do