STATE OF THE SLAVE TRADE.

New Zealander, Volume XX, Issue 2139, 13 June 1864, Page 3

STATE OF THE SLAVE TRADE.

j [From the London Sun."} There is probably no question on which the opinions l of all classes of Englishmen »re more unanimous than the slave trade. AH creeds, parties, and ranks unite in regarding it with abhorrence, and the final extinction of the late nefarious traffic has long been a favourite project among us. The great and costly sacrifice by means of which England, at the expense of the prosperity of many of her own colonies, secured the freedom of all *' involuntary servants" within her own dominions, is still fresh in the memory of this generation. The efforts which we have made ever since that time, the lives of brave man, and the treasure we have given for the same c use, have given us a right to inquire somewhat closely into the proceedings of other nations with regard to the African traffic. The enormity is so great, so inexcusable, so Contrary" to every lesson of religion and civilisation, that few States are willing to defend the practice or openly to confess any participation in its horrors. Specious pretexts and ingenious devices are, however, never wanting when interest wishes to silence principle, and accordingly we must reckon some of the European nations among the most formidable opponents of our efforts to put down the slave trade. The of Spain in the Cuban slave trade is openly notorious, and the conduct of that Power with respect to it is most dishonourable and unjust. Spain, it seems can repudiate her moral obligations as well as her financial liabilities, and the half million which we paid to her many a long year since in consideration of her consenting to treaties which she has never attempted to fulfil, has as yet produced no visible results. We waste every year time and treasure, and *h<t is wore, the lives of gallant men and officers in cruising on the fatal coast of Africa, while all the time Spain is openly encouraging the trade in defiance of all her engagements. However willing the Spanish Ministry may be to fulfil the terms of the contract entered into long ago, they have almost insuperable difficulties to contend against in the reluctance of the people to abaudon a regular source of profit. Remonstrance and lenity have been tried long enough; it is now high time thai some more decisive steps were tukemif we hope to put an • end to this cruel waste of human life. Let our Government demand of Spain the stoppage of the Cuban traffic, or else the immediate repayment of the money advanced to her in consideration of the unfulfilled treaties. Such an alternative, if properly pressed and supported by the appearance of an English fleet, would do a good deal more towards arresting the progress of the slavers than any amount of vigilance on the African-const. Our men might as well fall in action against the Spaniards as succumb to the influence of the deadly climate; and it would be doing far greater and mora effective service to negroes to stop the fou«tain head than to increase the horrors of the passage by, inducing, the slavers to pack them closer in order "to avoid detection. It is satisfactory to find that a goo I deal has been done as thj matter now stands. It is undoubtedly a matter of congratulation "that the Brazilian trade, which to amount to 60,000 or 70,000 slaves a year, and which consequently i nplied die misery of three times that number who fell victims to the horrors of the journey, is now entirely at an end. It is so far gratifying to know tha the Cubar trade has decreased from an annual importation of 20,000 to 6,000 >r 7,000, but that is still an unsatisfactory resuit of our great and continuous efforts. We do not question the sincerity of the noble Premier's assertions of his own earn -st desise to forward the good cause, but we fear that neither his efforts nor those of any <nh.:r Minister . will suffice to stop the traffic until some better terms are extorted from Spain. It is u ifortmnte that France, who pr 'poses to share our anxiety for the suppression of the slave trade, should be the only nation who refuses to allow us the right of search. . Such au exception is peculiarly to be regretted, as the affair of the free coolies was at least open to suspicion. Tae Federal Government thought it advisable to stop that scheme and its abases, and as they- employ cruisers on the African coast it would be no more than consistent to allow us the desired privilege. In this request President Lincoln has set a worthy example, agreeing to a treaty for a mutual right of search, which has proved of great assistance to the cruisers. The reduction in the actual importation of slaves iuto Cuba is indeed mainly attributed to this treaty by Lord Palmerston. As a proof of the value of such a privilege, Mr. Cave uieutiooed a complaint made to Lord Cowley" at the close of 1862, which announced that a steamer had just left the African coast carrying 1,000. slaves under the French flag. Ii has recently been asserted, in a memori il from Jamaica, that the s ! ave trade is being carried on in full vigour ; while our colonists at British Guiana have addressed the Government on the same topic, pointing out the obstacles in the way of their trade, and asserting that they could-,' by the help of immigrants, compete with slavery, but not with the slave trade. From the papers now laid before i'arliament, we leant that slaves are so valuable, that on one occasion the owners of a slave ship paid £12,000 as hush money to Spanish officials for a cargo of 490. It is also said that, owing to the plan of landing the slaves on the . small rocky islets which fringe the Cuban coasts, and smuggling them in small detachments up the country, it is impossible to calculate exactly the number landed. If this be the case, we have cause to be satisfied with the apparent diminution in the number of slaves, and must certainly try some other method than that of watching the African coasts. Tha Spanish Government, according to Lord Palmerstou's own admission, threw every obstacle in the way of really useful measures.; and, however great the earnestness and sincerity of the noble lord's endeavour-, it is manifest that they have little chance of success as affairs are at present. It is useless to rely on the professions or pr mises of Spain ; it is better to regard her as au open enemy in this matter, for a long course of years has proved her to be that most dangerous of foes—a pretended friend.