$23.] 
jeges, or in the religious advantages, to 
which, as British subjects, they are un- 
questionably entitled, 
On the 15th of May last, Mr. Buxton 
made a motion to the following effect,— 
“That the state of slavery is repugnant to 
the principles of the British Constitation 
and of the Christian religion; and thatit 
ought to be gradually abolished through- 
out the British dominions, with as mach 
expedition as may be consistent witha 
due regard to the well-being of the par- 
ties concerned.” 
Had this motion been agreed to, it 
was the intention of Mr. Buxton, as he 
stated succinctly in hisspeech, to follow 
it up, by moving for leave to bring in a 
Bill, or Bills, which should embrace the 
following specific objects, viz. 
To remove ali the existing obstructions 
to the manumission of slaves ;— 
To cause the slaves to cease to be chat- 
tels in the eye of the law ;— 
To prevent their removal, as slaves, 
from colony to colony, and, under certain 
modifications, their sale or transfer, ex- 
eept with the land to which they might be 
attached ;— 
‘To abolish markets and compulsory lz- 
bour on the Sunday; and to make that day a 
day of rest, as well as of religious worship 
and instruction; and also to secure to the 
slaves equivalent time in each week, in lieu 
of Sunday, and in addition to any time 
which, independently of Sunday, is now 
afforded them for cultivating their provi- 
sion grounds ;— 
Yo protect the slaves, by law, in the 
possession and transmission of the property 
they may thus, or in any other way, 
acquire ;— 
‘To enable the slave to purchase his 
freedom, by the payment at once of a fair 
price for lis redemption, or of a fifth part 
of that price ata time, in return for an ad- 
ditional day in the weck to be employed 
for his own benetit:— 
To make the testimony of slaves availa- 
ble in courts of justice, both in civil and 
criminal cases ;— 
To relieve all negroes and persons of 
colour from the burden of legally proving 
their freedom, when brought into question, 
and to throw on the claimant of their per- 
sous the burden of legally proving his 
right to them ;— 
Yo provide the means of religious in- 
struction for the black and colonred popu- 
lation, and of Chistian education for their 
children ;— 
To mstitnte marriage among the slaves ; 
and to protect that state from violation, 
and drom either forcible or voluntary dis- 
ruption ;— 
To putan end to the driving system ;— 
To put an end also to the arbitrary pus 
nislunent of slaves, and to place their pers 
Association for abolishing Slavery. 
339 
sons as well as property under the guardi- 
anship of the law ;— 
To provide that all the children born 
after a certain day shall be free,—care 
being taken of their education and mainte- 
nance until they shall be capable of acting 
for tliemselves;— 
To provide that no colonial governor, 
jadge, attorney general, or fiscal, shall be 
a possessor of slaves, or shall have a direct 
avd obvious reversionary interest in such 
property, or shall be the agent of the 
proprietors of slaves. 
Mr, Canning, as the organ of his 
Majosty’s government, expressed his 
concurrence in the general object of put- 
ting an end, at some, though perhaps no 
very carly, period, to slayery throughout 
the British dominions. He abjured the 
idea of perpetual slavery. He further 
expressed his concurrence in several of 
the specific measures by which it had 
been proposed to effect the general ob- 
ject. He objected, however, to the 
abstract form of Mr, Buxton’s motion, 
aud he proposed to substitute in its 
place the following resolutions, which, at 
the close of the discussion, were unani- 
mously adopted by the House—viz. 
1st. That it is expedient to adopt effee- 
tnal aad decisive measures for meliorating 
the condition of the slave population in his 
Majesty’s coloni¢s. 
end. That, through a determined and 
persevering, but judicions and temperate, 
enforcement of such measures, this House 
looks fonward to a progressive improve- 
meut in the character of the slave-popula- 
tion ; such as may prepare them for a par- 
ticipation in those civil rights and privi- 
leges which are enjoyed by other classes of 
his Majesty’s snbjects. 
3d. ‘That this House is anxious for ‘the 
accomplishment of this purpose at the 
earliest period that may be compatible 
with the well-being of the slaves, the 
safety of the colonies, and with a fair and 
equitable consideration of the interests of 
all parties concerned therein, 
4th. That these resolutions be laid be- 
fore his Majesty. 
Tn specifying the measures which his 
Majesty’s government have signified 
their intention of adopting, the Com- 
mittee will not confine the specification 
to what actually fell from Mr. Canning 
during the debate on Mr. Buxton’s mo- 
tion.. Subsequent communications bave 
enabled them to modify the statement 
tlien made, so as to present, if not a par- 
ticular and detailed, yet a clear general 
view of the present purposes of his 
Majesty’s government. ‘They are as ‘ 
follow :— ‘ 
‘Phat the existing obstructions to manu- 
missions, arising from stamps or fines, or 
other 
