TOBACCO AND COTTON CULTIVATION. 71 
opponents of a fixed Tariff did I hear any doubts expressed 
of the correétness of the principle of granting a tempo 
rary protection to their infant manufaétures to enablethem 
in due time to compete with the mature skill and decided 
superiority of ourestablishment. For attempting, there- 
fore, a wide and extensive cultivation of cotton in the 
West India Colonies, it happens that our relative situa- 
tions are exaétly reversed ; for in this respeét, their great 
superiority has long been acknowledged and felt almost 
to our entire exclusion. It will not be unfair, therefore, 
to follow their example, and, if careful consideration be 
given to the subjeét, | think it will be found to be a wise 
and advantageous course. 
Should his Lordship be of opinion that the reasons I 
have alleged are insufficient to propitiate the pure 
economists in favour of the measure proposed, I have 
then only to urge that the whole question relating to 
labour and cultivation in the West Indies, from the com- 
mencement of the discussion on the subjeét of the 
extinétion of slavery, have, by general consent, been 
thrown out of the economical into the moral class: and 
that no measure can ever command success, which does 
not maintain a consistent course. The economists 
certainly never assented to the payment of twenty 
millions for the emancipation of 800,000 slaves ; and if 
the enfranchisement of eight millions more, with the 
eradication of the cause which still continues to support 
slavery and the slave-trade, can be effe&ted at an addi- 
tional expense, I humbly suggest that it may be attempted, 
even without their concurrence. It appears, indeed, 
that public feeling has already declared itself decidedly in 
favour of this proceeding ;—a high resolve has evidently 
