10 INTRODUCTION. 



which their more favoured rivals are eagerly availing 

 themselves, and thus adding to the advantages they already 

 possess. 



It is abundantly evident, then, that the principles of 

 free trade cannot be with justice applied to the West 

 Indian Colonies in their present condition, and that the 

 claims of the Colonists are based upon the broad prin- 

 ciples of equity and national good faith, and are altogether 

 irrespective of legislative policy. 



The Government have an undoubted right to legislate in 

 accordance with the wish of the majority of the English 

 people, and that right they exercised in abolishing slavery ; 

 but they have no right to confiscate property. If it is 

 necessary to destroy the property of individuals for the 

 public good, it is also necessary to compensate them for the 

 injury sustained, and, therefore, in removing the advan- 

 tages of a fiscal nature, which were considerd as a por- 

 tion of the compensation to the West India proprietors, it 

 is but just that they should have an equivalent pecuniary 

 remuneration. When this is done, it is time enough to 

 talk about the free trade question, as affecting the Colo- 

 nies with the empire generally, and with which the present 

 demands of the West India proprietors have nothing to do. 

 If the duty on foreign sugar was kept up in their favour, 

 they would not be embarrassed y if, that being removed, an 

 adequate pecuniary compensation was made, they would be 

 in a position, by the investment of it in stock and 

 machinery, to render themselves independent of any reduc- 



