LORD BROUGHAMsaid, he regretted the absence of his noble Friend (Earl Russell), as he wished to urge strongly upon him the early production of the slave trade papers. These only came down to December, 1864, while much of importance had occurred since this period. The slave trade of Cuba had increased in the most frightful manner, notwithstanding the repeated promises and contracts of Spain. Her conduct, indeed, was detestable and disgraceful. She had concluded a treaty with us many years ago for its abolition on receiving a large sum as compensation for any possible loss she might sustain. He could not say that treaty remained unexecuted, for she had received the money, but not performed her obligations. Instead of making a law (as she had promised) making slave trade piracy (which she could not do regularly without the general concurrence of nations), she had made flimsy proclamations and mock laws, while the infernal traffic went on increasing. The difficulties lay both in Cuba and at Madrid. In Cuba Earl Russell declared in a despatch last year that all ranks, from the highest, without any exception, were in a state of demoralization and corruption as regards slavery and the traffic; and at Madrid, when a noble had fallen into distress he was sent out as governor 334 to Cuba to restore his fortunes; and some had actually made £100,000 or £150,000 in a year from the bribes of the slave traders. One was a great exception, General Dulce, who honestly and strongly enforced the law against the abominable traffic. He had not been supported at Madrid, however, and a person bearing, he grieved to say, the honoured name of Arguelles, had grossly libelled him because he would not overlook his slave trade dealings. This man had been tried and disgraced, and sentenced for his misconduct, but the sentence was not executed upon him. The conduct of Spain was disgraceful, and he conceived that the true remedy to enforce her performance of the treaty was to impose a heavy duty on slave-grown produce. His illustrious Friend, that great warrior and statesman, the Duke of Wellington, the saviour of Spain, had plainly expressed that opinion, and Lords Denman and Ashburton had held the same opinions. We repeatedly protested against the conduct of Spain, and our repeated protests were treated as so much empty wind. But if we were in earnest and chose to make Spain perform her contract, and abolish the infernal traffic, we had the means in our own hands both of compelling the mother country and the colony, by imposing a duty on Cuba slave-grown produce, which would at once abolish her slave trade.
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, he could not, off hand, give his noble and learned Friend the information he required with respect to the papers; but he would make inquiry on the subject.