Commons Sitting of 12 February 1822

SLAVE TRADE LAWS CONSOLIDATION BILL.
Dr. Lushingtonrose to bring forward his motion for consolidating and amending the several acts relating to the Slave Trade. For a period of 30 years, several statutes had been enacted to promote the abolition of The Slave Trade, which were much at variance with each other. Some of the gentlemen proposing such enactments not having taken the trouble to examine the statutes which had previously passed, great difficulty was often felt in coming to a right conclusion upon the law, or in making a satisfactory distinction between one statute and another. This difficulty was peculiarly felt by our Legal tribunals in the

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colonies, and still more by the officers of our navy. Hence it became highly desirable to have all these laws consolidated, amended and explained. It was not intended to make any change in the principles of the Jaw as it stood; but if be was allowed to introduce his bill, after that bill was printed, and upon the motion for its committal, he should lay before the House a further explanation of his views with respect to these laws. If the present measure should meet with the approbation of the House, it was his intention, in the next session to apply the same principle of consolidation to some other branches of the statute law, to which it might be advantageously extended, he alluded more particularly to the statutes relating to the criminal law. He should now move for leave to bring in a bill to Amend and Consolidate the Laws relating to the Slave Trade.
Leave was given to bring in the bill.

DISTRIBUTORS OF STAMPS.
On the resolution for granting a supply to his majesty being read,
Mr. Humesaid, that before he agreed to this resolution, he begged leave to ask the secretary to the Treasury, whether it was the intention of government to adopt any new regulations, or to propose any plan with regard to the office of distributors of stamps? The gentlemen who composed the committee appointed to inquire into this subject last session, were extremely anxious to know what measures were about to be adopted by ministers. He was quite sure, that if the government intended to submit a plan to the House, those who urged the necessity of some new regulation in the last session would not press them. At the same time, it was necessary to know whether any measures would be taken by ministers on this subject.
Mr. Lushingtonsaid, it was certainly the intention of the chancellor of the Exchequer, to submit a plan to the House, with regard to the regulation of this office.