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 279 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.