§ Numerous petitions were presented, praying for the Abolition of Slavery.
§ Lord Palmerston, on presenting one from the University of Cambridge, said, that the petitioners highly approved of the resolutions passed by that House in 1823, and the zeal with which the government had acted in endeavouring to carry the object into effect. He was glad to have the honour of presenting this petition. It could not but be gratifying to all those who wished well to the cause, to see the University of Cambridge taking a prominent part among those who were desirous of putting an end, in a gradual and practical manner, to negro slavery in the colonies. It would have been strange if it had been otherwise among those who were to prepare, and those who were to become future legislators of Great Britain. 919 It would have been strange, if they had not felt the impropriety of the continuation of a state of things so contrary to the principles of the British constitution. It would have been strange if those who had the charge of preparing the ministers of our religion had not felt adverse to a condition of society so contrary to the spirit of the Christian religion. He would not enter into details upon a subject which was so soon to come more formally before them, and had only to express his decided concurrence in the prayer of the petition. The House had done much when it had abolished the traffic in slaves; but having abolished it, they were not to rest there. They had the further duty to perform, of proceeding to lay the foundation of the gradual extinction of negro slavery. No man though t that, in the present state of the West Indies, slavery could be at once abolished. Such a sudden abolition, besides the sacrifice of other interests, would be most injurious to the negroes themselves. But if the resolution of 1823 were steadily carried into effect, the gradual abolition would take place. It was a matter of great regret, that the colonial legislatures should have shown such a disposition to resist the operation of those resolutions. But, if so humble an individual as himself might offer an opinion, he would state to the colonists that there appeared at present, in this country, a strong feeling to deal tenderly with their interests, and that they ought to take advantage of that feeling while it lasted. It was in vain for them to think that, however they might retard, they could ultimately defeat a measure supported by the concurrent sentiments of the people of Great Britain. If they, persevered in their resistance, they might raise against themselves such a storm of public opinion as no prudent man would wish to encounter.
§ Ordered to be printed.