§ Earl Spencerpresented two petitions for the Abolition of Slavery in the West-Indies. The noble earl expressed his satisfaction at observing the moderation with which this subject had been discussed in both Houses of parliament. He was afraid it would be a long time before the great object of complete emancipation could be obtained. He trusted, however, that the moderation which at present distinguished the advocates of the measure would continue, for in that case, he could indulge the hope that the wished for result would ultimately be obtained.
Earl Grosvenorhoped that the measures proposed to be adopted were preliminary to the emancipation of the negroes, for unless they were to have that tendency, they would prove of little value. Their lordships were, however, left in the dark as to the views of his majesty's government on this important point. He wished to know whether it was their intention to promote the complete extinction of slavery.
The Earl of Liverpoolobserved, that the immediate object of the measures which had been proposed by his majesty's government was the amelioration of the condition of the slaves, by regulations, and by the promotion of their moral and religious instruction. With respect to what the noble lord had said on the subject of the extinction of slavery, he had only to observe, that the great feature of the present plan, independently of the communication of moral and religious instruction to the negroes, was the introduction of some principle to enable every man to acquire his manumission, and not only his own ma- 1216 numission, but that of his wife and children. If it should hereafter be found that this plan could not be carried into effect, or that its operation was not sufficiently prompt to prove beneficial, it would then be a question for consideration whether parliament might not afford further facilities.