LORD BROUGHAMsaid, he wished to ask his noble Friend the Foreign Secretary, Whether he had any objection to produce a Despatch or Note from Senhor d'Abrantes, to our Chargé d'Affaires at Rio, on the subject of the Slave Trade; also, whether, if the Note had not arrived in this country, he had any objection to produce the Despatch of our Minister in reference to the matter, or any Communication which might have taken place with respect to the liberation of Slaves at Rio? Having put these Questions to his noble Friend, he would take occasion to say that he very much regretted the course of conduct pursued by the Brassilia Government in more respects than one; but especially 1227 towards the captured slaves for whose liberation Senhor d'Abrantes stated active measures were to be taken; but at the same time he must admit that the conduct of Brazil in relation to the slave trade generally had been most admirable, and presented a very favourable contrast to that of Spain. In the year 1858–9, 50,000 slaves were imported into Brazil. The Brazilian Government, however, took steps to make the trade piracy, or at least a capital offence, and the effect was that the number of slaves imported became reduced to one-half in the next year, and to little more than 10,000 in the year following; the reduction being so complete in the fourth year as to amount to an abolition almost as great as had been effected in any of our West Indian dependencies. While, however, such was the conduct of Brazil, the Spanish Government had fulfilled only one part of the treaty into which it entered in respect to the slave trade. They received £500,000 sterling by way of compensation for consenting to its abolition; but, instead of abolishing it, Governors were sent out to Cuba to recruit their ruined fortunes by conniving at its continuance. One Governor, who happened not to stand in want of money, reduced the trade very considerably; but he was in the next year succeeded by another, who, being a needy man, took bribes from the slave traders, and thus permitted the traffic to increase. There had been instances of fortunes of £90,000 or £100,000 being made by Spanish Governors in that way, and the trade at present was so great that 23,000 were annually imported into Cuba. While Spain had acted in that manner, the Brazilian Government and people had not been slow to improve the social position of persons of colour, as was evidenced by the fact that the physician of the Emperor of Brazil, some two or three years ago, was a man of colour, and that the various offices in the State were open to the class to which he belonged. He wished he could pay a similar compliment to the people of the United States; but it was well known that they practised no such liberality and justice. To show how little the people of those States were inclined to liberality in this matter, he might mention that when some years ago an International Congress was held, attended by delegates from all quarters, the two American delegates were so offended by the introduction of Dr. Delany and some other gentlemen of colour 1228 to the Congress, that they resigned their positions at once, and ceased to attend its meetings.
§ EARL RUSSELLsaid, there was no objection to produce the Papers referred to by the noble and learned Lord.