The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-05-31 00:00:00

increase was 140,000. This was four or five tam s
grcatei than the most exaggerated dem.o.o made
at that time, for the use of the colonies, by the war melt
friends of the Slave Trade. He would call on them
to consider to what this tended. The immense mass
of capital also, laid out in the most vulnerable part
of our possessions, was a subject for their considera-
tion. He maintained that the West India colonies
were more vulnerable than any other part of the
Empire, both within, and from without. Yet how
did this prodigious capital pay for its use? In Ja-
maica, it did not produce more than 4 per cent. per
annum; in the other islands, 5 or fi per cent. The
state of the islands demanded the attention of the
House, in this respeet. Within the last twenty
years, executions had been levied for sums amount.
ing to twenty-two millions; and, of 700 estates,
nearly one half were thrown up, because they would
not pay for culture. Yet, such was the blind attach-
ment to this species of speculation, there were con-
tinually new adventurers. The charm indeed was
in its being, in fast, a lottery ; when, though num-
bers are unfortunate, though the adventurers lose
in the whole, yet individuals make sometimes rapid
fortunes. When the slaves are brought to the
market, they must be sold; and persons, often
of little property, purchase them on speculation
and credit. Thus the trade survives and goes
on, though an actual loss to Great
But it was not capital only which it employed un-
' profitably. This was not the only, nor the greatest
waste. The trade was a perpetual drain of our
population,
a drain of our troops to maintain the
possession ; and this drain must incessantly grow
wider and wider, to guard against the increased
black population. liefore the American war, the
Assembly of Jamaica called for an increase of
troops, because of the increased disproportion be-
tween the blacks and the white inhabitants. The
same demand has been increasing ; protection is
claimed—at what price? and for what objets?—
at the price of' thousands of your best troops, abso-
lutely sacrificed there ! and the object, to proted
the avarice of the colonists, to secure their means of
injustice, to be a safeguard to their crimes ! Every
new importation of slaves demands a new drain of
our best troops, and how long is this to be endur-
ed ; how long are these colonies to be the grave of
Englishmen, for purposes foreign to their mercan-
tile, as well as their most important moral interests ?
And is this a time to pursue this dreadful game ?
At a time when our native country demands our
troops, and when the state of St. Domingo will not
permit its to lessen the quantity of them in our West
India islands, in proportion to the black popula-
tion ? Is this a time to increase the importation of
slaves? In Jamaica alone, within two years, the in-
crease of slaves by importation was 28,000. This
was stated, and very justly stated, to be sufficient
to account for insurrections. That the colonists
themselves should nut wish for the abolition of the
trade, was one of those instances of blind infatuation
that appear incredible to all who are not the witnes-
ses of them. He wished it might not be the fore-
tunner, as such instances often were, of destruaion
to those who cherished it. He would again remind
the House of the situation of St. Domingo, with a
population of 400,000 blacks ; he would remind
them. that Guadaloupe has aiproportinnate popula-
tion of blacks. Ile would conjure the !louse, timely
to introduce regulations that might avert the evils
threatened by the increased Black population of our
Islands, and the situation of St. Domingo. He
conjured them, to seize the opportunity, still graci-
ously afforded by Providence. Should he be told,
that the time is now improper ? (one Irene cried hear !
/war!) He, perhaps, expelled that from some.
Every time he had agitated the question ha had
been told so; he had been told, it would excite in-
surrection. Yet, in fifteen years, it had not stirred
up one insurrection. his was an argument thrown
out merely to the unlearned, to those not in the
secret. Insurrection was not feared by those who
made the outcry. It was matter of Lift, that the
proprietors in Jamaica, so far from discouraging
the intercourse between that Island and St. Do-
mingo, were anxiously giving it every facility.
The newspapers of the Islands tell the slaves that
the Blacks of St. Domingo have thrown off the
yoke. Thi, is expressed without disguise. Shall
not the House then agitate this great and necessary
question, lest the Blacks of the English settle-
ments should read their debates ? While the WO-
nists are going on, adding to their danger wilfully,
by adding thousands and thousands to the dispro-
portion between the Black and White inhabitants,
is the House to abstain from a necessary discussion?
Why should the House forbear, because of the
fault of those who raise the cry of danger they do
not believe in ? The danger, however, was great.
He had great reason to fear insurrection; he did fear
an insurrection; he anticipated insurrection; it surely
would happen. sooner or later, as surely as death to
individuals. He wished the House, however. to do
I their duty, while it was yet time, whatever was the
issue. It had been often argued, that it was the in-
terest of the islands to use their Slaves well. as it was
also of the merchants to'use them well in the Waddle
Passage, Those who had a knowledge of the hu-
man mind would know the value of this argument.
If the passions of men are considered as their in-
terest, it is true. But not so, of an interest, the per-
ception of which depends on cool calculation, on
which there may he discussiiia and Jiff-re:ice of opi-
nions. Some of the Roman Emperors may be in-
stanced to this effect. It is passion that governs the
bulk of men, and not a speculative interest. The
true argument of interest lies the other way—she is
the islands, by stopping the importation of Slave:,
that they may rear numbers sufficient for the sail-
sure of the land ; shear them, that they can have
no safety with a continued importation ; and then
their interests will be with the wishes of the House. lie
entreated the House to look on the picture of the
sufferings occasioned by the Slave Trade ; to trace
it from its beginning in Africa ; to follow it through
the Middle Passage ; and to pursue it to the West
Indies. Let them recollea, it is in their power to
put an end to these sufferings by their vote.—
Perhaps this was the last time he should have
the opportunity to address them on the sub-
jeB. Since the first time he had brought it before
the House. many new Members made part of it.
The Irish Members had been entirely added. He
would address himself to all these. To the latter
he would say—lreland boasts, that no venomous
creature can live on her ground. They could also

boast an infinitely greater blessing ! Their heals
arc not stained by the blood of this trade/ They
are deemed brave and generous. These ualities
are allowed them by those who have not 3 en too
res favourably of them in other peets, t them
toe%
use these great qualities on this occasion, and let
them wipe away from this land the only blot that
stains it ! He conjured them not to become par.
takers in its guilt ! He had only one word more to
add. He had to speak of himself, and in that he
should be short. He had been blamed by some for
persevering, from time to time, in this cause; by
others, he had been condemned for not urging the
question more frequently, more constantly. He
would declare, that whatever course he had taken,
when he had pressed the topic on the House, and
when he had been silent, he had equally considered
the true interests of the cause. He had never been
warped by any other motive. He had uniformly
sought to abolish the Slave Trade ; and ever
would, while he had a voice left to urge the cry of
humanity. He reflelled on his efforts in this cause,
as the glory of his life. He could not look on the
event without some exultation. All that was ho.
nourable and excellent in the House had joined him
in behalf of that great cause. He could not look on
his old friends, in this great struggle, without pe-
culiar gratification. He besought them to join with
him now; he besought the House to wipe away this
stain of blood from the nation, and not to call dot
the vengeance of Heaven on its head ! Almost all
had agreed in the clung/Dr of the trade ; even ,marry
of those who thought the time was heretofore un-
propitious to the abolition. He, therefore, could
not doubt that he should have a large majority with
hi:n. His intention was to move for leave to
bring in a Bill for the Abolition of the Slave Trade
at :limited period. He would not now fix any
time ; that he would leave till the House should be
in a Committee ; if he was successful in a Motion
he should make, for the House to resolve itself into a
Committee to consider the former proposition. He
should therefore expea to find on his side in the
first Motion, all who are of opinion that the Trade
ought to be abolished, at some future and reasonable
time; whatever may be determined afterwards as to
the exact time. He conjured his old friends not to
fall back ; and he besought those who had formerly
opposed the abolition, as applied to that period, to
consider how the times were since changed. Mr.
Wilberforce then moved, that the House now re-
solve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to
take the question into consideration.
Mr. FULLER said, he should be glad if the land
in the West-India Islands could be cultivated by the
same description of persons, as land in this country.
But pezuli.sr restraints on the labourer were neces.
sary there to the existence of the Proprietors. The
ground was so fertile, that one man scattering seeds
with his hand, without previous culture, can raise
crops sufficient for a family of 14 or 16 persons. It
was well known in Europe, that labourers too well
paid, too easily provided for, were difficult to go-
vern. In a country, therefore, where labour would
scarcely be necessary for the poor man's want, a
more rigid discipline than can be used towards free
persons, must be established. A great deal had
been said about the ill-treatment of the slaves in
the West-India Islands, and their excessive labour,
He knew these representations were fake. The best
slave does not do the work of the worst labourer
in Europe, and lives better than the labouring peg.
pie of most countries. The blacks were stated, at
being happy in Africa; but he had documents in his
pocket to prose that they were wretched under their
petty tyrants there, and that the slaves in the Islands
dreadid no punishment so much as the being sent
back to their own country (a hrag/r). Did those Gen-
tlemen know, who talked of the happiness of Africa,
that the princes' palaces ware covered with skulls,
and their courts filled with human bones, in order by
terror to carry on their government ? He contended
that the agitation of this question had so raised the
price of slaves, that sufficient females could not be
maintained to inzrease the breed in the Islands. Ile
stated that Dessalines had applied to our Govan-
ment for an importation of slaves, to spew that evert
in St. Domingo, they could not maintain the po-
pulation without importation. He maintained that
human nature could not be governed by that mo-
rality which looks too nicely into the nature of all
atftions ; and referred to our East India possessions,
as a proof.
Mr. BARHAM declared his intention to vote for
the abolition of the slave-trade; and, in a most able
speech, developed the motives of his change of con-
duet, which he, maintained, did not arise from any
change of opinion, as he had only heretofore oppos-
ed the time; the time he thought arrived, and the
means not now difficult. Even emancipation might
be the final result ; but he intreated the Hon. Gen-
tleman not to marr this great work by obtruding ti 0
hastily and abruptly on the feelings of the colonies.
Mr. W. SMI I'll beg in by paying a compliment
to the sincerity and liberality of the arguments tyei
b; the Hon. Gentleman who spoke last, on every oc-
casion u lien this question had been urged, and par.
eitularly to the sentiments which he had expressed on
the present Motion a- hts Hon inviable Vvieriel. 1i
thought however the Hones was in a very extra-
ordinary situ.atiLn. After having resolved, twelve
years ago, when there was only one sentiment on
the subjed in the Bosse, and that was that a period
should be put to this execrable traffic; they now
found that after a lapse of 16 years they had not gone
on a single step. What, he asked, was the proposition
1 of this night / Why that the pratftiee of buying and
selling men, to make them and their postenty slaves
for ever, should now be abolished. An Hon. Gent.
behind him had said (Mr. Fuller) that ;Isis traffic
ought to have been stopped at the mrtimencement.
It there was any truth in that observation, it was
clearly evident, that after the injurious pisßice had
so long prevailed, it ouglst to be abolished the
moment they were convinced of its atrocious con-
sequences. He was confident that the regulations
which had been made to ameliorate the Middle
Passage were so greatly evaded, that in his iniiiii
that alma wa . a sufficient reason for the House t)
abolish the traffic. He bad attended with the ut-
most care to the whole evidence, and to all the at-
guments uhich had been brought tor ward on the
subject ; and he was certain he could prove there
was not one point of argurneat used by those
who opposed the measure, that was not direftly
contradieted by their own witnesses. He then
proceeded to cite several passages from the es i-.