The National Register.
London, England, 1815-04-09 00:00:00

PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE SLAVE TRADE.

The Papers relative to the Slave Trade have been printed and pre-
sented to the House of Commons. The following document, con-
taining the declaration of the Powers who signed the Treaty of Paris,
is • the most important, as containing an unanimous and energetic re-
probition of the principle of that abominable traffic.

DECLARATION.

The Plenipotentiaries of the Powers who signed the Treaty of
Paris, the 3Oth of May, 1814, assembled in' Congress :
Having taken into consideration that the traffic known under the
namesof the 'Vries* Slave Trade has been regarded by just and en-
lightened men of all ages, as repugnant to the principles of huma-
nity and of universal morality; that the particular circumstances
in which this traffic owes its origin, and the difficulty of abruptly
interrupting its progress, . have to a certain degree
.lessened the
odium of continniag it : but that at last the public voice in all
civilized countries has demanded that it should be suppressed as
soon as possible ; that since the character and the detail, of this
traffic have been better known, and the evils of every sort which
accompanied it completely unveiled, several European govern-
ments have resolved to suppress it ; and that successively all powers
possessing colonies in different parts of the world have acknow-
ledged, either by legislative acts or by treaties and other formal
engagements, the obligation and necessity of abolishing it ; that by
a separate article of the last Treaty of Paris, Great Britain and
France engaged to unite their efforts at the Congress at Vienua to
. engage all the powers of Christendom to pronounce the universal and
definitive abolition of the slave trade ; that the Plerripetentiaries as.
warbled at this Congress cannot better honour their mission, fulfil
their duty, and immifest the principles which guide their august
Sovereigns, than by labouring to release this engagemept, and by
proclainong in the name of their Sovereigns the desire to put an
end to a scourge, which has so lung desolated Africa, degraded Erh
rope. and afflicted humanity.
The said Plenipotentiaries have agreed to open their deliberations
as to the means of accomplishing so salutary an object, by a solemn
declaration of the principles which have guided them in this work.
Fully' authorised to such an act, by the unanimous adherence of
their respective courts to the principles announced in the said
separate article of the Treaty of Paris, they in consequerice de-
clare, in the face of Europe, that, looking upon the universal
abolition of the Slave Trade, ris a measure particularly swarthy of
their attention, cooformable to the.epirit of the age, and to the ge-
petal principles of their august Sovereigns, they are animated with
a sincere desire to concur, by every means in .their power, in the
most prompt and effectual execution of this measure, end to act in
the employment of those means with all the zeal ausrall the perse-
verence which so great and a good cause merit.
Too well informed of the sentiments of their Sovereigns not to
foresee, the, however honourable may be their object, they %until
not pursue it without a just regard to the interests, the habits,
and even the prejudices of their subjects; the said Pleuipetentiaries
at the same time acknowledge, that this general declaration
should not prejudge the period which each particular Power should
look upon as the expedient for the definitive abolition of the traffic
in slaves. Consequently Me determination of the period when this
traffic ought universally to cease, will be an object of negociation
between the different Powers; it being, however, well understood,
that no means proper to easnre and accelerate its progress should
be rieglecteel ; and that the reciprocal engagement contracted !:y the
present declaration between the Sovereigns who have taken part la
it, should not be considered as rained until the ininneart %slum
complete ticeess shall have crowned their united efforts.

In making tlek declaration known to Europe, and to all the eivi•
lized nations of the twat, the said Plenipotentiaries flatter them-
*elites they shall engage ail other governments, and particularly
is.ose who, in abolishing the traffic in slaves, have already manifested
the same sentimenk, to support them with their suffrage in a eau-e,
of winch the- final triumph will be one of the greateA monuments
of the-age which undertook it, and which bhall have gloriuudy car.
e(1 it into complete effect.
February 8, 181,5.

PC
117,
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