The Sun.
London, England, 1804-05-31 00:00:00

Motion was so worded as to coincide. Gentlemen,
therefore, of that description, could not, unless they
changed their opinions since the last discussion of
this subjeet, oppose the original Motion. Those
'who entertained an honest prejudice against this
abominable traffic—a prejudice which had obtained
many converts of late years, would, he hoped, be
very far from objeeting to the Motion of his non.
-Friend upon such grounds as had been last stated.
Into :he discussion of the question at present he de-
clined to enter, particularlyas the very able arguments
of his Hon. Friend had been quite unanswered ; but
as to the time of carrying the objeEt of his Hon.
Friend into effeCt, no time was prescribed by the Mo-
tion. That circumstance would remain for the consi-
deration of the Committee on the Bill. With re-
speCt to the praCticability of the Abolition, the
Right Hon. Gentleman observed, that the same ar-
gument upon that point would apply to a gradual as
to an immediate Abolition ; for if it was Impossible
for a British Aft of Parliament to effect the objeft
in the one case, how was such Aft to accomplish it
in the other ? This remark he addressed merely
to ti-.e professed friends of a Gradual Abolition ;
hut as w the praelicability of the measure of
Abolition generally,. as he had only heard the
impraClicability asserted, without the arguments
upon which the assertion was grounded, he did not
thn:k it necessary to go into any argument upon
subject. lie was happy, however, to hear from
the Hon. Gentleman under the Gallery (Mr. BAR_
HAM) such opinions, combined with other consi-
derations, as fully satisfied his mind that there was
no danger of this Trade, if abolished by us, being
taken up by Foreigners—upon that score there was
no ground for apprehension. The Right Hon. Gen-
tletnan concluded by stating, that he would not at
present discuss the question farther, although he
could with difficulty refrain from entering into a
sobjed in which he felt so lively and. warm an in-
terest.

Mr, LEIGH considered the Trade, to which the
i'viotion referred, a disgrace to the British Empire ;
and tha: all the feelings of mankind shrunk from it
wish alThorrenee.

'Mr. FOX said, that he should trouble the House'
with very few words upon the questinn before them.
Indeed he rose principally witlea view to observe the
very extraordinary manner in which the Gentlemen
who spoke against the Motion had treated the subjett.
The Abolition of the Slave Trade was a question
which was now sixteen years under the considera-
tion of that House. It was now near twelve years
since the House had decided, by a very great mejo-
rity, that the trade was in itself perniciou, and that
it ought to be abolished. The present was a ques.
tion which above all others might he now fairly said
to have come to a crisis; and yet the House was told
that it should hesitate. One Gentleman had allowed
that there might some ill consequences result from the
continuance of such a traffic, and yet he advised the
House not to put a stop to it for the present. Ano-
ther had also admitted the. injustice of our conti-
nuing to sandion such a branch of commerce, and
had recommended that the House should go into a
Committee to consider of the pradicability of the
measure. What ! when the House had so positively
declared its opinion about 12 years ago with re-
spea to the Abolition ! The very circumstances of
the times, in addition to the former declaration
of the House, were arguments in favour of the Abu:.
lition. The acquisition of Trinidad svas in itself a
reason why the Howe should immediately come to
some de te tonna; ion, and either declare to the Public
and to Europe that it was not consistent with our
ideas, or with the policy of our system, to make
any alteration in a trade, the injustice of which
we have already acknowledged ; or else that
we should by our actions at once firmly convince
the world that we were capable of giving up a species
of traffic which appeared to us dishonourable, not-
withstanding any profit that might be gained by its
continuance. The honour, the charade( of the Na-
tion we's at stake. Any person that was in the
least acquainted with the Continent must have already
heard it whispered throughout Europe, that they
were doubtful of us, and that it was supposed
that, however we might like lessons of morality,
.we could not be prevailed upon to give up a profit-
able branch of Commerce very readily. if the
House continued to ad as it had done, admitting
the impropriety, and yet at the same time abstain.
ing from the Abolition of, or even horn giving any
check to, that abominable traffic, it would be openly
said throughout Europe, that we could but merely
talk morality. That after all the sentiment that
had been expressed against this Trade, we had said
again, that we would postpone the Abolition of it
to some indefinite period. He would repeat it, that,
on till* question, above all others, was the charader
of-the Country at stake. There had not been any
argument urged in favour of the morality of the
subjtiff, and, therefore, the House had now to make
a public avowal to Europe of their determination at
once to put a stop to that iniquitous pradice, or
else to announce to the world, that it had agreed
to give its santlion to a measure which had not been
supported by any principle of honour or of justice,
but merely on the supposition that gain might pos.
sibly result from its continuance.
Mr. ECERTONexpresse,l a 'wish that the Ho-
nourable Mover of the Question would expressly
declare to what extent he meant to carry his Mo-
tion, if the Howe should happen to agree with
him. At the late period of the month of May,
many Gentlemen had gone to the Country, and lie
hoped die Hon. Member did not mean to pre ;s it in
the absence bf so many. He would be glad to know,
whether ic was intended that a Bill should be imme_
diately brought in and carried in the present Session,
Dr, whether it was now intended merely to o!)flin
leave to bring in a Bill for the Abolition : and that
the Bill was to be discussed at the next 'netting of
Parliament ?