The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-07-11

81 which he made to him, bur, from the light
in which he had Away, regarded The fubictt,
that Hon. Gentleman could not expect that his
arguments would carry conviction, But Re
would go farther, and FAY, that, even in the
Right Hon. Gentiemau's own view of the fub-
iea, his reafonibg was not found or satisfactory.
With regard to this: what the Baronet behind
him, (Sir w. Yeupgl bad Rated was very ma
terial. The number of flaves exported from the
Wea-India Hands, il appeared, was very tri-
fling. Now, as to the prefent Rate of the coan-
try, he was very ready TO allow that this was
not time when reitrietons ought TO be multi
plied.-But fill the government of the country
was not to be fwayed, in fuch cafes as this, by
fach circumstances, when they exitted in any
degree, however trifling, He remembered that
during the late war, when the ftagnation of
trade was very alarming, the Administration of
that day had adopted fyfem of policy hmilar,
to that which was now propnfsd.-Now, as to
the convention with the colonies. he was FUR
priied to hear that argument fated ferioully.
They were to be placed in the fame fituation
az when before in the power of the Englifh--
that is, the king in council, had the right to
make and alter their regulations in the fame
manner "a he had with re!peSt to Britifh fub-
jeefsin general. The bin was intended merely
TO give force to the Proclamation of the Crown,
hecanfe, though the right was in the Crown,
the remedy might be in Parliament, Now, one
word as to the general fuhjeet. An Honorable
Gentleman over the way faid that he wiihed
that the bill had not been partial. 1.-THE Ho-
norable Gentleman meant that he wifhed that
the abolition fhou'd be general, he joned him
in that with. It was faid that this bill would,
in effeSf, abolifh the trade, He could not be-
lieve that The could, he would be much more
cnamoured of this bill than he was. We are
a. fHF he 1afsO Int vr,e
had efahliihed in the trade, and it was
contended that we ought therefore to keep
it in our own hands infead of turning it o.
yer to others who had no fuch regulations.
But when thefe regulations were pafIed, they
loppofed them, and faid that the trade was at
! an end, and, that there was no further location
for diretf abolition bill. He liltened to them
with great fatisfaetion, but without any con.
Eviction, and unfortunately, the lave trade had
been very MUCK increafed. 10 a year or two
thence, he expected to fee them coming to the
houfe and oppoing the abolition, by faying
that the WORT part of the trade had been wife
ly done away by this bill (bear! bear y. Hs
had not altered his opinion refpetting the aho
llition, nor had any one of the preient adminif
Itration who had formerly agreed with him, done
10, either in this or the other hpufe.-Whate
yer misfortune might attend the administration
lin the difficult circumstances in which they wer,
placed. if they could carry the abolition, tina
one point would be compensation, not onl,
by the fatisfaStion which they mutt feel in ha
living 70 materially promoted the interefts of hu
manity, but by the real and fold glory which
would accrue to them from this meafure, in
degree far beyond any glory that could refuI
from meafures of any other fpeeies whatever,
General Tarleton obferved, that this meafur
would prove highly Injurious to our commerce
and manufactures, and was peculiarly impoli
tic at this time. He deprec ated this hafty pro
ceeding, and hoped that the Houfe would a
Leaf take time for conference.-the was for
Try to obferve, that the Minifters were mucl
more active in injuring the trade of the country
than in providing for its defence.
The Houfe then divided on the queftion whe
ither The. bill fhoa!d. be now read third time.
ed. Adjourned.