Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-09-14
SLAVE TRADE.

The following resolutions on the sub
ject of the Slave Trade, were moved by
Mr.. Wilberforce, in the British House
OF Commons, on the eth June, and una
nimously adopted. They present an
interesting sketch of the present state OF
this abominable traffic, and oil the obsta-
Giles which have hitherto Distracted its
final abolition, and an enumeration OF the
powers who have co-operated with Great
Britain for its suppression, as well as oil
those who have openly permitted its con-
tinuance, or who have virtually sanction
ed it by the inetliciency of their prohibi-
tory laws and declarations, or by secret
connlvance. Wash. GGx.
Resolved, nemine contradicente, That
an humble address be presented to his
Majesty that the deep interest which this
house, has SO long taken, and still CONT
nues TO take, in the abolition OF the Slave
Trade, has led US to peruse with no lit
tie solicitude the papers relative 10 that
subject, which by his Maiesty's com
mand, were lately laid before us nor
could we forbear indulging hopes that
his Majesty's renewed representations
and circumstances would have at length
have produced the desired effect of caus-
ing the various governments by whose
subjects the Slave Trade was still car
ried on, seriously to consider the no
merous and powerful obligations under
which they lay, to Cooperate with bis
Majesty, heartily and efficiently, in or
der to put an end forever to this enor-
nous evil;
But that we have learned with grief and
shame, that with very few exceptions,
every hope Of this nature has been alto
gether frustrated, and that we are still
compelled to witness the strange and
humiliating spectacle ofpracticcs which
are acknowledged to be madeup OF wick
edness and cruelty by the very govern
ments whose Subjects are nevertheless
carrying them on, upon a great and con-
linually increasing scale.
That we observe, however, with salts
faction, that the powerful reasonings and
continued expostu iations OF his Majesty's
government, enforced by the strong and
persevering remonstrances OF bis Ma
jesly's Ambassador at the court OF the
Netherlands, have at length produced an
admission Of The just construction OF the
treaty with that power.
That we are glad 10 see that some OF
the abuses have been corrected which
had prevailed in the conduct OF the courts
of mixed jurisdiction at Sierra Leone,
but that experience has proved the ne
cessi,y of altering tina, provision, which
renders it necessary for the slaves to have
been actually on ship board TO justify the
condemnation of the vessel, and OF allow
ing due weigh, to be given to the deci-
siye proof OF the object OF the voyage,
which is afforded by the peculiar mode
OF fitting and equipping the vessel.
That it is some alienation oil the PAIN
produced by the amos, uniform tenor OF
these distressing accounts, to learn thai
the Cortes OF Spain has subjected all
who should be found in Slave Trading,
to severe and infamous punishment
and that with this evidence of just es-
innate OF the guilt OF the crime, we can
not but hope that they will not rest salts
lied with legal prohibition, but that they
will pr"vidc the requisite means tor car
rying the law into execution.
That we find with concern the vessels
ofPortugal, SO far from gradually retiring
from the trade, have been carrying i, on
with increased activity, more especially
on that very part Of the coast which is
to-the north Of the line, in direct violation
of the treaty by which she has stipulated
TO confine her trade to the south oil it.
That we cannot but cherish the hope
that the new government OF Portugal will
manifest warmer zeal for enforcing a
treaty which every law, divine or human,
binds her TO observe; that we have OBJ
served with no little pleasure the zeal
for the abolition OF the Slave Trade,