er nations following our example. But had not the
National Assembly of France referred the Slave-trade to a select committee,
and had not that committee rejected the measure of its abolition? By the
evidence it appeared, that the French and Spaniards were then giving
bounties to the Slave-trade; that Denmark was desirous of following it;
that America was encouraging it; and that the Dutch had recognized its
necessity, and recommended its recovery. Things were bad enough indeed as
they were, but he was sure this rivalship would make them worse.

He did not admit the disorders imputed to the trade in all their extent.
Pillage and kidnapping could not be general, on account of the populousness
of the country; though too frequent instances of it had been proved. Crimes
might be falsely imputed. This he admitted; but only partially. Witchcraft,
he believed, was the secret of poisoning, and therefore deserved the
severest punishment. That there should be a number of convictions for
adultery, where polygamy was a custom, was not to be wondered at. But he
feared, if a sale of these criminals were to be done away, massacre would
be the substitute.

An honourable member had asked on a former day, "Is it an excuse for
robbery, to say that another would have committed it?" But the Slave-trade
did not necessarily imply robbery. Not long since Great Britain sold her
convicts, indirectly at least, to slavery. But he was no advocate for the
trade. He wished it had never been begun; and that it might soon terminate.
But the means were not adequate to the end proposed.

Mr. Burke had said on a former occasion, "that in adopting the measure we
must prepare to pay the price of our virtue." He was ready to pay his share
of that price. But the effect of the purchase must be first ascertained. If
they did not estimate this, it was not benevolence, but dissipation.
Effects were to be duly appreciated; and though statesmen might rest every
thing on a plausible manifesto of cause, the humbler moralist, meditating
peace and goodwill towards men, would venture to call such statesmen
responsible for consequences.

In regard to the colonies, a sudden abolition would be oppression. The
legislatures there should be led, and not forced, upon this occasion. He
was persuaded they would act wisely to attain the end pointed out to them.
They would see, that a natural increase of their Negros might be effected
by an improved system of legislation; and tha