plaint
of being likely to want hands in Jamaica, arose from the mistake of
including the present unnatural deaths, caused by the seasoning, among the
natural and perpetual causes of mortality. These deaths, being erroneously
taken into the calculations, gave the planters an idea, that the numbers
could not be kept up. These deaths, which were caused merely by the
Slave-trade, furnished the very ground, therefore, on which the continuance
of that trade had been thought necessary.

The evidence as to this point was clear; for it would be found in that
dreadful catalogue of deaths, arising from the seasoning and the passage,
which the House had been condemned to look into, that one half died. An
annual mortality of two thousand slaves in Jamaica might be therefore
charged to the importation; which, compared with the whole number on the
island, hardly fell short of the whole one per cent. decrease.

Joining this with all the other considerations, he would then ask, Could
the decrease of the slaves in Jamaica be such--could the colonies be so
destitute of means--could the planters, when by their own accounts they
were establishing daily new regulations for the benefit of the
slaves--could they, under all these circumstances, be permitted to plead
that total impossibility of keeping up their number, which they had rested
on, as being indeed the only possible pretext for allowing fresh
importations from Africa? He appealed therefore to the sober judgment of
all, whether the situation of Jamaica was such, as to justify a hesitation
in agreeing to the present motion.

It might be observed also, that, when the importations should stop, that
disproportion between the sexes, which was one of the obstacles to
population, would gradually diminish; and a natural order of things be
established. Through the want of this natural order a thousand grievances
were created, which it was impossible to define; and which it was in vain
to think that, under such circumstances, we could cure. But the abolition
of itself would work this desirable effect. The West Indians would then
feel a near and urgent interest to enter into a thousand little details,
which it was impossible for him to describe, but which would have the
greatest influence on population. A foundation would thus be laid for the
general welfare of the islands; a new system would rise up, the reverse of
the old; and eventually both their general wealth and happiness would
increase