Such was the nature of the Slave Trade.  It had unfortunately obtained the name of a trade; and many had been deceived by the appellation; but it was war, and not trade.  It was a mass of crimes, and not commerce.  It was that which prevented the introduction of a trade in Africa; for it was only by clearing and cultivating the lands, that the climate could be made healthy for settlements; but this wicked traffic, by dispersing the inhabitants, and causing the lands to remain uncultivated, made the coast unhealthy to Europeans.  He had found, in attempting to establish a colony there, that it was an obstacle which opposed itself to him in innumerable ways; it created more embarrassments than all the natural impediments of the country; and it was more hard to contend with than any difficulties of climate, soil, or natural disposition of the people.

He would say a few words relative to the numerous petitions which were then on the table of the House.  They had shown, in an extraordinary manner, the opinion of the people.  He did not wish to turn this into a constitutional question; but he would observe, that it was of the utmost consequence to the maintenance of the constitution of this country, that the reputation of parliament should be maintained.  But nothing could prejudice its character so much, as a vote, which should lead the people to believe that the legislative body was the more corrupt part of it, and that it was slow to adopt moral principles.

It had been often insinuated that parliament, by interfering in this trade, departed from its proper functions; No idea could be more absurd; for, was it not its duty to correct abuses? and what abuses were greater than robbery and murder?  He was, indeed, anxious for the abolition.  He desired it, as a commercial man, on account of the commercial character of the country.  He desired it for the reputation of parliament, on which so materially depended the preservation of our happy constitution; but most of all he prayed for it for the sake of those eternal principle’s of justice, which it was the duty of nations, as well as of individuals, to support.

Colonel Tarleton repeated his arguments of the last year.  In addition to these he inveighed bitterly against the abolitionists, as a junto of secretaries, sophists, enthusiasts, and fanatics.  He condemned the abolition as useless, unless other nations would take it up.  He brought to the recollection of the House the barbarous scenes which had taken place it in St. Domingo, all of which, he said, had originated in the discussion of this question.  He described the alarms, in which the inhabitants of our own islands were kept, lest similar scenes should occur from the same cause.  He ridiculed the petitions on the table.  Itinerant clergymen, mendicant physicians, and others, had extorted signatures from the sick, the indigent, and the traveller.  School-boys were invited to sign them, under the promise of a holiday.  He had letters to produce, which would prove all these things though he was not authorized to give up the names of those who had written them.