With respect to the slaves there, instances had been related of their oppression, which shocked the feelings of all who heard them:  But was it fair to infer from these their general ill usage?  Suppose a person were to make a collection of the different abuses, which had happened for a series of years under our own happy constitution, and use these as an argument of its worthlessness; should we not say to him, that in the most perfect system which the human intellect could form, some defects would exist; and that it was unfair to draw inferences from such partial facts?  In the same manner he would argue relative to the alleged treatment of the slaves.  Evidence had been produced upon this point on both sides.  He should not be afraid to oppose the authorities of Lord Rodney, and others, against any, however respectable, in favour of the abolition.  But this was not necessary.  There was another species of facts, which would answer the same end.  Previously to the year 1730 the decrease of the slaves in our islands was very considerable.  From 1730 to 1755 the deaths were reduced to only two and a half per cent. above the births:  from 1755 to 1768 to only one and three fourths; and from 1768 to 1788 to only one per cent.  This then, on the first view of the subject, would show, that whatever might have been the situation of slaves formerly, it had been gradually improved.  But if, in addition to this, we considered the peculiar disadvantages under which they laboured; the small proportion of females to males; and the hurricanes, and famines, which had swept away thousands, we should find it physically impossible, that they could have increased as related, if they had been treated as cruelly as the friends of the abolition had described.

This species of facts would enable him also to draw still more important conclusions; namely, that as the slaves in the West Indies had gradually increased, they would continue to increase; that very few years would pass, not only before the births were equal to the deaths, but before they were more numerous than the deaths; and that if this was likely to happen in the present state of things, how much more would it happen, if by certain regulations the increase of the slaves should be encouraged?

The only question then was, whether it was more advantageous to breed or to import.  He thought he should prove the former; and if so, then this increase was inevitable, and the importations would necessarily cease.

In the first place, the gradual increase of the slaves of late years clearly proved, that such increase had been encouraged.  But their price had been doubled in the last twenty years.  The planter therefore must feel it his interest to desist from purchasing, if possible.  But again, the greatest mortality was among the newly imported slaves.  The diseases they contracted on the passage, and their deaths in the seasoning, all made for the same doctrine.  Add to this, that slaves bred in the islands were more expert at colonial labour, more reconciled to their situation, and better disposed towards their masters, than those who were brought from Africa.