Page:Abstract of the evidence for the abolition of the slave-trade 1791.djvu/16

xiv this in the sight of a thousand black spectators, provided he only took care that no white person beheld him. Had they known this, they would have perceived the unprotected state of the slaves, and would never have spoken as they have. It is impossible therefore that they could have become acquainted with this law, and this only brings us to the same conclusion as before, viz. their incapacity as evidences on the subject of the treatment of the slaves.

Before the Preface is closed, it may be necessary to anticipate, that some one may ask the Editor, why he has given in this Abstract the Evidence on the part of the Petitioners only, and omitted that which has been adduced on the other side. To this the Editor might reply, that it is the business of the Slave-merchants and Planters, if they think their case defensible by the evidence they have produced, to do it, but he would rather wish to reply, : for admitting the witnesses on the part of the Slave-merchants and Planters never to have deen among them all even one single instance of enormity, either in Africa, or on the Middle Passage, or in the West Indies, (which none of them will pretend to assert) this negative evidence can make nothing against the numberless positive and