Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/244

 slave-trade, lie touched upon the argument so often repeated, that other nations would carry on the slave-trade if we abandoned it. But how did we know this? Had not Denmark given a noble example to the contrary? She had consented to abolish the trade in ten years; and had she not done this, even though we, after an investigation of nearly five years, had ourselves hung back? But what might not be expected if we were to take up the cause in earnest; if we were to proclaim to all nations the injustice of the trade, and to solicit their concurrence in the abolition of it 1 He hoped the representatives of the nation would not be less just than the people. The latter had stepped forward and expressed their sense more generally by petitions than in any instance in which they had ever before interfered. To see this great cause thus triumphing over distinctions and prejudices was a noble spectacle, Whatever might be said of our political divisions, such a sight had taught us that there were subjects still beyond the reach of party; that there was a point of elevation where we ascended above the jarring of the discordant elements which ruffled and agitated the vale below. In our ordinary atmosphere, clouds and vapors obscured the air, and we were the sport of a thousand conflicting winds and adverse currents; but here we moved in a higher region, where all was pure and clear, and free from perturbation and discomposure.

 "As some tall cliff, that lifts its awful form, Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm: Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread, Eternal sunshine settles on its head."

Here, then, on this august eminence, he hoped we should build the temple of benevolence; but we should lay its foundation deep in truth and justice; and that we should inscribe upon its gates, "Peace and good will to men." Here we should offer the first fruits of our benevolence, and endeavor to compensate, if possible, for the injuries we had brought upon our fellow-men.

He would only observe that his conviction of the indispensable necessity of immediately abolishing this trade remained as strong as ever. Let those who talk of allowing three or four years to the continuance of it, reflect on the disgraceful scenes which had passed last year As for himself, he would wash his hands of the blood which would be spilled in this horrid interval. He could not, however, but believe that the hour was come when we should put a final period to the existence of this cruel traffic. Should he unhappily be mistaken, he would never desert the cause; but to the last moment of his life he would exert his utmost powers in its support. He would now move, "That it is the opinion of this committee that the trade carried on by British subjects, for the purpose of obtaining slaves on the coast of Africa, ought to be abolished."

Mr. Bailie was in hopes that the friends of the abolition would have been contented with the innocent blood which had been already shed. The great island of St. Domingo had been torn to pieces by insurrections. The most dreadful barbarities had been perpetrated there. In the year 1789, the imports into it exceeded five millions sterling. The exports from it in the same vear amounted to six millions; and the trade employed three hundred