Commons Sitting of 9 July 1819

SLAVE TRADE.
The Marquis of Lansdownerose, pursuant to notice, to move an address to the Prince Regent, for the more effectual abolition of the African Slave Trade. It was hardly necessary for him to tell their lordships, that, notwithstanding the hopes entertained by this country that the measures adopted for putting an end to the slave trade would be successful, those hopes were as yet far from being realized. It was still carried on, not only under the flag of those two powers who had not yet agreed to abolish it, but under the flags of those by which that detestable traffic was completely renounced. It was carried on to a very great extent under the flag of France, the government of
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which country had declared against the trade, and taken means to suppress it. This state of things could not but convince them of the necessity of persevering in their efforts to obtain the complete abolition of this trade. As to the means, their lordships must be aware that it was only by allowing a flag, common for this purpose to the great maritime powers, to be exerted against the common enemies of mankind, that the selfish interests which supported this nefarious traffic could be completely put down. In calling their lordships' attention to this subject, it was impossible not to consider the different state in which the powers of Europe stood with regard to the abolition. All, except Portugal and Spain, had put an end to it, and the former of these powers had as yet fixed no period for the final termination of the trade. Some powers which had acknowledged the justness of the principle of the abolition, had yet adopted no active measures for enforcing it. With regard to France, the government had sincerely concurred in the abolition; but unfortunately, in the colonies of that country, the trade had been renewed by selfish individuals, and carried on under circumstances of great atrocity. He could not but entertain a hope that a government professing such liberal principles as the French now did, would not, from any narrow views, refuse to concur in measures calculated to secure an object alike called for by policy and humanity. But if he was sanguine with regard to the disposition of France, still more sanguine was he in his anticipation of the future conduct of the United States of America. Within these few months the Congress had passed an act for the purpose of enforcing their abolition laws, by which heavy penalties were imposed on all persons implicated in this iniquitous traffic. It was obvious, however, as long as there remained a flag not liable to be searched, even though it should be the flag of a power which had agreed to the abolition, that wicked and selfish persons would take shelter under that flag, and avail themselves of the facility it could not fail to afford them. There was no doubt but that the American government would eagerly listen to any plan which might be proposed for completing the great work of abolition. If such an understanding as he supposed practicable should take place between this country and France and the United

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States, the smaller powers would readily concur in the same system of maritime police. The noble marquis concluded by moving an address to the Prince Regent, to the same effect ass that moved on Wednesday in the House of Commons by Mr. Wilberforce. [See p. 1544].
The address was agreed to nem. con.