SLAVE TRADE. (Hansard, 10 July 1817)

§ Lord Grenville

said, he had to call the attention of their lordships to a subject of as much importance as any that under any circumstances could come before them. He disapproved of the practice of introducing measures of importance at a late period of the session, but the case to which he was about to advert was an exception, as the proper course undoubtedly was, to wait until nearly the end of the session, in order to ascertain what had been done by his majesty's ministers, in order to obtain the total abolition of the African slave trade. It had been stated some years ago, that our abolition would do nothing, unless other powers could be induced to join in it. But even with the knowledge that not one human being the less would be torn from the coast of Africa, that one drop of human blood the less would be shed, still he would have pressed the abolition on our part, that we might be exonerated from the guilt of this detestable traffic; if other powers chose to continue it, upon their heads be the blood, we should be free from the stain.—Much had, however, happily been done to induce other powers to join in the abolition of this odious traffic. France and Portugal had been induced to abolish it, and this had undoubtedly been a great gain to the cause of humanity. They should recollect, however, that if they did little, very little would be done; that if they were feeble in their exertions, trifling would be the result; it was only by perseverance they could gain the advantage they looked to, and which, for the sake of humanity, he trusted would ultimately be obtained. It was also too true, that this abominable traffic was now carried on to a very great extent, as appeared by documents that had been handed to him; that it was carried on under the flags and by the subjects of Portugal, of France (in one instance under the Dutch flag), and of 1367 America. But more than all was it carried on under the flag and by the subjects of Spain; and it was indeed a mortifying circumstance, that the very spot in Africa where we were making the most praiseworthy attempt to introduce civilization, had been chosen by Spain for the purpose of introducing all the horrors of the slave trade, as if for the express purpose of breaking down all the means so justly attempted for the purpose of civilizing the natives of Africa, and keeping them in a continued state of barbarism. It was a melancholy fact, that this trade, carried on under these circumstances, was conducted in a way the most shocking to humanity. In the course of the discussion in parliament, on the abolition of the slave trade, all parties agreed in passing a bill for the purpose of doing away the horrors of what was technically called the middle passage. But in the way in which this most inhuman traffic was now carried on, the horrors of it were redoubled, there being no check or control over the inhuman oppressors of their fellow men. It was impossible for any one in the shape of a human being, to read the accounts of the atrocities committed in this way, without shuddering at their barbarity. His lordship here read the affidavit of a British officer [lieutenant Eike; see the speech of Mr. Wilberforce in the House of Commons yesterday] respecting the inhuman treatment of slaves on board a Portuguese vessel, which had been captured, and referred to documents, respecting the barbarous usage of slaves on board Spanish vessels engaged in this trade. That these inhuman outrages should be continued was most afflicting to humanity, whilst the manner in which the trade was carried on rendered it still more outrageous. The vessels employed in it were armed for warlike purposes, and it was too much to say that vessels were to be employed, so armed, to carry on a peaceful traffic; they were, in point of fact, engaged in perpetual contests with British vessels, they were armed for that purpose, and such contests must lead, sooner or later, to actual hostilities. Under such circumstances, and when the allied powers had come to the determination of using all their efforts to abolish the slave trade, having also, as they had done very wisely, interfered by way of mediation to prevent hostilities between Spain and Portugal, his majesty's ministers] would undoubtedly be justified in applying to 1368 the allied powers for their interference to prevent those hostilities between this country and Spain, which must unavoidably be the consequence of these continual contests with Spanish armed vessels. It was by means of efforts of this nature that we must look for the final abolition of this odious traffic. He did not mean to impute the least neglect, upon this point, to his majesty's ministers, but it was absolutely necessary that parliament should not relax in their efforts in this cause of humanity. His lordship concluded by moving an address to the Prince Regent, couched in the same terms as that moved in the House of Commons yesterday by Mr. Wilberforce.