§ DISSENTIENT—
§ 1. Because the theories by which this Bill is defended, if true, ought to have been long ago laid 676 before the public, in order to their being fully and impartially considered; whereas this Bill, which assumes their truth without adequate dicussion, has been passed with such baste and in such a crisis of affairs as to preclude inquiry.
§ 2. Because the Slave Trade carried on from the coasts of Africa has long been acknowledged by the Legislature of this country, and by the general consent of civilized nations, to be the greatest practical and moral evil now existing upon earth; and this country has, under this conviction, for many years attempted to suppress it at a great expenditure, not only of money, but of the lives of her people.
§ 3. Because this trade is now almost wholly confined to the export of slaves from Africa to Brazil, and to the Spanish Colonies in the West Indies, for the purpose of the cultivation of sugar; and on that account the consumption of sugar produced in those countries has been subjected to heavy discriminating duties.
§ 4. Because this Bill, by opening the British market to sugar the production of Brazil and the Spanish Colonies on equal terms with that of countries in which no Slave Trade has been carried on for many years, and even with the Colonies and dominions of Britain, must give a great and immediate encouragement to that unchristian and inhuman traffic.
§ 5. Because to give any encouragement to such a traffic for the sake of any expected fiscal or commercial advantages, would cover this country with indelible disgrace, as an infamous barter of our religious and moral duties for mere lucre.
§ 6. Because this Bill inflicts a grievous injury on the British colonists by exposing their produce to the unrestricted competition of foreign countries, which continue to be supplied with the labour of African slaves.
§ BEXLEY.
§ S. OXON, for reasons 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
§ DENMAN.
§ August 13, 1846.