Cover Story Black History Month


which I have used in the Resolution which I shall have the honour to submit to the House. Upwards of 14 years have elapsed since this House declared its opinion to be that the African Slave Trade ought to be abolished. When I consider this declaration, and what has been done, or rather what has not been done, in pursuance of it – when I find that no one step has been taken towards an aboli- tion, agreed to be fitting more than 14 years ago, I cannot help thinking that the House will find itself bound, from regard for its own character and reputation in this country, and in the rest of the world, to do something towards the abolition of a trade which the House itself resolved, most solemnly, should be abolished 10 years ago, viz. on the 1st of January 1796, and of which it has, so frequently, expressed its abhorrence. In the year 1791, indeed, the proposition of my Honourable


Friend [Mr Wilberforce] was rejected; but in the year 1792, the business having been very much considered by the country at large, warm feelings were necessarily excited, and those warm feelings were, as necessarily, communicated to this House. Ten, and in a very full attendance, the question was agitated and was carried for a gradual abolition, contrary to my desire, because I was always for an immediate abolition. It is, however, a fact that in that session [1792], it was resolved by


this House that a period should be put to the Slave Trade, on the 1st of January 1796, and this after all the ample discussions which took place in that and several preceding sessions. My Lord Melville, who was then a minister of state, and a person


of considerable authority in this House, was for delaying the total abolition to the year 1800. Tat was the opinion of that statesman who was the most anxious to delay the abolition of this trade; and who most forcibly stated all the reasons he could collect for mak- ing the period for such an abolition, as distant as possible, and, certainly, more distant than any other person proposed it to be. Even he, with all his desire to prolong the Trade as much as


possible, proposed that its total abolition should take place in the year 1800. We are now in the year 1806, and have taken no step towards the completion of that work, which we undertook in the face of the world to accomplish; and with our negligence to com- plete that work, the country, the whole civilised world, may well reproach this House, for it is, to say the least of it, a deplorable negligence of our duty. On this point, I have heard it said that it is not by Act of Parlia-


ment or anything that can be done in this country, that the Slave Trade can be abolished; but that it must be done by some measure in the colonies, first for the gradual diminution, and then for the final abolition of that Traffick. Now, Sir, although I have frequently heard hints thrown out to this effect, I have never yet heard any practicable plan proposed. When I do, I will attend to it with great patience; but, having considered this subject for 18 years pretty at- tentively, I am afraid that with respect to myself for one, it will be impossible to convince me that we can do our duty on the subject of the Slave Trade in any way short of its total abolition by a direct prohibitory law. Tose, however, who think otherwise, will have an opportunity of stating their opinions. Te other point is as to the time when the abolition should take


place; whether that abolition should be on the passing of the Act or the year ensuing. No longer delay than that, could, I apprehend, be necessary, as it would be 8 years beyond the longest period


36 | October 2011 | New African


Abolitionism in the UK: Key facts


16th century Britain’s initial involvement in the slave trade


1772 Somersett’s Case. Lord Mansfield's opinion is widely taken to hold that slavery is illegal in England and Wales


1783 The ‘triangular route’ that takes British goods to Africa to buy slaves, transports the slaves to the West Indies, and brings slave- grown products such as sugar, tobacco and cotton back to England, represents about 80 per cent of Britain's foreign income


1787 Foundation of the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade


1789 onwards William Wilberforce heads the parliamentary campaign against the slave trade until the passage of the Slave Trade Act of 1807, using much evidence provided by Thomas Clarkson. Makes his first major speech in 1789, and introduces various abolition bills throughout the 1790s, all of which are defeated


1807 The Abolition of the Slave Trade Act makes the slave trade illegal throughout the British Empire, but not slavery. Ship captains are fined £100 per slave transported


1833 The Slavery Abolition Act makes slavery illegal throughout most of the British Empire. On 1 August 1838, after a period of enforced apprenticeship, most men, women and children become free


which was formerly proposed even by Lord Melville. To all those, however, who wish still to delay that abolition, I would only say that for the present the whole of that matter is left entirely open. But before I sit down, I would say a few words, and but a few,


on points connected with the present question. First, I would warn all the Members of this House not to listen to that flattery with which one of the honourable members for Liverpool is likely to assure the House, as he and the town of Liverpool have done on more occasions than one, that we have already abolished the Slave Trade; that what we have done already under the name of regula- tion must put an end to it. At the time when some regulations were first proposed to take


place in the carrying on of that Trade, they told us it would be better, as well as more candid, to abolish the Trade at once, than adopt regulations which would have the effect of destroying it; and this they have said of every subsequent measure which has been proposed with a view to regulation. In short, they have opposed in the most bitter manner every-


thing that has been offered even in the way of regulation; witness their opposition to Sir William Dolben’s bill for mitigating the


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100