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Cover Story Black History Month


African slaves take a break from their work on a Jamaican sugar plantation


And the effect of this increasing population would be a gradual,


kind, prudent and well-guarded emancipation of such individu- als as may be fit for emancipation. By this course, you would put the Islands on the best footing on which they can be placed, and which, although not now, nor soon, yet might ultimately place the slaves generally on a footing of freedom. I shall now conclude with moving - “Tat this House, consider-


ing the African Slave Trade to be contrary to the principles of justice, humanity, and sound policy, will, with all practicable expedition take effectual measures for the abolition of the said Trade, in such manner, and at such period, as may be deemed advisable.” Sir Ralph Milbank seconded Mr Fox’s Motion.


Mr Fox’s speech greatly needled the two MPs from Liverpool, a town which had become extremely prosperous on the back of the African Slave Trade. General Sir Banastre Tarleton (left), one of the two Liverpudlian MPs, was the first to rise, and said: I confess I rise under considerable disad-


vantage after the eloquent speech which has just been delivered. It is my duty however to trouble the House with a few observations on this momentous subject. And first, as to the time when that subject was first brought


forward, it was a time of profound peace; when taxes did not press upon all ranks of people as they do now, when we can but ill afford to adopt any measure that will occasion a diminution in the revenue. Sir, having lost the question of the abolition of this Trade in a


variety of periods during the last 17 or 18 years, that the advocates of that measure should come forward now, at a time so critical, is to me most extraordinary. In the speech of the Right Honourable Gentleman [Mr Fox], I


think I see an abatement of the vehemence with which the subject has usually been discussed. He does not seem to be possessed of his former notions of the monstrous inhumanity of the Trade: on that topic he has said little. But these are not his only omissions: for not a word have we


heard of the alteration in the circumstances of the times; not a word of the alteration which has taken place in our Trade; not a word of the injustice which will be done to Liverpool whenever the measure now proposed shall be adopted; nor of the inconvenience to be suffered by any other part of the kingdom. And therefore I am led to think that we have not the genuine


reasons laid before us for bringing forward this measure, but that it is bottomed on something which is not stated to this House, on a wish, perhaps, to gratify, for political purposes, the inclinations of an honourable member [Mr William Wilberforce] who is so extremely zealous on this subject. Te Right Honourable Gentleman has said with some pleas-


antry, that the gentlemen of Liverpool considered every regulation of this Trade as destructive to it. Now, the gentlemen of Liverpool have too much sense to think so: but I have no difficulty in say-


38 | October 2011 | New African


injustice or the inhumanity of this Trade, it is not to be denied that it has been carried on under the auspices of this House”


“Whatever may be said about the


ing that the prosperity of Liverpool is intimately connected with the African Slave Trade. Te Right Honourable Gentleman says that I never approved of any measure which had for its object the regulation of the Slave Trade. Sir, it is difficult for me to assent to any measure which appears to be injurious to the interests of my constituents, closely connected as they are with the general interests of this country. As to the situation of Liverpool, I have this to say:


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