Thus many were left in a diseased and
deplorable state; either to perish by sickness, or to enter into foreign
service; great numbers of whom were for ever lost to their country. The
Governor concluded by declaring, that the enormities attendant on this
trade were so great, as to demand the immediate interference of the
legislature.
The next objection to the abolition was, that if we were to relinquish the
Slave-trade, our rivals, the French, would take it up; so that, while we
should suffer by the measure, the evil would still go on, and this even to
its former extent. This was, indeed, a very weak argument; and, if it would
defend the continuance of the Slave-trade, might equally be urged in favour
of robbery, murder, and every species of wickedness, which, if we did not
practise, others would commit. But suppose, for the sake of argument, that
they were to take it up. What good would it do them? What advantages, for
instance, would they derive from this pestilential commerce to their
marine? Should not we, on the other hand, be benefited by this change?
Would they not be obliged to come to us, in consequence of the cheapness of
our manufactures, for what they wanted for the African market? But he would
not calumniate the French nation so much as to suppose that they would
carry on the trade if we were to relinquish it.
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