Men, who had left the trade upon principle, and who had come
forward, against their apparent interest, to serve the cause of humanity
and justice, were looked upon as mercenaries and culprits, or as men of
doubtful and suspicious character. They were brow-beaten. Unhandsome
questions were put to them. Some were kept for four days under examination.
It was however highly to their honour, that they were found in no one
instance to prevaricate, nor to waver as to the certainty of their facts.
But this treatment, hard as it was for them to bear, was indeed good for
the cause; for, coming thus pure out of the fire, they occasioned their own
testimony, when read, to bear stronger marks of truth than that of the
generality of our opponents; nor was it less superior, when weighed by
other considerations. For the witnesses against the abolition were
principally interested. They who were not, had been hospitably received at
the planters' tables. The evidence too, which they delivered, was almost
wholly negative. They had not seen such and such evils. But this was no
proof that the evils did not exist. The witnesses, on the other hand, who
came up in favour of the abolition, had no advantage in making their
several assertions.
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