He then moved that the house should resolve itself into a committee of the whole house on Thursday, the twenty-third of April, for this purpose.

This motion was agreed to; after which he moved for certain official documents, necessary to throw light upon the subject in the course of its discussion.
This motion, by means of which the great day of trial was now fixed, seemed to be the signal for the planters, merchants, and other interested persons to begin a furious opposition.

Meetings were accordingly called by advertisement.

At these meetings much warmth and virulence were manifested in debate, and propositions breathing a spirit of anger were adopted.

It was suggested there, in the vehemence of passion, that the Islands could exist independently of the Mother-country; nor were even threats withheld to intimidate government from effecting the abolition.
From this time, also, the public papers began to be filled with such statements as were thought most likely to influence the members of the House of Commons, previously to the discussion of the question.
The first impression attempted to be made upon them was with respect to the slaves themselves.