As to the Slave-trade itself, there could not be two opinions about it where men were not interested.

A trade, begun in savage war, prosecuted with unheard-of barbarity, continued during the transportation with the most loathsome imprisonment, and ending in perpetual exile and slavery, was a trade so horrid in all its circumstances, that it was impossible to produce a single argument in its favour.

On the ground of prudence, nothing could be said in defence of it; nor could it be justified by necessity.

It was necessity alone, that could be brought to justify inhumanity; but no case of necessity could be made out strong enough to justify this monstrous traffic.

It was therefore the duty of the house to put an end to it, and this without further delay.