But he had a right to infer, that as the planters purchased slaves at present, they would still think it their interest to have them.

The question then was, whether they could get them by smuggling.

Now it appeared by the evidence, that many hundred slaves had been stolen from time to time from Jamaica, and carried into Cuba.

But if persons could smuggle slaves out of our colonies, they could smuggle slaves into them; but particularly when the planters might think it to their interest to assist them.
With respect to the slaves there, instances had been related of their oppression, which shocked the feelings of all who heard them: But was it fair to infer from these their general ill usage?
Suppose a person were to make a collection of the different abuses, which had happened for a series of years under our own happy constitution, and use these as an argument of its worthlessness; should we not say to him, that in the most perfect system which the human intellect could form, some defects would exist; and that it was unfair to draw inferences from such partial facts?
In the same manner he would argue relative to the alleged treatment of the slaves.
Evidence had been produced upon this point on both sides.

He should not be afraid to oppose the authorities of Lord Rodney, and others, against any, however respectable, in favour of the abolition.