William
Wilberforce, “Abolition
Speech” May
12th , 1789; House of Commons, London
When I consider the magnitude of the
subject which I am to bring before the House-a subject, in which the interests,
not of this country, nor of Europe alone, but of the whole world, and of
posterity, are involved: and when I think, at the same time, on the weakness of
the advocate who has undertaken this great cause-when these reflections press
upon my mind, it is impossible for me not to feel both terrified and concerned
at my own inadequacy to such a task. But when I reflect, however, on the
encouragement which I have had, through the whole course of a long and
laborious examination of this question, and how much candour I have experienced,
and how conviction has increased within my own mind, in proportion as I have
advanced in my labours;-when I reflect, especially, that however averse any
gentleman may now be, yet we shall all be of one opinion in the end;-when I
turn myself to these thoughts, I take courage-I determine to forget all my
other fears, and I march forward with a firmer step in the full assurance that
my cause will bear me out, and that I shall be able to justify upon the
clearest principles, every resolution in my hand, the avowed end of which is,
the total abolition of the slave trade
How then can the House refuse its
belief to the multiplied testimonies before the privy council, of the savage
treatment of the negroes in the middle passage? Nay, indeed, what need is there
of any evidence? The number of deaths speaks for itself, and makes all such
enquiry superfluous. As soon as ever I had arrived thus far in my investigation
of the slave trade, I confess to you sir, so enormous so dreadful, so
irremediable did its wickedness appear that my own mind was completely made up
for the abolition. A trade founded in iniquity, and carried on as this was,
must be abolished, let the policy be what it might,-let the consequences be
what they would, I from this time determined that I would never rest till I had
effected its abolition.
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