Page:Substance of the speech of His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, in the House of Lords.djvu/62

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

a contrary nature, I am warranted by the evident acknowledgment of error on the part of the two countries mentioned.

Some enthusiasts for Abolition have endeavoured to maintain, that America has abandoned the Slave Trade; but it is a fact upon record, that the Americans are now carrying it on for the Spaniards; and it is a truth as well known, that notwithstanding an Act of Abolition has passed the Congress, the government of that country is not sufficiently strong to enforce its own laws on this particular subject. This spirit of resistance to the American Legislature is not a little heightened and inflamed by the many advantages obtained under the sanction of the Spanish Government. So far back as the 24th of January 1793, the Court of Madrid issued the following Declaration in favour of foreigners who may chuse to supply the Spanish Settlements with Negroes: