Some gentlemen may … object to the slave trade as inhuman and impious; let us consider that, if our colonies are to be maintained and cultivated, which can only be done by African negroes, it is surely better to supply ourselves … in British bottoms.
~ Temple Luttrell (1777)
The investment risked in entering this business is small … . A cargo may consist of sixty slaves … . If few die … the voyage is lucrative … . More than 25,000 slaves have arrived for use in agriculture this year, 15,000 entering Bahia alone and 10,000 at Rio.
~ José da Silva (1781)
There are many more positive conditions of slavery than that of one man being the property of another, and being subject to his will and dominion: and if such positive conditions be necessary in every association of men, both under a civilized government as states but little removed from that of nature—if various ranks and orders of men be necessary, that the political wheel may go round, that the purposes of social life be more completely fulfilled, … [let it be admitted.]
~ Jesse Foot (1792)
I consider the Negroes in the British West India Islands to be in as COMFORTABLE A STATE, AS THE LOWER ORDERS OF MANKIND IN ANY COUNTRY IN EUROPE.
~ Captain McCarty (1792)
[S]ome are actually found so far to excell others both in respect to wisdom and benevolence, both in the knowledge of the principles of propriety, and a disposition to practice such principles, that the general end, happiness, would be better promoted by the exercise of authority in the former, though necessarily involving subordination of the latter, than by the enjoyment of equal Liberty in each.
~ Theodore Parsons (1773)
[S]lavery is a violent deprivation of the rights of nature, and inconsistent with a republican government, and therefore, recommend to our brethren to make use of every legal measure to extirpate this horrible evil from the land; and to pray to Almighty God that our honorable legislature may have it in their power to proclaim that great jubilee, consistent with the principles of good policy.
~ Virginia General Committee of the Baptists (1789)
This purchase is a business which violates religion, morality, natural law, and all human rights. There is not one of those unfortunate souls … slaves … who does not have the right to be declared free, since in truth he has never lost his freedom; and he could not lose it, since it was impossible for him to lose it; and neither his prince, nor his father, nor anyone else had the right to dispose of it.
~ Louis de Jaucourt (1765)
However we look at the question, the right to enslave is null and void, not only because it is illegitimate, but also because it is absurd and meaningless. The words “slavery” and “right” are contradictory.
~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1762)
Slavery has been, and, from the nature of man, must ever be, a common and general situation of life … . It is certain that, in civil society, every man is restrained of some part of his natural liberty, and is consequently in some degree deprived of his freedom. Every deprivation of freedom is a species of servitude or slavery.
~ Gilbert Francklyn (1789)
Sirs … I should be very glad to be concerned in the African Trade and will be a quarter of the voyage, if you choose it … . I should choose to be insured, and whatever Expence came to my Share more than the slaves sent, I would remit by return of the vessel that bro’t the slaves. The whole of the voyage I leave you to conduct and you may begin to prepare if you please, … [for] the price of Negroes keeps up amazingly.
~ Carter Braxton (1763)