Wilberforce 1789 Abolition Speech" by William Wilberforce 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. I wish exceedingly, in the outset, to guard both myself and the House from entering into the subject with any sort of passion. It is not their passions I shall appeal to—I ask only for their cool and impartial reason; and I wish not to take them by surprise, but to deliberate, point by point, upon every part of this question. I mean not to accuse any one, but to take the shame upon myself, in common, indeed, with the whole parliament of Great Britain, for having suffered this horrid trade to be carried on under their authority. We are all guilty—we ought all to plead guilty, and not to exculpate ourselves by throwing the blame on others; and I therefore deprecate every kind of reflection against the various descriptions of people who are more immediately

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Wilberforce 1789 Abolition Speech" by William Wilberforce 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. I wish exceedingly, in the outset, to guard both myself and the House from entering into the subject with any sort of passion. It is not their passions I shall appeal to—I ask only for their cool and impartial reason; and I wish not to take them by surprise, but to deliberate, point by point, upon every part of this question. I mean not to accuse any one, but to take the shame upon myself, in common, indeed, with the whole parliament of Great Britain, for having suffered this horrid trade to be carried on under their authority. We are all guilty—we ought all to plead guilty, and not to exculpate ourselves by throwing the blame on others; and I therefore deprecate every kind of reflection against the various descriptions of people who are more immediately

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connected to this trade—whether they be merchants, shipowners, or planters. It was not just a part of a few individuals or a single group that perpetuated this barbarity; it was a collective failure, a systematic disregard for the humanity of countless individuals.

I stand here not merely to condemn them, but to urge this House to recognize that this is a moral issue that transcends personal accountability. It reflects the moral compass of our nation and our collective conscience. As custodians of justice and humanity, it falls upon us to confront and dismantle the systems that uphold such inhumanity.

Public sentiment, I believe, is beginning to shift. There is an awakening understanding of the immense suffering that this trade inflicts—not just upon those who are subjected to it, but upon the very fabric of our society. We must be willing to confront the truth: that our prosperity has been built upon the backs of the enslaved. The wealth generated from this trade comes at an unspeakable cost to human dignity and life.

Let us consider the facts; let us deliberate on the evidence that has been amassed over years of inquiry. The testimonies from the slaves themselves, the accounts of those who have witnessed the horrors of the Middle Passage, the moral philosophies that challenge us to recognize the inherent worth of every individual—these are not mere points of rhetoric; they are the foundations of our call to action.

We must ask ourselves what sort of nation we want to be. Do we wish to be remembered as complicit in a grave injustice, or can we rise to the occasion and mark our legacy with a commitment to human rights and dignity? The time has come for profound change, and I urge my fellow members of Parliament to join me in this noble endeavor.

In conclusion, let us not shy away from our responsibilities. Let us face this issue with courage, rational discourse, and unwavering resolve. We have the power to change the course of history—to abolish this abhorrent trade and to restore the rights and opportunities owed to every man, woman, and child. In doing so, we would not only align ourselves with the principles of justice but also pave the way for a more humane and equitable future for generations to come. The abolition of the slave trade is not only a moral imperative; it is an opportunity for redemption and progress.