- The first
extract is taken from the preface to a publication issued by the Society
for the Mitigation and Abolition of Slavery. This society was formed
by Thomas Clarkson, Granville Sharp and Thomas Fowell Buxton following
the passing of the 1807 Act which outlawed the slave trade but which
did not ban slavery itself. Although they tirelessly promoted the anti-slavery
cause, it was not until 1833 that the founders of the Society achieved
their objectives.
- The second
extract is taken from an account of the first slave traders to be prosecuted
after the 1807 Act. The trial of Samuel Samo and others took place in
1812 in Sierra Leone before Judge Robert Thorpe. Samo had tried to argue
that he should not be prosecuted as he was not a British citizen but
Dutch. Samo also told the Court that he had withdrawn from the slave
trade and was trying to establish himself as a farmer. However, a witness
(who had been Samo's clerk) testified that Samo had sent the last batch
of slaves off from Rio Pongas in Sierre Leone in January 1812. Samo
was found guilty. At the end of the trial the Judge ordered that Samo
be sent to prison until the Court next came into session when his punishment
would be determined.
- The area
now known as Sierra Leone had long been used a source of slaves having
first been exploited by the Portuguese in the fifteenth century. However,
in 1787 400 freed slaves from London were returned to part of the country
which was termed 'Province of Freedom' as part of a resettlement project.
Unfortunately, most of these early resettlers died either as a result
of disease or from attacks by the indigeneous population. This failure
did not stop the resettlement project and in 1792 more ex-slaves were
sent to Freetown. This attempt was more successful. In 1808 the British
government made Sierra Leone a British colony and used it as a base
for Royal Naval vessels carrying out anti-slavery patrols. Resettlement
also continued and between 1808 and 1864 50,000 liberated slaves took
up residence.
- Both of
these sources adopt a very moral stance. The first source softens its
attack on those involved in perpetuating slavery by arguing that everyone
involved is a victim. The second source makes no such apologies and
attacks Samo for his actions in very strong language. What is clear
from both sources, however, is the strong sense of outrage that many
people felt.
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