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PEDRO GIBERT AND OTHERS. Tit

years by more than one or two of the Southern States. Con-
gresa could do uo more than it did at the time of the forma-
tion of the Constitution. They wished to have prohibited the
traffle at once, but there were opposing interests to be re-
united, and they had no other alternative than to sacrifice
the Constitution, or submit to a limited evil. They had many
prejudices to overeome, and had they not secured the Con-
stitution by @ temporary sacrifice of their wishes, they never
would have been able to have destroyed the slave trade at all,
Let it be known, then, that America made the first step in
this matter. She did what she could in ’88, while England
did uot stir till years afterwards, and then, when Pitt and
‘Wilberforce exerted themselves upon the subject, the bill
which they introduced fell dead in the House of Commons.
Even Pitt, the Prime Minister of England, with all his pop-
ularity, could not break down the prejudices of his country-
men, and nothing effectual was done in England till the year
1807, while in 1806, America, by the prospective act which
she had passed, abolished the slave trade throughout all the
Statea, thenceforth and forever. To America, then, is due
the credit of having, while yet a child, and possessing but the
elements of government, looked forward to the time when a
traffic in her fellowmen should no longer disgrace her annals,

Nov. 25.

‘The Court assembled at 11 o’clock, and after the lapse of
about half an hour the jury came in with their verdict.

The Clerk. Gentlemen of the jury, have you agreed upon
your verdict?

The Jury. We have.

The Clerk. Who shall speak for you?

The Jury. Our foreman.

The Prisoners were directed severally to rise as soon as
ealled and receive the verdict of the jury. The Captain,
Pedro Gibert, was the first named. He arose, raised his
hand, and regarded the jury with a firm countenance and
steady eye.

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