It was again insisted upon that emancipation was the real, object of the former; so that thousands of slaves would be let loose in the islands to rob or perish, and who could never be brought back again into habits of useful industry.
An attempt was then made to excite their pity in behalf of the planters.
The abolition, it was said, would produce insurrections among the slaves.

But insurrections would produce the massacre of their masters; and, if any of these should happily escape from butchery, they would be reserved only for ruin.
An appeal was then made to them on the ground of their own interest and of that of the people whom they represented.

It was stated that the ruin of the islands would be the ruin of themselves and of the country.

Its revenue would be half annihilated; its naval strength would decay.
Merchants, manufacturers and others would come to beggary.

But in this deplorable situation they would expect to be indemnified for their losses.