1 “A Flemish favorite of Charles V. having obtained of this king a patent containing an exclusive right of importing four thousand negroes annually to the West Indies, sold it for twenty-five thousand ducats, to some Genoese merchants, who first brought into a regular form the commerce for slaves between Africa and America.” --Holmes's Annals of America, vol. i., p. 3.5.
“In 1563, the English began to import negroes into the West Indies. Their first slave-trade was opened the preceding year on the coast of Guinea. John Hawkins, in the prospect of a great gain, resolved to make trial of this nefarious and inhuman traffic. Communicating the design to several gentlemen in London, Who became liberal contributors and adventurers, three good ships were immediately provided; and, with these and one hundred men, Hawkins sailed to the coast of Guinea, where, by money, treachery, and force, he procured at least three hundred negroes, and now sold them at Hispaniola.” --Ibid., p. 83. “Ferdinand” (in 1513) “issued a decree declaring that the servitude of the Indians is warranted by the laws of God and man” --Ibid., p.32. “Every freeman of Carolina shall have absolute power and authority over his negro slaves, of what nation or religion whatsoever.” --Locke's Fundamental Constitution for South Carolina.2 According to Bancroft, upon the establishment of the Assiento Treaty in 1713, creating a Company for the prosecution of the African Slave Trade, one-quarter of the stock was taken by Philip of Spain; Queen Anne reserved to herself another quarter, and the remaining moiety was to be divided among her subjects. “Thus did the sovereigns of England and Spain become the largest slave-merchants in the world.”
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