When it is considered that slavery, property in man, can be legalized, according to the decision of Lord Mansfield, by nothing less than positive law; that the rights of property and person are the same on board an English ship, as in the island of Great Britain; and that this statute implies that these "negroes" were to be "imported" into "England," as well as into the "Plantations and colonies in America," and that it therefore no more implies that they were to be _slaves_ in "the plantations and colonies" than in "England," where we know they could not be slaves; when these things are considered, it is perfectly clear, as a _legal_ proposition, that the statute legalized neither slavery in the plantations and colonies, nor the slave trade from Africa to America--however we may suppose it to have been designed to hint a personal approbation, on the part of parliament, of the actual traffic. But lest I may be suspected of having either misrepresented the words of the statute, or placed upon them an erroneous legal construction, I give _all_ the words of the statute, that make any mention of "negroes," or their importation, with so much of the context as will enable the reader to judge for himself of the legal import of the whole. The act is entitled, "_An Act to settle the Trade to Africa._" Sec. 1 recites as follows:-- "Whereas, the Trade to Africa is highly beneficial and advantageous to this kingdom and to the Plantations and Colonies thereunto belonging." The act contains _twenty-one_ sections, regulating trade, duties. &., like any other navigation act. "Negroes" are mentioned only in the following instances and connexions, to wit: