The Dominicans in Spanish America, witnessing the cruel treatment which the slaves underwent there, considered slavery as utterly repugnant to the principles of the gospel, and recommended the abolition of it. Leo exerted himself, much to his honour, in behalf of the poor sufferers, and declared "That not only the Christian religion, but that Nature herself cried out against a state of slavery. It must, however, be confessed that bill maher 07 18 2014 would have been strange if Leo, in his situation as pontiff, had made a different reply. He could never have denied that God bill maher 07 18 2014 no respecter of persons. From Spain and Italy I come to England. The first importation of slaves from Africa, by our countrymen, was in the reign of Elizabeth, in the year 1562.