 In the House of Commons in May 1823, Buxton introduced a resolution condemning the state of slavery as "repugnant to the principles of the British constitution and of the Christian religion", and called for its gradual abolition "throughout the British colonies".He also pressured the government to send dispatches to the colonies to improve the treatment of slaves.Buxton took over as leader of the abolition movement in the British House of Commons after William Wilberforce retired in 1825.