.JPG) THE ARIZONA CONSERVATIVE |
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DID AMERICA'S FOUNDING FATHERS
CONDONE SLAVERY?
Slavery was introduced in America two centuries before the nation’s founding era. It was not a product of the Founding Fathers. Slavery “an
atrocious debasement of human nature and “a source of serious evils.” Founding Fathers Benjamin Rush and Benjamin Franklin co-founded the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery in 1774. John Jay, president of a similar society in New York, believed “the honour of the states, as well as justice and humanity, in my opinion, loudly call upon them to emancipate these unhappy people. To contend for our own liberty, and to deny that blessing to others, involves an inconsistency not to be excused.” John Adams opposed slavery throughout his life as a “foul contagion in the human character” and “an evil of colossal magnitude.” Alexander Hamilton proposed to enlist slaves in the army and “give them their freedom with their muskets.” George Washington supported the plan in South Carolina and Georgia. “There is not a man
living who wishes more sincerely than I do, to see a plan adopted for
the abolition of it.” “The colonists are
by the law of nature free born, as indeed all men are, white and black.
Does it follow that it is the right to enslave a man because he is
black?” Rhode Island passed a law in 1774 to free all slaves imported. Delaware prohibited the slave trade in 1776. Virginia outlawed the slave trade in 1778. In 1779, Pennsylvania passed legislation providing for gradual emancipation. In 1780, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that slavery unconstitutional. In the 1780s, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut passed legislation providing for gradual emancipation. New York did the same in 1799, and New Jersey followed suit in 1804. By the time of the U.S. Constitution, all the states but Georgia had either suspended or proscribed the importation of slavery. “The inconsistency
of the institution of slavery with the principles of the Declaration of
Independence was seen and lamented. [N]o charge of insincerity of
hypocrisy can be fairly laid to their charge. Never from their lips was
heard one syllable of attempt to justify the institution of slavery.
They universally considered it as a reproach fastened upon them by the
unnatural step-mother country and they saw that before the principles of
the Declaration of Independence slavery, in common with every mode of
oppression, was destined sooner or later to be banished from the earth.” “I abhor slavery. I
was born in a country where slavery had been established by British
Kings and Parliaments as well as by the laws of the country ages before
my existence. … In former days there was no combating the prejudices of
men supported by interest; the day, I hope, is approaching when, from
principles of gratitude as well as justice, every man will strive to be
foremost in showing his readiness to comply with the Golden Rule [“do
unto others as you would have them do unto you” Matthew 7:12].” “ … a disposition
to abolish slavery prevails in North America, that many of
Pennsylvanians have set their slaves at liberty, and that even the
Virginia Assembly have petitioned the King for permission to make a law
for preventing the importation of more into that colony. This request,
however, will probably not be granted as their former laws of that kind
have always been repealed.” “Why keep alive the
question of slavery? It is admitted by all to be a great evil.” “That men should
pray and fight for their own freedom and yet keep others in slavery is
certainly acting a very inconsistent as well as unjust and perhaps
impious part.” “Christianity, by
introducing into Europe the truest principles of humanity, universal
benevolence, and brotherly love, had happily abolished civil slavery.
Let us who profess the same religion practice its precepts … by agreeing
to this duty.”
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