Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-11-03
Opinions Of Washington on Slavery.


ale has nevertheless Unjust I say it p
numerous crowd of slaves; but they are
treated with the greatest humanity well fed.
well clothed, and kept TO moderate labor;
they bless God without ceasing for having
gwen them so good a master, 1t is q task
worthy Of a soul SO elevated, so pure, and SO
dlslnterested, TO begin the revolution in Vir-
gina, to prepare the way for the emancipation
q ne negroes. This great man declared TO me
that ne r9Oiced at tchdt tCdS doing IN other States
on this subject that he sincereiy Lcsired the err
tension Of Il IN his o,cn country; but he did
not dissemble that there were still many diff.
fculties TO be overcome; that it was danger
Gus TO strike too vigorously at a prejudice
which had begun to diminish that time. pa-
uence, and information would not fail to van
quish it. Almost all the Virginians, added
he, believe that the liberty of the blacks cam
not soon become general. This is the reason
trh.y they irish not 10 form a society which may
give dangerous ideas TO their slaves. There
is another obstacle; the great plantations of
which the State is composed render il me-
ccssary for men to live so dispersed, that
frequent meetings. Of a Society tcOuld be difficult.
1 replied that the Virgiuians were in error,
that evidently sooner or later the negroes
would obtain their liberty every where. 1t
Is then for tue interest of your countrymen
to prepare the way TO such a revolution, by
cndcavoring to reconcile the restitution of the
rights of the blacks with the interest of the
whites. THE means necessary 10 be taken 10
this effect can only Be he work Of a SOCIETY;
and it is worthy the Savior Of America to
put himself at their head, and to open the
door of liberty 10 three hundred thousand
unhappy beings of his own State. He told
me that he desired The formation Of a SOCIETY,
and that he tcould second Il; but that he did
not think the moment favorable"
sation Of Washington, III the Travels Of BriSSot
de UUUiiie, IN u. S. in 1898, translated and
published in 1892.
81 can only say, that there is not a man
living, who wishes more sincerely than i do
to see Il plan adopted for the abolition of it
Slavery j but there is only one proper and
effectual mode by which it can be accom-
plished, and that is by Legislative authority
; and this, as far as my suffrage tCW go, shall ne
!, yer be icGnting.-LNtter Of Washington 10 Ro-
! bert Morris, .4prl l2h, l7S6.
"The benevolence of your heart, my dear
Marquis, is 90 conspicuous upon oil occa-
II sions, that l never wonder at any fresh proofs
is OF it; but your late purchase of an estate in
he the Colony of Cayenne, ,cith a rie,O Of eman-
IL clPdtlng the sIuUes on ii, is n generous and no.
IS bic proof of your humanity. You'd to God
I'll a IKE spirit might 6l6use Itself generally int
IS The minds Of The people Of his country. But
le despair OF seeing it. Some petitions were
nc presented TO the Assembly at its last session,
$ for the abolition of slavery, but they could
s. scarcely obtain a reading. To set the slaves
I'd at1oat at once, would, ! really believe, be pro-
L. ductiye Of much Inconvenience and mischief;
Is bit By degrees ii certainly might, and ass,reds
Y. ought TO be Effected; end that too by Legislative
authorfty."-Ldier to Lafayette, May ION,
1856.
q. al never mean, unless some particular
ms circumstances should compel me to it, to
of possess another slave by purchase, it being
~ among my first tOiShes 10 see some plan adopted
by ichich slavery IN this country may be abot-
n iShed by latp."-Leter 10 John r. Mercer, Sept.
he 9Th, l156.
a "From what | have said, you will perceive,
no that the present prices of land in Pennsylva-
ne MIA are higher than they are in Maryland
and Virginia, although they are not of a SUI
ed perior quality, " = [among
n other r%easonS because there ore lairs here
N for the gradual abolition Of slavery, which
OF, neither of the two States above mentioned
IRE have at present, but ukich nothing Is more Ger
lie! tain Tim that they must hare, and at a periot
lie mol remotc."-Lettg 10 Sir John Sinclair, Dec
lin, 1856.
"Upon the decease of my wife, il is m,
desire that all the slaves whom l hold in IN
ate own right, shall receive their freedom. II
90. emancipate them during her life, would, tho
emf earnestly wished by me, be attended wit
yer such insuperable difficulties, on account c
all their intermixture by marriage with the dow
-es. er negroes, as TO excite the most painful sen
c r' cations, if not disagreeable consequences I
lte- the latter, while both description are in tn
rs occupancy of the same proprietor, it not be
Ter ing in my power, under the tenure by whicI
the dover negroes are held, to manumi
them. = e find / do, moreover, mos
he p~ointedly and most Sotemny e'yoin ii upon M.
nd executors hereafter named, or the SURVIVORS Q
arc them, 10 zee thai This clause respecting Slares, dnt
ase erery part thereof be reiigiOuSy fulfilled at M
lo- epoch at ichich Il as directed 10 take place, t0ith
ont eraSion, neglect or delay, after the crops
ers which may then be on the ground are har
all vested, particularly as it respects the ageC
I'D and infirm, seeing that a regular and perma
ills nent fund be established for their support, q
III long MS there are subjects requiring il, no
of trusting to the uncertain provision made b.
ad Observation-Disclosures va, d@ed jul
al. Oh, l790-Il799.l
Cz.-..- W. x,1Io-