The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-05-19
EY DANIEL R. cooDLoE, OF NORTH CAROLINA.


he Debate an the Virginia Legislature in
1892 ,riA UariouS letters, judicial decisions, &C.
BY DANIEL r. COOLIDGE, OF NORTH CAROLINA.
lcoNTINUEDl
FROM THE WRITINGS OF WASHINGTON.
WGshingtOn's VIII.
In the name of God. amen
l. George Washington, Of Mount Vernon, a
citizen Of the United States and lately Presi-
dent Of the same. do make, ordain, and de-
clare. this instrument which is written with
my own hand, and every page thereof sub
scrbcd with my names to be my last will and
testament, reyoking all others.
Hcm.-UpOn tho decease of my wife, it is
my will and desire that all tho slaves whom |
hold m my OIrn right, shall receive their free
dom To cmaRcipate them during her life
would though earnestly wished by me, be at
tended with such insuperable difficulties, on
account Of their intermixturo by marriage
with the dover negroes as to excite the most
painful sensations, if not dsagreeable cOnse
quences to the latter, while both descriptions
are in the occupancy of the Same proprietor ;
it not being in my power, under tho tenure by
which the dover negroes are held, to manumit
them And whereas among those who will
receive freedom according to this devise there
may be some who, from old age or bodily in
ijrmitics and others, who on account of their
infancy, will be unable to support themselves,
it is my will and desire, that all who come I'M
der the first and second description. shall be
comfortably clothed and fed by my heirs who
they live and that such Of tho latter descrip-
ton AZ have no parents living or, If living are
unable or unwilling to provide for them, shall
DE bound by the Court until they shall arrive
ut the age Of twenty-five years; and in cases
where no record can be produced whereby
their ages can 10 ascertained, the judgment
Of the Court, upon its own view of the subject,
shall be adequate and final. The negroes thus
bound are (by their masters or mistresses) to
be taught to read and write and to be brought
up to some useful occupation, agreeably to the
laws Of the Commonwealth of Virginia, pro-
yding for tho support If orphan and other
poor children. And do hereby expressly for
bid tho sale or transportation out Of the said
Commonwealth, of any slave ! may die pos
s2ssod OF, under any prctenco whatsoever. And
do moreover, most pontcdly and most sol
cmnly cniOin IL upon my executors hereafter
named, or the survivors Of them, to zoe that
TINS clause respecting slaves, and every part
thereof be- rclgiOusiy fJfled ut the oroch at
which it is directed to take place. without eva
sion, neglect or delay, after the crops which
may then be on the ground are harvested par
ticularly ~ it respects the aged and infirm
seeing that regular and permanent fund be
established for their support ~ long az there
are subjects requiring 1t; not trusting to tho
uncertain provision to be made by individuals
And to my mulatto man, W1iiiam, calling him
self UWlam Lee give immediate freedom;
or, if he should prefer it, ION account of the
accidents Nhich have beiallcn him, and which
Ia ,f, IL,
OF any active cmploymcnt) to remain in the
situation he now il, it shall be optional in him
to do So in either ease, however, allow him
an annuity Of thirty dollars, during his natu-
raj life, which shall be Independent Of tho
victuals and clothes lac has been accustomed
to receive, if he chooses the last alternative
but in full with his freedom if he prefers the
first. And Tins ! give him, ~ o testimony Of
my sense Of his attachment to me, and for
his faithful services during the revolutionary
var (oL Z, Up. 500. $40.
Ertrdd Of Il letter 10 The President Of Congress,
daed Cambridge, 3lSt December, I775.
1t has been represented to me that the free
negroes who have served in this army are very
much dissatisfied Mt being discarded AS it il
10 be apprchcndcd that they may ask employ
ment in the ministerial army, have presumed
TO depart from The resolution respecting them,
and have given license for their being enlisted.
If this is disapprovcd Of by Congress, will
pat n stop to it. +
Errad Of a letter 10 Henry Ldurens (of South
Carolina an Congress
MDDLEBRooK, Goth March, 1879.
The policy of our arming slaves is, in my
opinion, II moot point, unless the enemy set |
the example For should we begin 10 form
- L.. I L.. Al. n.
doubt if the war IL to be prosecuted OF ther |
following us in IT, and iu,tfyng the measure |
upon our own ground The contest must then |
be, who can arm fastest. And where are onr
arms! Besides, | am not clear, that a dis
elimination will not render slavery more ink
some to those who remain in it, Most of the
good and evil things in this life are Judged Of
by comparison and | fear II comparison in
this ease will be productive of much discomfort
IN those who are held in scrvitudc. But rs this
~ subject that has never employed much of
my thoughts these are no moro than the first |
crude IDEAS that have struck mo upon tho oc-
casiOn
To It, Col jain LGmens (of South Cdrolina.) |
HEADQUARTERS, 10Th July 1882
My DEAR SIR: The post brought mo your
letter on tho 10Th Of May. must confess
that am not mt all astonishod at the failure
of your plan. The spirit OF freedom, which at
the commencement of this contest would glad
~ have sacrificed everything to tho attain
ment of its object has long since subsidized,
and every selfish passion has taken its place
IL is not the public, but private interest which
influences the generality Of mankind nor can
the Americans any longer boast an exception
Under these circumstances, it would rather
have hCcn surprising If YOU had succeeded
nor Will you, fear, have better success in
Gcorgia.S
To tic Marquis de LGfayettc.-5h Aprl 1888
Extract
The scheme, my dear MARQUIS which you
propose ~ precedent, to encourage the eman-
cipatiOn OF the black people in this country
from the state Of bondage in which they arc
held, is u striking evidence of the bcncyolenco
of your heart. shall be happy to join you
IN 80 laudahle work; but will defer going
into II detail of the business till | have the
pleasure Of seeing you.-pot U'nj PIP. Ala, as.
To Robert Morris.
Mourn VERNON, l2M <prii 1886.
DEAR SIR; give you tho trouble of this
letter at tho instance of Mr.. Daily, of Alex.
= In the original manuscript, George Washington :
name was written at the bottom Of every page.
AT meeting OF tho General Officers, previously
10 The arrival oi the committee from Congress in
camp, IL was unanimously resolved that it was not
tNpsdient to enlist slave In thc new army and. by n
fargo majority, negroes Of every description were ca
p!uded from enlistment. When tho subject was re-.
l-ucd to the committee in conference this decision
was cOnGncd In regard to free negroes however
the resolve was not adhered to-, and probably for
tho reason here mentioned by General Washington
Many black soldiers were In the service during NIL