The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-10-27
WASHINGTON ON SLAVERY.

10 ths Edit0r OF lR ". 4. lri6tine.
SIR: In compliance with your request,
am happy 10 communicate such facts as vii
rescue your journal from The charge mad,
against il, Of" having forged an ex,rac
nj relation TO Slavery, purporiing to be Ia
ken from one Of Washington's letters Il
Tobias Lear. Since my remarks, published
in THE TRIBUNE Of the I'd Of September
concerning that extract, j, has been ascer
taiaed by an inspection Of the original ieiiel
now in the possession OF Mrs. Lear, that the
passage in question is not contained IN iha
letter nor anything else touching Slavery
In this particular, therefore, the transcript
in the Leiier-Book, from which printed
agrees with the original. The extract il
not found in either OF them.
have likewise procured and examined
the collection OF copies Of letters from Wash
ington TO Lear, which formerly belonged Il
his son. In this collection is a copy OF the
letter referred TO above, and il contains The
passage on Slavery in precisely the same
language as printed in THE TRIBUNE o.
Jaly 9Th. II occurs in The body OF the let
ter, without any in,imanon that il did make
a part Of the original from which the copy
is presumed 10 have been taken. How i,
came there is mystery hard 10 explain
especially as the copies we're taken long
ago, and apparently for private use, and
with no other object than that of having
duplicates Of letters that were interesting lC
the family.
But however this mystery may be clear
ed up, il would scarcely have been s,rang,
* the sentence inierpolaied ia the copy hat
come from Washiug,on's pen. Similar idea'
are advanced in other letters, as two o
three examples will show. In a letter Il
Robert Morris, he writes:
al hope Il will no, be conceived from
these observations that il is my wish Il
hold these unhappy people who are thu
subject Of this letter in Slavery. can onl!
say, TIA, there is not man living, VIII
wishes more sincerely than do 10 see
plan adopted for the abolition Of il; bu
there is only one proper and effectual mode
BY which il can be accomplished, and tina
is by Legislative authority and this as IA
asmy suffrage will go shall never be want
Ia gu
Washington's Writings, Vol. IT., p. l59
Again, in letter TO Lafayette:
"The benevolence of your heart, my
dear Marquis is so conspicuous upon al
occasions, that never wonder at any fresl
proofs Of il; bu, your late purchase Of al
estate in the Colony Of Cayenne, with view
OF emancipaiing the slaves on il, is gen
erous and noble proof Of your humanity
Would 10 God like spirit might difust
itself generally into the minds OF the people
OF this country. To sc
the slaves ailoai al once would, really be-
iicve, be productive Of much Inconvenience
and mischief; bet by degrees il certainly
might, and assuredly ought 10 be effected
and tina, too by Legislative authority
Ip. 1863.
Again he writes TO John F. Mercer:
al never mean, unless some particular
circumstances should compel me 10 it, 10
possess another slave by purchase, il being
among my frs, wishes 10 see some plan
adopted by which Slavery in this country
may be abolished by law"
Up. l59.
This language is sufficiently explicit in
regard TO Washington's sentiments on the
subjec, Of Slavery. He deprecated the evil
and desired emancipation, bu, he wished j,
TO be brough, about by legislative action,
upon what he considered siric, principles
ofjus,ice 10 all parties, in such a manner as
10 make il the more effectual and the more
complete. In fact, his will, by which he
emancipa,ed his own slaves, is practical
commentary upon these sentiments, anC
proves his consistency as we'll as his hu
mani,y.
Your obedient servant,
JARED SPARKS.
Cambridge, Oct. 1854.