The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-04-14
Opinions upon Slavery.

Below will be found extracts from the
opinions of the fathers of this country,
upon Sc the peculiar institution" but
nothing that can be construed into re-
eognition of principles that are to-day
regarded as tests of patriotism and de-
mocracy. On the contrary, if those pat
riots had lived in these days. and had
uttered such sentiments, they would be
denounced as woolly heads" dis
unionists," :" fanatics" and by Missou-
rians as abolitionists.''
GEORGE WAsHINGToN.-"The benev-
olence of your heart, my dear Marquis,
is so conspicuous on all occasions, that l
never wonder at fresh proofs of it; but
your late purchase of an estate in the
colony of Cayenne, with the view of
emancipating the slaves, is generous
proof of your humanity. Would to God
a like spirit might diffuse itself generally
into the minds of the people in this coun-
try. Letter to Lafayette.
JOHN ADAMS Great is truth-great
is liberty; great is humanity and they
must and will prevail"
LAFAYETTE.-" While / am now in
dulging in my views of American pros
poets and American liberty, it is morti-
flying to be told that in every country a
large portion of the people are slaves
1t is a dark spot on the face of the ma
ton. Such state of things cannot al
ways exist.
THOMAS JEFFERsoN.-"I tremble for
my country when ]. reflect that God is
just; that his justice cannot sleep for
ever; that, considering numbers, nature,
and natural means only, revolution in
the wheel of fortune, an exchange of sit
uation, is among possible events. that it
may become probable by supernatural
interference The Almighty has no at
tribute which can take sides with us in
this contest
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.-"I earnestly
entreat your serious attention TO the sub
ject of slavery /; that you will be pleased
to countenance the restoration of liberty
to those unhappy men, who, alone in this
land of freedom, are degraded to perpet-
ual bondage, and who, amidst the gem
eral joy of. surrounding freemen, are
groaning in servile subjection, that yeu
viii devise means for removing this in
consistency from the character of the
American people.
BENJAMIN RUsH.-" The cruel mas
ter's wealth cannot make him happy.
The sufferings of a single hour in the
world of misery for which he is prepar-
ing himself will oyerbalance all the plea
sures he ever enjoyed in this life, and for
every act of unnecessary severity he in
fiicts on his slaves he shall suffer tenfold
in the world to come"
JAMES MuERoE.-e We have found
that this evil has preyed upon the very
vitals of the Union, and has been preiu-
diciar to all the States In which it has ex-
isted."
WARREN MIFF1N.-" / profess freely,
and am willing my profession were known
over the world, that ] feel the calls of
humanity as strong towards the African
In America as an American In Algiers.
both being my brethren especially as I
am informed the Algerine treats his slave
with more humanity and / believe the
sin of oppression on the part of the Amer
lean is the greatest in the sight Of the
Father of mankind" /"
WILLIAM EATON" Truth and justice
demand from me the confession that the
Christian slaves among the barbarians of
Africa are treated with more humanity
than the African slaves among protesting
Christians of civilized America