Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-04-03

ganization and misfortune of his clpistercd
life. But that he should suppress one o
the most striking features of Washington
splendid character, almost universally
known among his countrymen, and univer-
sally honored wherever known that he
should cover and hide up with flowers OF
rhetoric and profusely displayed scholar
ship, Washington's aversion to Slavery and
deep desire to sec terminated the bondage
of the African race in America, is a wrong,
and conscious and wilful wrong.
The record of the liberal sentiments of
the Father of his Country, is ample
When Lafayette purchased an estate IN
Cayenne with the view of freeing the
Slaves upon it, Washington thus wrote to
him: "Your late purchase is a generous
and noble proof of your humanity. Would
to God n like spirit might dilluse itself gen.
orally in the minds of the people OF this
country"
When the Lady Washington's favorite
| maid 'Oney' ran away to one of the New
| England States, the General was desired by
| his wife to advertise her and offer reward
| for her recovery. lie refused, saying "it
would appear finely for me to advertise IA
runaway Slave"
In letter to u friend he thus wrote -
~ never mean, unlesS some particular clrcun-
stance should compel me to it, to possess another
slave by purchase; it being among my first wishes
to Pi"u adopted by which slavery in this
country may be abolished by law
Writing about the recapturc of slave
who ran away, he said -
81 hope it will not be conceived from these oh.
servations that it is my wish to hold the unhappy
people who are the subject of this letter in slavery
l can only say there is not man living who
wishes more sincerely than do to sec q plan
adopted for the abolition of it,"
The limited space at our disposal fails us
to make a complete exposition from Wash
ington's life and writings of that hatred OF
Human Slavery and earnest desire for the
emancipation Of the bondmen in the Rcpub-
lie, which Mr.. Everett was persuaded by
his fears of Southern dsapproval, to sup.
press and cover over in his sketch Of the
great American man. But Il single clause
OF his last will and testament will testify
to the completeness and mprchensivencss
of bis love OF Man and of Human Freedom -
and to the incompleteness and iulsity of the
portraiture of the Father of his Country,
recently lifted up for admiration before an
Albany audience
"upon the decease ofmy wife, it is my will and
desire that all the SLAVES whOm h0h IN my opn
righ shall receive thar freedom. To emancipate
them during her lie would, though earnestly
wished by me, be attended by such insuperable
difficulties, on account of their intcrmixture by
marriage with the dover negroes, as to excite the
most painful sensations, if not disagrecable con-
sequences to the latter while both in the
pancy of the same proprietor, il not being in my
power under the tenure by which the dover ne
groes are held, to manumit them. And whereas,
umong those who will receive freedom according
to this devise, there may be some who, from old
age and bodily intrmities, and others who, ON ac-
count Of their infancy will be unable to support
themselves, it is my desire that all who come un-
der the first and second description shall be COM
fortably clothed and fed by my heirs while they
live; and that such Of the latter descriptions
have no parents living, or if living, unwilling
to provide for them, shall be bound by the court
until they arrive at the age of twenty five years
The negroes thus bound, are to be taught to read
and write, and to be brought up to some useful
occupation. And do hereby .oismniV to5btd The
sale or frdnSporfdtiqp of n. Common '".nh. "f
any slave may die possessed of 4ni'r any pre-
IsHSe trhlttptr.'