The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-10-12

From Mrs Krklands Memoirs Of Washington
Washington on Slavery.

From Mrs klrkand's Memoirs OF Washington.
Washington on Slavery.
Washington was n slOvehOlder, as he was
q planter, bv birth, education and habit
and no saw and fult,--for no was a
man in his private feelings, all
tho difficulties which must ariso from The
state Of things between tho South and
North. That Washing.
ton, Jefferson, and others of our Revolution.
AIRY forofathcrs, foresaw aud dreaded tho
shape tho quost lion might finally assume. we
gather from expressions in their works. Mr..
Jefferson, in particular. expressed himself
with great warmth. saying that tho Almighty
had no attribute which could take part with |
slavery and that he trombled for his country |
when no reflected that God is just. Wash.
ington expressed his sentiments with no less
directness: Il nevor mean, unless some
particular circumstances should compel mo
to it. to possess another slave by purchase
it being among my first wishes 10 500 some
plan adopted by which slavery in this
country may DO abolished by law"
In another lottcr he says: Il hope il
will not DO conceived from these Obsorva.
tions," with respect to tho no capture of n
runaway slavo,) THAT it is my wish to hold
the unhappy people. who ate tho subject
of this iuitor, in slavery. l can only say.
there is not mao living who wishes more
sincerely than do to SEQ plan adopted
for tho abolition of il but there is only one
proper and utfectual mode by which it can
DO accomplished. aud that is by legislative
authority. and this, as FAR as my suffrage
will go, shall never bo wanting"
Aud again, in enuineratiUg tho reasons
Why the price o! land is higher in Penhsyl.
vanla than in MARYLAND aud Virginia. he
mentions that in Pennsylvania "there are
laws for tho gradual abolition Of slavery.
which neither Of the States above mentioned
have at present, but phich nothing is more
certain than that they must hare, and at a
period not remote"
Lafayette. having purchased an estate in
Cayenne, with tho intontlon of freeing tho
slaves on it, Washington wrote to him -
Your late purchase is a generous and noblo
proof Of your humanity. Would to God II
liku spirit might ditfuse tsolf generally in
the minds of tho poop'e Of this country !!
When Mrs Washington's maid Oney ran
away, Mrs. Washington desired the General
to advertise, offering q reward tor her. He
wholly declined with laugh (and. VIC doubt
not, u blush too,) saying il would appear
finely for him to DO advertising runa way
~
Washington nevor bcqueathed slave; but
in tho drawing up OF that admirable will,
which, as he said, il occupied many of his
leisure hours to digest. ho carefully pro.
vidod fer the emancipation of all over whom
no had any control.
Upon the decoase of my wife, it Is my
will and desire that nll the slaves whom
hold ia my owu right shall receive their
freedom. 10 emancipato hon during her
life would. though earnestly wished by me
bo attended with such insuperablc difficulties
on account OF thoir internixture by mar
riago with tho dover negroes, as to excite
\ the most painful sensations, il not disagree
ablo cousoq uences to the latter, while both
descriptions arc in tho occupancy of the
same proprietor; it not being in my power
, undor tho tenure by which tho dover ne
grOcs are held, to manumit them. And
. whereas among those who will receive free
, dom according to this devise. thore may b,
some who, from old age or bodily infirmitics
I and others who on account Of their infancy
will DO unable 10 support themselves, it il
a my will and dos ro that oil who como unde
t the first aud second descriptions, shall b,
. comfortably clothed and fod by my heir
. while thoy live; and that such of the latte
= description US have no parents living, or
4 living, unable or unwilling to provide 70
+ them, shall DO bound by tho court unit
= they arrive ut the age of twenty-five years
= Tho negroes thus bound arc to DO taught t.
). road and write, and to DO brought up I,
" Some useful occupation.
a.
@ And do hereby expressly forbid the sal
= or transportation out of the Common Il
II of any slave l may die possessed OF
:. under any pretonce whatever; and d
n moreover most pointcdly and most solemn
= enjoin it oh my executors hereafter nance
,t or tho survivors Of them, to see that th
D. clause respecting slaves and every pal
IS thereof DO relgiously fulfilled at the epoc
% ut which it is directed to take place, withor
r, evasion, neglect or delay after tho croI
" which may then bo on the ground
q harvested. particularly as il respects Il,
c aged aud Lfirn (; seeing that a regular an
& permanent fund be established Cor tbe
l. support, as long us tbore arc subjects RI
auiring it not trusting to the uncortai
provision TO bo made by individuals"
f A Man whose Heart can be Seen.
,fl Vionna has lately been visited by phs
!. nOmenOn in human nature. Here is a ma
:, who has his heart laid bare for tho inspe,
~ tiou of his follow men. The breast tbon
&c and ribs. owing to a strange malformatiol
u not arching over, as usual, the central Orga
oI OF tho body, the thin covering of the ski
tx allows tho heart to be easily dlscernoi in il
70 contiguous stages of action. So slight
ii tho texture of tho skin, that the ebb IN
lar contraction OF the chambers AZ
Il - l. -