The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1860-09-20

.sgs - Waahlngtoa m slavery
fVfen Mrs. KirkIsnd's Memoirs Of Washington,l
Washington was stakeholder, AZ he
wss planter, by birth, education aud
habit; aud he not only saw but felt
for he was southern man 10 his private
feelings-ali the difficulties which must
arise from the state Of things between
South and North. \ - That
Washington, Jefferson, aud others of our
revolutionary fathers, foresaw AMI dread
ed the shape the question might finally
assume, We gather from expressions iu
their orks. Mr.. Jefferson, in particular,
expressed himself with great warmth,
saying that the Almighty had no nttri-
butte which could take part with slavery
and that he tremblcd for his country when
he reflected that God is just. Washing
ton expressed his sentiments with no less
directucss: 81 never mean, unless
some particular circumstances should
compel me to it, to possess another slave
by purchase; it being among my frs:
wishes to see some plan adopted by which
slavery in this country may be abolished
BY law"
In another letter he says: II hope it
will not be conceived from these observa-
lions, with respect to the recapture Of
runaway slave,) "that il is my wish to
hold the unhappy people who are the sub.
ject Vi this letter ia slavery. can only
say there is not man living who wishes
more sincerely than l do to sec plan
adopted for the abolition Of it; but there
is only one proper and chectual mode by
which it eau be accomplished, and that is
by legislative authority, and this, as far
as my suffrage will 60, sLa!l never te
wanting"
And again, in enumerating the reasons
Why TIE price Of land is higher in Penn
sylyauia than in Mar, lnnd and Virginia,
he mentions that in Pennsylvania "there
are laws for the gradual abolition of slav.
cry, which neither of the two States
.bove mentioned have a, present, but
,chieh nothing Is NOR. certain than that
they must hare, anil at q period not re-
mote"
Lafayette having purchased an estate
in Cayenne, with the Intention OF free
ing the slaves on it, Washington wrote
to him: Your late purchase is gen.
creous and noble proof Of your humanity.
Would to God like spirit would dltfuse
itself generally in the minds Of the people
Of this country !"
When Mrs. Washington's maid, Oney
ran away, Mrs. w desired the General
to advertise, Offering reward for her
He wholly declined with laugh (and
We doubt not, blush too.) spying it
would appear finely for him to be adver
tising runaway slave.
It's we'll known that Washington new.
er bequea.hed slave; but in the draw
ing up of tina. admirable will; which, as
he said, it occupied many OF his leisure
hours o digest, he carefully provided for
the emancipation Of all over whom he had
any control.
Upon tn. dcccasc Of my wife, it is
my viii and desire that all the slaves
whom hold in my our" riyu shall re-
ceive their freedom. To emauc.pate them
during her life would though earnestly
wished by me, be attended with such ill.,
s1pcrable difficulties on account Of their
intcrmixturc BY marriage with the dover
negroes, as to excite the most painful!
sensations, if not disagreeable conscquen.
ces to the latter, While both descriptions
are in the occupancy of the same propri-
ctor it not being in my power, under
the tenure by which the dover negroes
are held, to manumit them. And where
IS among those who will receive freedom /
according to this devise, there mar be
some who, from old age or bodily inGr,n-
ities, and others who Oh account Of their
infancy, will be unable to support them
selves, it is my will aud desire that all
who come under the frs. aud second de.
ser ptions, shall be comfortably clothed .
aud fed by my heirs while they live ; and
that such of the latter description as have
no parents living, or if living, uuabe or
unwilling to provide for them, shall be
bound by the court until they arrive at
the age of twenty five years. The he.
groes thus bound are to be taught 40 read
and write, and to be brought up to somv
useful occupation. And
10 ne'eoy expressly ioloia the sa!e or
out Of the commonwealth
Of any slave l may die possessed Of, un-
der any pretense whatever. And do
moreover, most puin,edly and most sol
empl y enjoin it on my executors hereafter
named, or the survivors Of them, TO see
that this clause respecting slaves and ev-
cry part thereof be reIig'ous!y fulfilled at
the epoch at which it is directed to take
place, without evasion, neglect or delay
after the crops which may then be on the
ground be harvested, particularly as it
respects the aged and .nhrn seeing that
q regular and permanent fund be es.ab
iished tor their support, as long as there
are subjects requiring It 10: trusting to
the uncertain provision to be made by in.
diyiduals.'