, 1881-02-27

be no longer open to the accusation OF In
difference to the interests Of the school
system. -----
WASHINGTON AS 4 SLAVEH0LDER.
In m editorial article upon the anniversary
of Washington's birthday the New York
Eueui1,g Post prints letter from Edward
.Rushton to zen. Washington, which proba-
bly, has been seen by very few Americans
The letter was written from Liverpool In
1871, about the time that Washington was
ending his second Presidential term. The
writer was a prominent phiianthoplst Of his
time, and had been great admirer Of WASH
ington, as well as all enthusiastic defender OF
The American Revolution. The following
extract from the letter contains its salient
points:
1t Is not to tho Com1nsnder-in- Chief Of the
American forces. nor to the President OF me
United States. that have MuGht to address: NY
business is with George Washington, OF Mount
Vernon in Virgn.-a man wh9 a., notwl5nstItl 'ntto
ins his hatred OF oppression and ms raens ioSe ~,
feI!ow-besngs la state at slavery. Yes, you
who conquered under the bMnners or freedon.
you who ire now the First Magistrate Of free
That Liverpool merchant should endeaEor 70
enrich himself by such Il business Is not 4 mat,
sn 1es o. strog caanore S red oi VINO
If tho British forces had succeeded IN the East
cru States, would have retired with few
e to wssesn Sgs to was9ese s'sf
huve enjoyed that blessing without which
paradise would be uagat w9rthless l. ,t ,;th Hhu
ont Its churms.-that you, l say, Bhoulss con-
tinuc to Ue slAvehpl<ier, proprietor Of nunlan
esh and blood crGates IN "my n OF your # a
been suid BY some of your .nDoloHisss tnat your
feelings are initnical to slavery, and that you
from motives OF policy. The only true policy is
Justice; and he who regards the consequences OF
an act rather than the Justice of IT gives no very
exalted proof Uf tile greatness or his cnaracter.
:. OF all the shareholders under heaven,
those OF tho United States appear to me most
for man s @ es SO c m h,n
who prcaches chastity. yet lives BY the violation
your li' saveholdins gentry following in favor Of
democracy.
| This letter was sent back unanswered, and
| it was the proper course to take with it, for,
| however honest Rushton may have been IN
| lis suggestions, it was in one sense all Ill
! solent letter, especially when it is considered
as addressed to the chief executive officer OF
| the National Government from the subject of
| q Government which introduced the 1nstltu-
tion Of slavery into this country, which was
engaged in the slave business Itself, and
| which did not abolish slavery in the west
| Indies until quarter of a century after this
| time And, furthermore, it is to be taken
| into account that the Colonists always dis
| claimed all responsibility for slavery. It was
planted in their mistby the English Govern
ment, and upon that Government they right
| ly fastened the responsibility. The Post
in commenting upon the Rushton letter.
claims that it does not dim "the
lustre of Washington's fame, tha-, born
yirginian gentleman and having inherited
slaves from revcren parents, he was slave
holder, and that the dangers that envfroned
the nascent State were too many and too
grave to justify him, whatever his con71c-
ton, in undertaking changes that might easl-
| ly have given birth to fresh and desiruct-
| IKE revolution. Slaves were in New 1ork
| and New England then as well Us in Virginia,
and the country was exhausted with the out
Law of bloou and treasurc.'' These comments
are we'll enough, so far as they 20, but the
| Post does not present the matter in its true
ght.especially when it says: 't 1t seems truly
strange anomaly that one who should have
| refused. to be constitutional monarch over
white men was willing to be an
| absolute ruler over black men," Washing
ton was in no sense an absolute
ruler of his slaves. His attitude towards
them was almost parental His treatment OF
them was exceptionally kind and humane. lie
! even compensated them with gratutles Tor
services performed. Instead Of fearing hinl
or hating him, they were closely attached to
him. Even after his death, which was the
signal for their freedom, they still hung
about the estate, unwilling to leave it, until
it was finally broken up. Instead of being
an absolute ruler Of them, lie could not have
driven them out Of his service 1nstead OF
being ain absolute ruler, he was the great
emancipation. At the very time the Rushton
letter was written he had made his will. III
which it was stipulated that after his death
they should be free In this regard he stood
in striking contrast to other shareholders.
His slaves were slaves only in name during
his life; after his death they were freenen.
It may be fairly assumed, therefore, that he
was incensed, and fairly so, at the reception
of the letter, and therefore returned it un-
| answered.
,.,...-eF,,t oorocrfc which, Than-