He spoke out in 1777 against a bill to emancipate slaves in Massachusetts, saying that the issue was presently too divisive, and so the legislation should "sleep for a time."
1777年他发言反对一份在马萨诸塞解放奴隶的法案，说该项动议在当时太过招致分裂，所以这项议案应该“沉寂一段时间”。