George Washington: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:26, 13 August 2005

Revision as of 13:22, 14 August 2005

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===Washington and [[slavery]]===

Washington owned slaves throughout his adult life, as did most of his peers in the Virginia [[plantation]] aristocracy. He was noteworthy, however, for the humane treatment of his slaves and for his growing unease with the "[[peculiar institution]]." Historian [[Roger Bruns]] has written, "As he grew older, he became increasingly aware that it was immoral and unjust. Long before the Revolution, Washington had taken the unusual position of refusing to sell any of his slaves or to allow slave families to be separated." After the Revolution, Washington told an English friend, "I clearly foresee that nothing but the rooting out of slavery can perpetuate the existence of our [Federal] union by consolidating it on a common bond of principle." He wrote to his friend [[John Francis Mercer]] in [[1786]], "I never mean... to possess another slave by purchase; it being among my first wishes to see some plan adopted, by which slavery in this country may be abolished by slow, sure, &and imperceptible degrees." Ten years later, he wrote to [[Robert Morris]], "There is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do to see some plan adopted for the gradual [[abolition]]" of slavery.

As President, Washington was mindful of the risk of splitting apart the young [[republic]] over the question of slavery (as in fact happened in [[1861]]). He did not advocate the abolition of slavery while in office, but did sign legislation enforcing the prohibition of slavery in the [[Northwest Territory]], writing to his good friend the [[Marquis de la Fayette]] that he considered it a wise measure.