"He has nevertheless (must I say it?) a numerous crowd of slaves;
but they are treated with the greatest humanity,--well fed, well
clothed, and kept to moderate labor; they bless God without
ceasing for having given them so good a master. It is a task
worthy of a soul so elevated, so pure, and so disinterested, to
begin the revolution in Virginia, to prepare the way for _the
emancipation of the negroes. This great man declared to me that
he rejoiced at what was doing in other States on this subject,
that he sincerely desired the extension of it in his own country_;
but he did not dissemble that there were still many obstacles to
be overcome,--that it was dangerous to strike too vigorously at
a prejudice which had begun to diminish,--that time, patience,
and information would not fail to vanquish it. Almost all the
Virginians, added he, believe that the liberty of the blacks cannot
soon become general. _This is the reason why they wish not to form
a society_, which may give dangerous ideas to their slaves. There
is another obstacle: the great plantations, of which the State is
composed, render it necessary for men to live so dispersed, _that
frequent meetings of a society would be difficult_.
"I replied, that the Virginians were in an error,--that, evidently,
sooner or later, the negroes would obtain their liberty everywhere.
It is, then, for the interest of your countrymen to prepare the way
to such a revolution, by endeavoring to reconcile the restitution
of the rights of the blacks with the interest of the whites. _The
means necessary to be taken to this effect can only be the work of
a SOCIETY_; and it is worthy the Saviour of America to put himself
at their head, and to open the door of liberty to three hundred
thousand unhappy beings of his own State. _He told me that he
desired the formation of a SOCIETY, and that he would second it_;
but that he did not think the moment favorable."--_Conversation
with Washington, in the New Travels of Brissot de Warville in the
United States in 1788, published in 1791, and translated in 1792._
* * * * *
"I can only say, that there is not a man living who wishes more
sincerely than I do to see a plan adopted for the abolition of
it [Slavery]; but there is only one proper and effectual mode
by which it can be accomplished, and that is by _legislative
authority; and this, as far as my suffrage will go, shall never be
wanting_."--_Letter of Washington to Robert Morris, April 12, 1786._
* * * * *
"The benevolence of your heart, my dear Marquis, is so conspicuous
upon all occasions, that I never wonder at any fresh proofs of
it; but your late purchase of an estate in the Colony of Cayenne,
_with a view of emancipating the slaves on it_, is a generous
and noble proof of your humanity. _Would to God a like spirit
might diffuse itself generally into the minds of the people of
this country!_ But I despair of seeing it. Some petitions were
presented to the Assembly, at its last session, for the abolition
of Slavery; but they could scarcely obtain a reading. To set the
slaves afloat at once would, I really believe, be productive of
much inconvenience and mischief; _but by degrees it certainly might
and assuredly ought to be effected, and that, too, by legislative
authority_."--_Letter of Washington to Lafayette, May 10, 1786._
"I never mean, unless some particular circumstances should compel
me to it, 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 law_."--_Letter of Washington to John
F. Mercer, September 9, 1786._
* * * * *
"From what I have said, you will perceive that the present prices
of lands in Pennsylvania are higher than they are in Maryland and
Virginia, although they are not of superior quality, ... [among
other reasons] because there are _laws here for the gradual
abolition of Slavery_, which neither of the two States above
mentioned have at present, _but which nothing is more certain than
that they must have, and at a period not remote_."--_Letter of
Washington to Sir John Sinclair, December 11, 1796._
* * * * *
"Upon the decease of my wife, it is my will and desire that
all the slaves whom I hold in my own right shall receive their
freedom. To emancipate them during her life would, though earnestly
wished by me, be attended with such insuperable difficulties, on
account of their inter-mixture by marriage with the dower negroes,
as to excite the most painful sensations, if not disagreeable
consequences to the latter, while both descriptions are in the
occupancy of the same proprietor; it not being in my power, under
the tenure by which the dower negroes are held, to manumit them....
_And I do, moreover, most pointedly and most solemnly enjoin it
upon my executors hereafter named, or the survivors of them, to
see that this clause respecting slaves, and every part thereof,
be religiously 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 are harvested, particularly as it
respects the aged and infirm; seeing that a regular and permanent
fund be established for their support, as long as there are
subjects requiring it; not trusting to the uncertain provision to
be made by individuals."--_Washington's Will, dated July 9, 1790
[1799]_.