Founding Brothers-Part Two

The Silence

In February 11, 1790 two Quaker delegates presented petitions calling for the immediate end to the slave trade. Benjamin Franklin endorsed this petition. This was relatively the only chance to end slavery before the exponential growth of births and more slaves made it much more difficult. The United States Constitution prohibited the abolishment until after 1808. This was why the southern states signed the constitution along with the Bill of Rights that guaranteed the rights of property to all citizens. The South also threatened in 1861 that if the slaves were free then they would secede from the union. The southern delegates gave two documents that supported slavery. John Page believed silence was the real danger because the slaves would hear that congress would do nothing to help them and then insurrections would start. However, the Declaration of Independence gave expression to the belief that the general emancipation of slaves was both imminent and inevitable. The American Revolution destroyed the foundation on which slavery rested because it was fought on the belief that all man was created equal. But, this didn't help but only gave people false optimism because they knew the slave trade was recognized as a criminal activity. The reality was that south of the Potomac slavery was woven in to the fabric of American society in ways that defied appeals to logic or morality. This is again a case of theory verses application. The theory was that the slave trade should end but, in application in was extremely difficult. It was embedded in the economics of the south. In addition Thomas Jefferson himself wrote "what is to be done the slaves when they are freed?" He expounded that there would always be a separation between whites and blacks because of the prejudices of the whites and the injuries in the past slave trade to the blacks. There were two major weaknesses of the antislavery arguments according to the Deep South. One, Slavery was not going to die a natural death proven by the 1790 census. Two the gradual emancipation plans of the northern were not effective models for the south because the North had only 10 percent of the slavery population. Two assumptions those who favored gradual emancipation was that slavery was a moral and economic problem that demanded a political solution. They thought that the owners could be compensated and that the slaves could be transported somewhere else. Both of these problems proved near impossible to solve. The cost was two high nor was the relocation anything but a validation for segregation. The slavery issue was the last one that Benjamin Franklin weighed in on. He submitted the petition that he had set aside at the constitutional convention. He wanted to see the end to slavery.

The Farewell

George Washington wrote a Farwell letter to the American people after two terms in office. In was a tenuous time because America had just fought a war against a king and yet all they knew was a quasi-king as George Washington's critics called him. Now he was stepping down and who would lead the country. But, Washington left very sound advice to America. He denounced excessive partisanship, most especially when it took the form of political parties pursuing a vested ideological agenda or sectional interest groups oblivious to the advantages of cooperation. We all know the problems with a two party system. He also advised American neutrality in foreign affairs. Washington was the supreme example of the leader who could be trusted with power because he was so ready to give it up. Washington believed in independence which was rooted in his commitment to control, over himself and over any and all events with the power to determine his fate. What a great example to all of us not to give up our freedom over any cause however noble it may be. It's remarkable that until 1940 and President Franklin D. Roosevelt Washington's voluntary surrender of the presidency after two terms was not broken. In 1951 with the passage of the 22^nd amendment the two term presidency or ten years was made law. The farewell address has three features. First, he wanted to demonstrate that he was still very much in charge, that his senility was not in question. Second he wanted to carve out a middle course in a moderate tone for the future of the country. Third, he wanted a chance to explain his own version of the American Revolution and his vision of the future of the country not only for the now but for posterity. Washington had a vision of American and he stated it thus;" If we are permitted to improve without interruption, the great advantages which nature and circumstances have placed within our reach, many years will not revolve before we may be ranked not only among the most respectable, but among the happiest people on earth." It is this vision that I value in Washington the most. It is this vision which helped him make the tough decisions such at Jay's treaty that upset many people but, turned out for the best for America. Jay's treaty with England required that they move their troops from the west and provided protection of America through the British Fleet. It postponed the war with England until America was economically and politically more capable of fighting one. But, it gave the trade with England precedence to other countries such as France. It was a repudiation of the Franco-American alliance of 1778. One message of the Farewell address was distinctly felt by Washington his fellow politicians such as Jefferson and Madison who were once on his side got involved in the party politics that Washington opposed. He thus preached the subordinating of sectional and ideological differences to large national purposes. Washington wanted a National University because he thought that it would bring camaraderie between young Americans that the war did for him. Washington was an American Zeus, Moses, and Cincinnatus all rolled into one. He knew his presence and the functions he had performed personally would leave such a void that he proposed congress increase federal powers after he left. Washington even advised the Indians to do as he was going to do go to his farm and retire their life of hunting and gathering. He left his slaves with not only freedom when he died but, with money to sustain them through the transition,Which speaks volumes about how he believed all men were created equal.