dear son, I abhor slavery. I was born in a country
where slavery had been established by British
kings and parliaments, as well as hy the laws of
that country ages before my existence. I found
the Christian religion and slavery growing under
the same authority and cultivation. I nevertheless
disliked it. In former days there was no combating the prejudices of men supported by inter-
est; the day I hope is approaching when, from
principles of gratitude as well as justice, every man
will strive to be foremost in showing his readiness
to comply with the golden rule."[1]
The first draft of the Declaration of Independence harangued King George III of Britain for the presence of slavery in the United States:
"He has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him; captivating and carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere, or to incur miserable death in their transportation thither. This piratical warfare, the opprobrium of Infidel powers, is the warfare of the Christian king of Great Britain. Determined to keep open market where men should be bought and sold, he has prostituted his negative for suppressing every
- ↑ George Livermore, Opinions of the Founders of the Republic on Negroes as Slaves, as Citizens, and as Soldiers, Boston, 1862, p. 61.
