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John Adams to George Churchman and Jacob Lindley
Washington, D.C., January 24, 1801.Autograph letter signed, 2 pages + docket.Washington January 24, 1801FriendsI have received your Letter of the 17 of the 1. Mo. and thank you for communicating theLetter to me, of our friend Warner Mifflin. I have read both with pleasure, because I believethey proceeded from a Sense of Duty and a principle of Benevolence.Although I have never Sought popularity by any animated Speeches or inflammatory publications against the Slavery of the Blacks, my opinion against it has always been known andmy practice has been so conformable to my sentiment that I have always employed freemen bothas Domisticks and Labourers, and never in my Life did I own a Slave. The Abolition of Slaverymust be gradual and accomplished with much caution and Circumspection. Violent means andmeasures would produce greater violations of Justice and Humanity, than the continuance of the practice. Neither Mr. Mifflin nor yourselves, I presume would be willing to venture on Exertionswhich would probably excite Insurrections among the Blacks to rise against their Masters andimbrue their hands in innocent blood.There are many other Evils in our Country which are growing, (whereas the practice of slavery is fast diminishing,) and threaten to bring Punishment on our Land, moreimmediately than the oppression of the blacks. That Sacred regard to Truth in which you and Iwere educated, and which is certainly taught and enjoined from on high, Seems to be vanishingfrom among Us. A general Relaxation of Education and Government. A general Debauchery aswell as dissipation, produced by pestilential philosophical Principles of Epicurus infinitely morethan by Shews and theatrical Entertainment. These are in my opinion more serious andthreatening Evils, than even the slavery of the Blacks, hateful as that is.[
2
] I might even add that I have been informed, that the condition, of the commonSort of White People in some of the Southern states particularly Virginia, is more oppressed,degraded and miserable than that of the Negroes.These Vices and these Miseries deserve the serious and compassionate Consideration of Friends as well as the Slave Trade and the degraded State of the blacks.
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