Category 2: Writings of Washington vol.

28 To Robert Morris

Washington had different views as a slave owner. His views were out of line in his
state because he treated his slaves far more kindly than the other masters from his
home state. Virginians treated their slaves harshly providing only bread, water, and
blows. He gradually changed into a person who decided to never again, buy or sell a
slave and held hopes for the eventual abolition of the institution. In my opinion,
what Washington is saying about slaves happiness should be deciding factor in
keeping them in chains; neither him or Martha could free his slaves by law. He
longed everyday. more and more to get clear of the ownership of slaves. I can
only imagine how horrible it must have felt to own slaves. Washington had no
choice because his father died at age 11 and left him 280 acre farm Washington was
willed 10 slaves. He then married and his young wife Martha was a wealthy planter
and she brought another 84 slaves. I guess this is why he treated them humanely.
In his letter from George Washington to his friend Robert Morris, Washington was
writing about a case in Philadelphia, a group of Quakers took it upon themselves to
free a mans slave, it was illegal during this time. He wrote about abolition, and
there was only one way it can be accomplished, and that is by Legislative authority.
He thought it was the way to effect the elimination of slavery was through the
legislature, which he hoped would set up a program of gradual emancipation, and
for which he would gladly give his vote.