Henry Laurens Quotes
You know, my dear son, I abhor slavery. I was born in a country where slavery had been established by British kings and parliaments, as well as by 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 interest; 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.
Our Founding Fathers were divided into three general views about slavery. There were abolitionists for whom slavery was abominable and should be eliminated—these were mostly in the Northern States but with a few Southerners. Then there was the opposite view held by most Southerners, that slavery was not only a natural and moral institution but it was an economic and social necessity. Last were those like Laurens, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Slave owners who grew up with slavery as a norm but came to see its evils and the complexity of change and reform in that area.
Henry Laurens, second president of the Continental Congress Letter to his son, Colonel John Laurens; Charleston, S.C., August 14, 1776
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
“Manumitting” means the freeing of slaves. See Quotation 643600 for Laurens’ view of slavery despite the fact that he was a substantial slave owner. He was willing to lose the money represented by the value of his slaves, but most slave owners self interest was to the contrary. One of the most interesting thing about this quotation is the fact that Laurens received so much opposition from his fellow South Carolinians and other Southerners despite the fact that only Laurens would lost money by freeing his slaves. Even slave owners who wanted to do the right thing and were willing to lost the money were under enormous social and political pressure not to free slaves.
Henry Laurens was an American merchant, slave trader, and rice planter from South Carolina who became a political leader during the Revolutionary War. A delegate to the Second Continental Congress, Laurens succeeded John Hancock as President of the Congress. He was a signatory to the Articles of Confederation and President of the Continental Congress when the Articles were passed on November 15, 1777.
