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Primary source: A Whig Freeholder to the Assembly of Pennsylvania, letter, 1780.
Caption: Pennsylvania, like many of the Northern states, established gradual emancipation.
I have seen, with great pleasure and satisfaction, the act for the gradual abolition of slavery in this State, printed in the Gazette of the 29th of December of last, for the consideration of the public . . .
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It has often happened in free countries, whilst the people have in other instances manifested the most generous zeal for liberty, they have refused the smallest portion of it to their slaves; so strange an inconsistency there is in human nature, to love and hate liberty at the same time. How different are the sentiments of the legislature of this State, as expressed in the preamble to this act: "We conceive it is our duty, and we rejoice that it is in our power, to extend a portion of that freedom to others which hath been extended to us, and a release from that state of thraldom to which we ourselves were tyrannically doomed, and from which we have now every prospect of being delivered."
I have read over. . the act with an eye to the policy of them, and can perceive it defective but in one point; which is, that in pursuance of this act, no person coming to reside in this State, after the time for entering the names of the slaves now in this State shall be expired, can bring with him his slaves to serve him. . . .
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. . . I would humbly propose that a proviso be enacted in the said act to this effect, viz. "Provided nevertheless, that nothing in this act shall be construed to prevent any person or persons coming to reside in this State with their slaves, from enjoying the benefit of the labour of such slaves. . . . "
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A Whig Freeholder to the Assembly of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Gazette, no. 2589 (26 January 1780).
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