On January 24, 1801, President John Adams responded to two abolitionists who had sent him an anti-slavery pamphlet by Quaker reformer Warner Mifflin (1745–1798). In the letter, Adams expresses his views on slavery, the dangers posed by abolitionists (who at the time were mostly Quakers and unpopular religious radicals), and emancipation. Of slavery Adams writes, "my opinion against it has always been known," noting that he has "always employed freemen both as Domisticks and Labourers, and never in my Life did I own a Slave." Adams, despite being opposed to slavery, did not support abolitionism except if it was done in a "gradual" way with "much caution and Circumspection." Adams dismisses radical abolitionist measures as "produc[ing] greater violations of Justice and Humanity, than the continuance of the practice" of slavery itself. Adams also wrongly asserts that "the practice of Slavery is fast diminishing." Rather than declining, slavery was growing in America. The 1790 census counted almost 700,000 slaves. According to the census of 1800, the year before Adams wrote this letter, that number had grown to almost 900,000. In closing, Adams writes that he does "wish you Success in your benevolent Endeavors to relieve the distress of our fellow Creatures, and Shall always be ready to cooperate with you, as far as my means and Opportunities can reasonably be expected to extend." Author – John Adams: 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 and my practice has been so conformable to my sentiment that I have always employed freemen both as Domisticks and Labourers, and never in my Life did I own a Slave. The Abolition of Slavery must be gradual and accomplished with much caution and Circumspection. Violent means and measures 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 Exertions which would probably excite Insurrections among the Blacks to rise against their Masters and imbrue their hands in innocent blood. There are many
On January 24, 1801, President John Adams responded to two abolitionists who had sent him an anti-slavery pamphlet by Quaker reformer Warner Mifflin (1745–1798). In the letter, Adams expresses his views on slavery, the dangers posed by abolitionists (who at the time were mostly Quakers and unpopular religious radicals), and emancipation. Of slavery Adams writes, "my opinion against it has always been known," noting that he has "always employed freemen both as Domisticks and Labourers, and never in my Life did I own a Slave." Adams, despite being opposed to slavery, did not support abolitionism except if it was done in a "gradual" way with "much caution and Circumspection." Adams dismisses radical abolitionist measures as "produc[ing] greater violations of Justice and Humanity, than the continuance of the practice" of slavery itself. Adams also wrongly asserts that "the practice of Slavery is fast diminishing." Rather than declining, slavery was growing in America. The 1790 census counted almost 700,000 slaves. According to the census of 1800, the year before Adams wrote this letter, that number had grown to almost 900,000. In closing, Adams writes that he does "wish you Success in your benevolent Endeavors to relieve the distress of our fellow Creatures, and Shall always be ready to cooperate with you, as far as my means and Opportunities can reasonably be expected to extend." Author – John Adams: 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 and my practice has been so conformable to my sentiment that I have always employed freemen both as Domisticks and Labourers, and never in my Life did I own a Slave. The Abolition of Slavery must be gradual and accomplished with much caution and Circumspection. Violent means and measures 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 Exertions which would probably excite Insurrections among the Blacks to rise against their Masters and imbrue their hands in innocent blood. There are many
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Using the John Adams on Slavery primary source document in the module: Do you think John Adams liked or approved of the Cotton Kingdom? What evidence do we have of this?
Transcribed Image Text:700,000 slaves. According to the census of 1800, the
year before Adams wrote this letter, that number had
grown to almost 900,000. In closing, Adams writes that
he does "wish you Success in your benevolent
Endeavors to relieve the distress of our fellow Creatures,
and Shall always be ready to cooperate with you, as far
as my means and Opportunities can reasonably be
expected to extend."
Author – John Adams:
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 and my practice has been so conformable to
my sentiment that I have always employed freemen both
as Domisticks and Labourers, and never in my Life did I
own a Slave. The Abolition of Slavery must be gradual
and accomplished with much caution and
Circumspection. Violent means and measures 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
Exertions which would probably excite Insurrections
among the Blacks to rise against their Masters and
imbrue 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, more immediately than
the oppression of the blacks. That Sacred regard to Truth
in which you and I were educated, and which is certainly
taught and enjoined from on high, Seems to be vanishing
from among Us. A general Relaxation of Education and
Government. A general Debauchery as well as
dissipation, produced by pestilential philosophical
Principles of Epicurus infinitely more than by Shews and
theatrical Entertainment. These are in my opinion more
serious and threatening Evils, than even the slavery of
the Blacks, hateful as that is. I might even add that I have
been informed, that the condition, of the common Sort 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.
![On January 24, 1801, President John Adams responded
to two abolitionists who had sent him an anti-slavery
pamphlet by Quaker reformer Warner Mifflin
(1745–1798). In the letter, Adams expresses his views on
slavery, the dangers posed by abolitionists (who at the
time were mostly Quakers and unpopular religious
radicals), and emancipation. Of slavery Adams writes,
"my opinion against it has always been known," noting
that he has "always employed freemen both as
Domisticks and Labourers, and never in my Life did I own
a Slave." Adams, despite being opposed to slavery, did
not support abolitionism except if it was done in a
"gradual" way with "much caution and Circumspection."
Adams dismisses radical abolitionist measures as
"produc[ing] greater violations of Justice and Humanity,
than the continuance of the practice" of slavery itself.
Adams also wrongly asserts that "the practice of Slavery
is fast diminishing." Rather than declining, slavery was
growing in America. The 1790 census counted almost
700,000 slaves. According to the census of 1800, the
year before Adams wrote this letter, that number had
grown to almost 900,000. In closing, Adams writes that
he does "wish you Success in your benevolent
Endeavors to relieve the distress of our fellow Creatures,
and Shall always be ready to cooperate with you, as far
as my means and Opportunities can reasonably be
expected to extend."
Author – John Adams:
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 and my practice has been so conformable to
my sentiment that I have always employed freemen both
as Domisticks and Labourers, and never in my Life did I
own a Slave. The Abolition of Slavery must be gradual
and accomplished with much caution and
Circumspection. Violent means and measures 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
Exertions which would probably excite Insurrections
among the Blacks to rise against their Masters and
imbrue their hands in innocent blood. There are many
other Evils in our Counuy whichalre growing, (whereas](/v2/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.bartleby.com%2Fqna-images%2Fquestion%2Fb22c1114-74ad-43a8-9406-1e10012a6a47%2F898f17a3-06cb-4b06-baa0-41b631340bbc%2Fveqrgjg_processed.jpeg&w=3840&q=75)
Transcribed Image Text:On January 24, 1801, President John Adams responded
to two abolitionists who had sent him an anti-slavery
pamphlet by Quaker reformer Warner Mifflin
(1745–1798). In the letter, Adams expresses his views on
slavery, the dangers posed by abolitionists (who at the
time were mostly Quakers and unpopular religious
radicals), and emancipation. Of slavery Adams writes,
"my opinion against it has always been known," noting
that he has "always employed freemen both as
Domisticks and Labourers, and never in my Life did I own
a Slave." Adams, despite being opposed to slavery, did
not support abolitionism except if it was done in a
"gradual" way with "much caution and Circumspection."
Adams dismisses radical abolitionist measures as
"produc[ing] greater violations of Justice and Humanity,
than the continuance of the practice" of slavery itself.
Adams also wrongly asserts that "the practice of Slavery
is fast diminishing." Rather than declining, slavery was
growing in America. The 1790 census counted almost
700,000 slaves. According to the census of 1800, the
year before Adams wrote this letter, that number had
grown to almost 900,000. In closing, Adams writes that
he does "wish you Success in your benevolent
Endeavors to relieve the distress of our fellow Creatures,
and Shall always be ready to cooperate with you, as far
as my means and Opportunities can reasonably be
expected to extend."
Author – John Adams:
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 and my practice has been so conformable to
my sentiment that I have always employed freemen both
as Domisticks and Labourers, and never in my Life did I
own a Slave. The Abolition of Slavery must be gradual
and accomplished with much caution and
Circumspection. Violent means and measures 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
Exertions which would probably excite Insurrections
among the Blacks to rise against their Masters and
imbrue their hands in innocent blood. There are many
other Evils in our Counuy whichalre growing, (whereas
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