But that’s too radical

Fortunately for Civil War buffs, most founding fathers were hypocritical, bigoted, slaveowners. We know many of them, even some slaveowners, opposed slavery and wanted to abolish it. But …

It may be that the “buts” have done more to chart the course of history than any other word. But, they rationalized, prohibiting slavery was too radical at the time—another historyshaping phrase.

Too radical? Imagine a conversation between Abigail Adams, John’s wife, who, we are told, vehemently opposed slavery, and James Madison at the Constitutional Convention of 1787.

Abigail: How can you justify making it legal for one person to enslave another person?

James: Define person. Abigail: Really?

James: Are you suggesting that a black African or a savage Indian has the same standing as a person, as you say, as you and me? Would you allow your daughter to marry one? Would you welcome them to your dinner table?

Abigail: Yes.

James: We cannot grow cotton or tobacco without slaves. Our economy would suffer greatly without them. And no Southern state will join a union that frees its slaves.

Abigail: James, you can take all that and stick it where the sun don’t shine. Slavery is wrong! It is a vile, murderous thing perpetuated by vile, murderous people.

James: Your predilection to histrionics is why we can’t allow you to vote, Abigail. You must leave politics to men. We know what we are doing. We’ll settle the slavery matter in due course.

Did they ever.

HOWELL MEDDERS

Fayetteville