Posted on 11/10/2015 8:57:47 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Many of my columns speak highly of the wisdom of our nation's founders. Every once in a while, I receive an ugly letter sarcastically asking what do I think of their wisdom declaring blacks "three-fifths of a human." It's difficult to tell whether such a question is prompted by ignorance or is the fruit of an ongoing agenda to undermine American greatness. Let's examine some facts about our founders and slavery.
At the time of the 1787 Constitutional Convention, slaves were 40 percent of the population of southern colonies. Apportionment in the House of Representatives and the number of electoral votes each state would have in presidential elections would be based upon population. Southern colonies wanted slaves to be counted as one person. Northern delegates to the convention, and those opposed to slavery, wanted to count only free persons of each state for the purposes of apportionment in the House of Representatives and the Electoral College. The compromise reached was that each slave would be counted as only three-fifths of a person.
If the convention delegates had not reached this compromise, the Constitution would have not been ratified and there would not have been a Union. My questions to those who criticize the three-fifths clause are twofold. Would it have been preferable for the southern states to be able to count slaves as whole persons, thereby giving southern states more political power? Would blacks have been better off without constitutional ratification and a Union made possible by the three-fifths compromise? In other words, would blacks have been better off with northern states having gone their way and southern states having gone theirs and, as a consequence, no U.S. Constitution and no Union? Abolitionist Frederick Douglass understood the compromise, saying that the three-fifths clause was "a downright disability laid upon the slaveholding states" that deprived them of "two-fifths of their natural basis of representation."
Patrick Henry expressed the reality of the three-fifths compromise, saying, "As much as I deplore slavery, I see that prudence forbids its abolition." With union, Congress at least had the power to abolish slave trade in 1808.
According to delegate James Wilson, many believed the anti-slave-trade clause laid "the foundation for banishing slavery out of this country."
Many founders openly condemned slavery. George Washington said, "There is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do to see a plan adopted for the abolition of it." John Adams: "Every measure of prudence ... ought to be assumed for the eventual total extirpation of slavery from the United States. ... I have, throughout my whole life, held the practice of slavery in ... abhorrence." James Madison: "We have seen the mere distinction of color made in the most enlightened period of time, a ground of the most oppressive dominion ever exercised by man over man." Benjamin Franklin: "Slavery is ... an atrocious debasement of human nature." Franklin, after visiting a black school, said, "I ... have conceived a higher opinion of the natural capacities of the black race than I had ever before entertained." Alexander Hamilton's judgment was the same: "Their natural faculties are probably as good as ours." John Jay wrote: "It is much to be wished that slavery may be abolished. The honour of the States, as well as justice and humanity, in my opinion, loudly call upon them to emancipate these unhappy people. To contend for our own liberty, and to deny that blessing to others, involves an inconsistency not to be excused."
Completely ignored in most discussions of slavery is the fact that slavery was mankind's standard fare throughout history. Centuries before blacks were enslaved Europeans were enslaved. The word slavery comes from Slavs, referring to the Slavic people, who were early slaves. What distinguishes the West, namely Britain and the U.S., from other nations are the extraordinary measures they took to abolish slavery.
The great Walter Williams.
You used facts. School-age kids will never believe you.
I always enjoy when he sits in for Rush.
http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/cooper.htm
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What the left ignores is the strong abolitionists movements beginning during colonial times (1600’s). It was highly unusual to have abolitionists in any country so early on in its history. They focus ONLY on the slavers and slaves.
It is also widely believed that many of the abolitionist framers believed that slavery would fade out on its own because it was becoming cost prohibitive. Whitney’s cotton gin changed all of that. You don’t see that mentioned in too many textbooks.
True. It’s funny to note that Whitney received little from his invention because so many of the slavers pirated his patent. He got back at them though, he would invent a system in the production of arms and champion the interchangeable-parts system. Guess who got all those mass produced guns?
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Half the slave ships came in to tiny little Rhode Island and Boston built those slave ships. Guess what business the namesakes of Brown University were in.
Dr. Williams' commentary on this subject is, as usual, based his research on the factual history, not revisionist versions of that history.
As a result, many likely never have read original writings concerning the historical context within which America's Founders found themselves regarding the history of slavery, as Dr. Williams points out.
Certainly, our government education system likely never provided us with any of the facts contained in the following synopsis of the enormous contributions the founding generations made toward eradicating slavery from these shores and creating a constitutional republic which could/would, ultimately, affirm and protect the rights of ALL people:
One might read Jefferson's Autobiography, especially that portion which states:
"The first establishment in Virginia which became permanent was made in 1607. I have found no mention of negroes in the colony until about 1650. The first brought here as slaves were by a Dutch ship; after which the English commenced the trade and continued it until the revolutionary war. That suspended...their future importation for the present, and the business of the war pressing constantly on the (Virginia) legislature, this subject was not acted on finally until the year 1778, when I brought a bill to prevent their further importation. This passed without opposition, leaving to future efforts its final eradication."Jefferson also observed:
"Where the disease [slavery] is most deeply seated, there it will be slowest in eradication. In the northern States, it was merely superficial and easily corrected. In the southern, it is incorporated with the whole system and requires time, patience, and perseverance in the curative process."
He explained that, "In 1769, I became a member of the legislature by the choice of the county in which I live [Albemarle County, Virginia], and so continued until it was closed by the Revolution. I made one effort in that body for the permission of the emancipation of slaves, which was rejected: and indeed, during the regal [crown] government, nothing [like this] could expect success."
One more quotation, cited in David Barton's work on the subject of the Founders and slavery, which also cites the fact that there were laws in the State of Virginia which prevented citizens from emancipating slaves, (can be found at Barton's web site, "Wallbuilder") is this one from Jefferson:
"The whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the most boisterous passions, the most unremitting despotism on the one part, and degrading submissions on the other. Our children see this and learn to imitate it; for man is an imitative animal. This quality is the germ of all education in him. From his cradle to his grave he is learning to do what he sees others do. If a parent could find no motive either in his philanthropy or his self-love for restraining the intemperance of passion towards his slave, it should always be a sufficient one that his child is present. But generally it is not sufficient. . . . The man must be a prodigy who can retain his manners and morals undepraved by such circumstances. And with what execration should the statesman be loaded who permits one half the citizens thus to trample on the rights of the other. . . . And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep for ever. . . . The Almighty has no attribute which can take side with us in such a contest. . . . [T]he way, I hone [is] preparing under the auspices of Heaven for a total emancipation."
For an excellent and factual record of the Founders' views on the matter of slavery (especially those of Washington and Jefferson} visit David Barton's site (wallbuilders). There, Barton provides a review of the factual, written history of the period, where readers can begin to understand the tremendous contributions of the Founders to the "extinction" of slavery in America. Such a review is essential to any meaningful discussion.
Barton has has utilized the record in writing that exists to inform any who wish to arm themselves with knowledge.
One source he does not quote, I believe, is the famous "Speech on Conciliation" by Edmund Burke before the British Parliament, wherein he admonished the Parliament for its Proposal to declare a general enfranchisement of the slaves in America.
Burke rather sarcastically observed that should the Parliament carry through with the proposed Proposal: "Slaves," he said, "as these unfortunate black people are, and dull as all men are from slavery, must they not a little suspect the offer of freedom from that very nation (England) which has sold them to their present masters? from that nation, one of whose causes of quarrel with those masters is their refusal to deal any more in that inhuman traffic?" He continued: "An offer of freedom from England would come rather oddly, shipped to them in an African vessel, which is refused an entry into the ports of Virginia or Carolina, with a cargo of three hundred Angola negroes. It would be curious to see the Guinea captain attempting at the same instant to publish his proclamtion of liberty and to advertise his sale of slaves."
Ahhh, how knowledge of the facts can alter one's opinion of the revisionist history that has been taught for generations in American schools (including its so-called "law schools"!!!
Human beings are allotted ONLY A TINY SLIVER OF TIME ON THIS EARTH. Each finds the world and his/her own community/nation existing as it is. If lawyers and judges educated themselves (in this day of the Internet) on the history of civilization and America's real history, and if they used that knowledge and the resulting understanding, to do as much on behalf of liberty for ALL people as did Thomas Jefferson and America's other Founders, the world in the next century would be a better place.
Remember, Thomas Jefferson was only 33 years old when he penned our Declaration of Independence which capsulized a truly revolutionary idea into a simple statement that survives to this day to inspire people all over the world to strive for liberty!
Before "progressive" individuals slam the Founders in their speeches, they (and all of us) should read the prolific writings on the founding period for a first-hand knowledge of their contributions. In our 21st Century lifetimes, we might then be qualified to speak about them.
And they NEVER reveal that that abolitionists were almost 100% hard core Christians.
The Christian Worldview created the most just, most humane, most brilliant civilizations in the history of mankind.
That is why Christianity is being destroyed by government/schools-—that worldview is the pillar of Western Civilization and the Cultural Marxists KNEW that to collapse Western Culture-—you destroy the faith/religion.
Ficthe/Wundtians (1810) wanted to create “happy slaves”-—for a One World government you have to destroy Individualism—thinking outside the box—which is Christianity/USA. They need One Mind-—group think and that is why the Prussian “skool” system was invented and brought to America. Classical Education was destroyed-—for programming Lies and warped “history” like in Winston’s world of 1984.
They have to lie to destroy the Christian worldview. (individual dignity and worth in all). All Common Core is based on looking at ALL human history and even Math now-—through a Marxist, satanic (distortion) Lens. It will flip Good and Evil-—make the Good (Christians) into evil people.
Destroying all heroes and all Traditions is their MO...because culture is only transmitted to the next generation by Traditions and stories about their heroes——removing children from the Natural Family and putting them into a “group (non) think” factories which condition them into dependency and fear of thinking differently than the way they are told—— is how they program the children into Lies and the inability to ever understand anything.....they will be unable to “think critically” which is the purpose of skooling today-—to create little zombies (useful idiots) who can be easily controlled like the mobs at universities shutting down free speech.
This is why ONLY Classical Education is TRUE “education” (original source documents) and Knowledge is only “knowledge” if it is the truth and NOT warped.
John Dewey-—forced a “biased” interpretation of the Founders and got rid of Classical Education ON PURPOSE-—so he could WARP the minds of the masses-—and make their worldview of that of the “Humanist” which he and his Fabian sodomite buddies (Keynes) were. They wanted chlldren to “think” like them which meant to demonize all things Christian and elevate their religion, Darwinism.
We need to rid the schools of all the revisionism (Common Core) and return to pre-Dewey curricula-—so that all the Fichte/Wundtian programming-—does not destroy the Minds of more children.
We have way too many “useful” idiots who believe the lies and misinformation that is intentional in the public “skools” today. Common Core with computers is brainwashing on STEROIDS to make complete idiots and to totally dehumanize all our children. (for collectives)....so all their desires/attitudes will be programed by the satanists/atheists. It will destroy Individualism/Christianity and the only brilliant Worldview which created the US Constitution and got rid of slavery, pederasty, and homosexuality as a “Good”.
No other worldview is consistent with the document and human dignity and worth of ALL human beings. Virtue is essential in any worldview-—and Marxism is one of evil, vice and total control of every emotion and action: total dehumanization.
And children NEVER read Booker T. Washington’s “Up from Slavery”.
Why? He is a Christian with a Christian worldview and loved the whites as much as the blacks.
He understood that Slavery was an evil institution-—and some of the Blacks were more evil slaveholders than some whites——AND he knew that the institution was degrading not only to the slave-—but to the slave master. It is EXACTLY what Tocqueville stated-—that Slavery is vile for the Soul of both the Slave and the Slave Masters.
Booker T. also stated (like the Bible) that there is dignity in Work and that all people have to have a WORK ETHIC-—to have a true self-worth and dignity and accomplish anything in Life.
That the Muslims were the chief slave traders and took millions of Christian Europeans as “slaves” is not even mentioned. That the African Slave trade was an African concept.
Truth will set us Free but Common Core (NCLB/GOALS 2000) destroyed all Classical Knowledge and Wisdom-—and ALL their curricula and testing WARPS reality-—truth-—and sees history through the Marxist/Feminist (Neo-Freudian) Lens so that children are not only sexualized at abnormal ages so they are fixated in puerile stage (addicts/narcissists)-—they will “think” in a Marxist ideological way——that Christianity is vile/obscene and that Western Civilization is the most evil culture in the World.
Why? They want serf/tribal/peasant minds and only Christianity created Individualism (uniqueness/identity and importance of EVERY individual)
No Collectives can operate with Individualism and thinking outside the box of the government. They have to make ALL people interchangeable—boys into girls—so all unique identity is eliminated. Natural Family (mother and father) has to be eliminated so the State can control all desires and attitudes-—(complete programming of the Mind).
Group think (PC) is all that is allowed and those who “think” differently have to be eliminated or drugged (will be assigned into a mental ward or put in the Gulag).
I
"It cannot be doubted that in the United States the instruction of the people powerfully contributes to the support of the democratic republic; and such must always be the case, I believe, where the in struction which enlightens the understanding is not separated from the moral education ...." The American citizen, he said, "..will inform you what his rights are and by what means he exercises them .. In the United States, politics are the end and aim of education ... every citizen receives the elementary notions of human knowledge; he is taught, moreover, the doctrines and the evidences of his religion, the history of his country, and the leading features of its Constitution .... it is extremely rare to find a man imperfectly acquainted with all these things, and a person wholly ignorant of them is a sort of phenomenon .... It is difficult to imagine the incredible rapidity with which thought circulates in the midst of these deserts [wilderness]. I do not think that so much intellectual activity exists in the most enlightened and populous districts of France." - Alexis de Tocqueville, "Democracy in America"
Amen. Here is a point I have understood for years. It is so nice to hear some else express that reality. I always like to ask when was the Constitutional Convention and when was the cotton gin invented? First through indentured service and then by the Potato Famine the North was able to get all the cheap labor they wanted and without caring for the grandparents and grandchildren who provided little benefit.
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