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To: DiogenesLamp

“George Washington kept slaves in Pennsylvania after that state had passed a law making it illegal”

In 1780,Pennsylvania passed a gradual emancipation law. If born to a slave woman in Pennsylvania, you became free at age 28. Washington moved his slaves approaching 28 out of the state.
If you were a slave born outside of Pennsylvania, you were free if in the state after 6 months. Washington would move the slaves to MD, or VA for a few days, then return them to Pennsylvania. In both cases he was complying with the Pennsylvania law.
By 1840, there were only 64 slaves in Pennsylvania.


921 posted on 01/22/2020 12:05:04 PM PST by Bull Snipe
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To: Bull Snipe
By 1840, there were only 64 slaves in Pennsylvania.

Officially. Even so, I still don't call that "abolished" when you still have slaves. Abolished is zero slaves.

I have discussed this point about Washington before. I think he simply never challenged Pennsylvania's law because he didn't want to ruffle feathers in the early days of the Republic, but he clearly had no respect for it, and acted as though he had a right to keep slaves in that state.

Washington gradually came to believe that slavery was not only wrong, but a bad idea. His writings on the subject are very interesting.

935 posted on 01/22/2020 3:00:03 PM PST by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no oither sovereignty.")
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