Beautiful defense of this outstanding man among men.
Yet he only freed his slaves upon his death.
I never understood that: arguing he was preparing the next generation for their freedom doesn’t wash: When he died the same situation existed that would have existed 10-20 years before. Next generation still not prepared.
He COULD have offered them housing and a wage, like early factory owners did not many decades later for their workers.
The man was brilliant and a blessing to the founding of this country. But he held slaves like many did. I do not judge him harshly because of it. Thats just history and the history of HIS times. He struggled with it as did many. But in the end he could not simply free them.
It is what it is. No footnotes or finger wagging needed.