The Freeman 1972 - The Ludwig von Mises Institute

554 THE FREEMAN Septembergoods, nor shall otherwise suffer onaccount of his religious opinions orbeliefs; but that all men shall be freeto profess, and by argument to maintain,their opinion in matters of religion,and that the same shall in nowise diminish, enlarge, or affect theircivil capacities. 4This was the beginning of religiousliberty in America.Freeing the SlavesThe movement for freeing theslaves reached a peak in the 1780'swhich it would not soon attainagain. Even before the break fromEngland, the slave trade was acquiringa bad reputation in America,but such efforts as were m~deto restrict it were negated by themother country. Fiske says, "Thesuccess of the American Revolutionmade it possible for the differentstates to take measures forthe gradual abolition of slaveryand the immediate abolition of theforeign' slave-trade."5 Nor wassentiment against slavery restrictedto states in which there werefew slaves. ,Some of the outstandingleaders from the South duringthis period, most of them slaveholders,spoke out against slavery.Henry Laurens, a leader in SouthCarolina, wrote in 1776: "Youknow my Dear Sir. I abhor slavery... - in former days therewas no combatting the prejudicesof Men supported by Interest, theday I hope is approaching whenfrom principles of gratitude aswell [as] justice every Man willstrive to be foremost in shewinghis readiness to comply with theGolden Rule...."6 Thomas J effersonargued in his Notes on theState of Virginia. that slavery hada bad influence on the mannersand morals of the white people aswell as its devastating effects onthe Negroes. He longed for andhoped to see the day when allslaves would be emancipated. Hewarned his countrymen of the impending'impact on them if thiswere not done: "And can the libertiesof a nation be thought securewhen we have removed theironly firm basis, a conviction inthe minds of the people that theseliberties are the gift of God? Thatthey are not to be violated butwith his wrath? Indeed I tremblefor my country," he said, "when Ireflect that God is just; that hisjustice cannot sleep forever...."7Some states began to act almostas soon as the opportunity arose.In 1776, Delaware prohibited theimportation of slaves and removedall restraints on their manumission.Virginia stopped slave importsin 1778; Maryland adopteda similar measure in 1783. Bothstates now allowed manumissionat the behest of the owner. In1780, Pennsylvania not only prohibitedfurther importation of