Abolitionists
Among Christian slave masters there were
some, like Jefferson himself, who wanted to abolish the slave trade
and/or slavery. Cobb in a dismissive stroke, reveals the diversity of anti-slavery attitudes.
“There are persons in the northern
section of the Union, who, having no proper conceptions of the
institution of slavery, seek to destroy it: these persons are denominated abolitionists.
Amongst these persons there exists many shades of difference:
1. The freesoiler—this character, who will not
admit that he
is an abolitionist in the proper sense of the term, professes that
he does not wish to
disturb slavery where it exists, but opposes the enlargement
of its area.
2. The conditional emancipationist—he professes
that he would be satisfied if the south would pass acts of emancipation,
although
such acts might extend through many years.
3. The unconditional
emancipationist—he
demands that acts of emancipation should be passed, abolishing
the institution of slavery forthwith.
4. The amalgamationist—he
demands that slavery should be abolished immediately—that there
should be a division of property with the emancipated slaves and
an amalgamation
with the whites.
It is a matter of perfect indifference to us,
to which of these phases individuals may be attached; for
we care not whether, in their folly, they be mild or rabid.” (Scriptural
Examination, p. 12)
Continue—Abolitionists
