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George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 10, Chapter 17: (search)
ing under the auspices of Heaven for a total emancipation. At that time Washington was a kind and considerate master of slaves, without as yet a title to the character of abolitionist. By slow degrees the sentiment grew up in his mind that to hold men in bondage was a wrong; that Virginia should proceed to emancipation by general statute of the state; that, if she refused to do so, each individual should act for his own household. Next in order comes Delaware, which on the twentieth of September, 1776, adopted its constitution as 1776. an independent state. In proportion to its numbers, it had excelled all in the voluntary emancipation of slaves. Its constitution absolutely prohibited the introduction of any slave from Africa, or any slave for sale from any part of the world, as an article which ought never to be violated on any pretence whatever. But, beyond this, Delaware left the progress Chap. XVII.} 1779. of emancipation to the good — will of the slave-holders. In