Existing comment:
Manumission in Virginia
In 1782, the General Assembly allowed slaveowners to free their slaves. Some did. Many of their manumission documents are written with condemnation of "the injustice and criminality" of slavery: "Being fully persuaded that freedom is the Natural Right of all Mankind and that it is my duty to do unto others as I would desire to be done by in the like situation, I hereby Emancipate and set free the said Slave..." |