"I can only say that there is..." - Quote by George Washington

“It is one of the evils of democratical governments, that the people, not always seeing and frequently misled, must often feel before they can act.”

“Upon the decease [of] my wife, it is my Will and desire th[at] all the Slaves which I hold in [my] own right, shall receive their free[dom] . . . . The Negroes thus bound, are (by their Masters or Mistresses) to be taught to read and write; and to be brought up to some useful occupation, agreeably to the Laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, providing for the support of Orphan and other poor Children. And I do hereby expressly forbid the Sale, or transportation out of the said Commonwealth, of any Slave I may die possessed of, under any pretence whatsoever.”

“Good moral character is the first essential in a man.”

“I hate it because of the monstrous injustice of slavery itself. I hate it because it deprives our republican example of its just influence in the world.”

“If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it.”

“Negroes, like other people, act upon motives. Why should they do anything for us, if we will do nothing for them? If they stake their lives for us, they must be prompted by the strongest motive, even the promise of freedom. And the promise being made, must be kept.”

“The day is not distant when we must bear and adopt [the abolition of slavery], or worse will follow.”

“I wish from my soul that the legislature of this State could see the policy of a gradual Abolition of Slavery.”

“I can only say that there is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do to see a plan adopted for the abolition of slavery.”