There was significant opposition to slavery at the founding -- and some was in Va. -- Look at Edward Coles or Robert "Councillor" Carter (or Robert Carter, III as he is also known), or Washington who prepared his slaves, gave them land, and freed them. But Mr. Trent is also right that there was a huge proslavery argument -- from virtually every pulpit in the South to every Courtroom to every school room. If anyone wants to see the range of these proslavery arguments, I can (self-servingly) point you to a collection of the primary documents in a small (and inexpensive) paperback: Paul Finkelman, Defending Slavery (Bedford Books).
________________________________
From: Hank Trent <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2014 6:58 PM
Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] Out-migration from Virginia early 1810- -- small slaveholders
----- Original Message -----
From: "James Hershman" <[log in to unmask]>
> Your assumption that slavery was something seen as evil only in retrospect
> certainly doesn't apply to any time after the founding of the United
> States.
I didn't mean to take the United States as a whole, because obviously the
anti-slavery movement proclaimed slavery's evils loud and long, and people
spoke out against slavery even in Virginia. But within his own self-chosen
social group, a slaveowner could find support for the idea that slavery was
acceptable, from a religious, ethical, practical, scientific, and legal
viewpoint. With that kind of social support he (or she) could more easily
ignore those who pointed out its evils.
Hank Trent
[log in to unmask]
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