I wonder why people who freed their slaves are "religious fanatics" and southern ministers who wrote sermons on how Christianity allowed for slaveholding were not "religious fanatics."   

The Pleasants family members who freed their slaves were pretty run-of-the-mill Quakers. 

John and Henry Laurens of South Carolina freed their slaves for political reasons. 

Paul Finkelman
President William McKinley Distinguished Professor of Law
     and Public Policy
Albany Law School
80 New Scotland Avenue
Albany, New York   12208-3494

518-445-3386 
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>>> [log in to unmask] 04/30/08 10:07 AM >>>
> How many of the wealthiest slaveowners freed their
> slaves? Joseph Mayo, the Randolph, Pleasant and
Carter 
> families come to mind since they freed a total of
well 
> over a thousand slaves. But the were just religious 
> fanatics who thought all men are created equal.
> Paul 

George Washington freed his slaves in his will, though
he didn't (and couldn't) free the Custis dower slaves,
which caused major problems when the Washington slaves
were manumitted.

Jessica

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