"George Washington faced a more complex situation because of the size of the plantation and the number of slaves he had inherited. Nonetheless, he set up a compassionate program to completely disentangle Mt. Vernon from the institution of slavery. Concerning abolition, he declared: "Not only do I pray for it, on the score of human dignity, but I can clearly foresee that nothing but the rooting out of slavery can perpetuate the existence of our union by consolidating it in a common bond of principle" (Hyatt, Abolitionist Founding Fathers, 42)." - Eddie Hyatt
This is the second time Hyatt engages in the specious tactic of quoting himself. As if his book is an authority and this article holds merit because it agrees with something he wrote previously. Note the absurd defense offered here by Hyatt because he recognizes it is hard to defend Washington when it comes to slavery. The obvious pushback should ask if inherited slaves were somehow harder to free? Of course not. The other argument is worse essentially claiming that he needed the slaves because he owned a really big plantation. The words he declared are irrelevant to the facts about his life when it came to slaves. He owned them throughout and at his death he owned over 300 slaves. He did not even free them upon death but instead left them for his wife to free upon her death. Now, records show that his position softened, and he took care of his sick and elderly slaves probably better than most but this notion of Washington as the great abolitionist is simply not supported by history.
"By the time of the writing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the Constitution in 1787, virtually every founder, even those who owned slaves, agreed with John Adams, America's 2nd president, who declared: "Every measure of prudence ought to be assumed for the eventual total extirpation of slavery from the United States. I have throughout my whole life held the practice of slavery in abhorrence. Frederick Douglass (1816-1895), the former slave and passionate abolitionist, learned these truths about America's Founding Fathers and came to have a high regard for them. In a July 4th speech delivered in 1852, Douglass referred to the U.S. Constitution as "a glorious liberty document," and said: "Fellow Citizens, I am not wanting in respect for the fathers of this republic. The signers of the Declaration of Independence were brave men. They were great men too"great enough to give fame to a great age. It does not often happen to a nation to raise, at one time, such a number of truly great men." (Hyatt, Abolitionist Founding Fathers, 36)." - Eddie Hyatt
As noted, Adams was a purist and deserves recognition for such. As we have shown here, the "agreement" may have been political for many but not necessarily personal. Frederick Douglass is correct to say that these were great men who rose to fame to define a great age but that does not remove what they did that may not have been so great. We can go find individual stories of true anti-slavery sentiment from the founders, but the majority simply did not live what they may have professed. Again, as Christians if we are so willing to lie about this why would anyone want to hear what we have to say about Jesus Christ?
"Not Perfect, But Worthy of Honor. America's founders were born into a world where slavery had existed for thousands of years. They were not perfect and their writings sometimes reflect prevailing notions of the times. Nonetheless, they should be honored for the revolutionary stand they took against slavery at a time it was accepted and practiced all over the world. Against the tide of history and world opinion, they created a nation based on the belief that "all men are created equal" and that they are "endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." They formulated founding documents that would eventually eradicate the institution they had come to abhor, and make America the land of the free and home of the brave, with people of every race and ethnicity wanting to live here." - Eddie Hyatt
Hate to break this to you Eddie but the world they were "born into" does not matter. It provides context not excusal. Are the founders worthy of honor for their new approach to governance and the creation of this nation? Sure. But honor for their anti-slavery stance? That should not even be a serious question. It was not revolutionary to own hundreds of slaves all of your life and maybe think better of it when you are facing your own mortality and even then, not freeing them. Their drafted documents did not eradicate the institution of slavery in this country as it would stick around for nearly a hundred years after the Revolution. This whitewashing of the history of slavery is not only stpuid but it is not needed. We all recognize the greatness of certain people without believing they were perfect or worthy of honor in areas they do not deserve. Eddie though, needs them to be worthy in order for his theology to work. To further the "Christian nation" lie that he promotes. The NAR desire is for political power not the gospel. Their lies hurt the cause of Jesus Christ as many refuse the faith because of the political stances of the apsostate church. It just brings to mind the admonition of the Psalmist in the key verses today. When speaking of those who boast in evil, David laments that they love evil more than good and lying more than speaking what is right. The words of Eddie Hyatt and the NAR devour with their deceitful tongues. Mark and avoid.
