One has to wonder Jefferson and Washington being from Virginia what there thoughts would’ve been around 1860
Jefferson repeatedly opined that slavery was a great evil, as did Washington. Jefferson said he trembled for his country in the recognition that "God is just and his justice cannot be stayed forever" (going off memory on that one). At the same time Jefferson realized we were on the horns of a dilemma "we have got the wolf by the ears" he said (referring to blacks and slavery) "and we can neither safely hold him or let him go." The problem was complicated and they both knew it and both did not act in a manner exactly consistent with their principles. Do any of us?
