18 quotes
Slaves, though held by the laws of men, are free by the laws of God.
Every man of every color and description has a natural right to freedom.
No power on earth has a right to take our property from us without our consent.
Real Christians will abstain from violating the rights of others, and therefore will not provoke war.
Letter to John Murray (1816)
It certainly is very desirable that a pacific disposition should prevail among all nations.
Letter to John Murray (1816)
Justice is indiscriminately due to all, without regard to numbers, wealth, or rank.
Americans are the first people whom heaven has favored with an opportunity of deliberating upon and choosing forms of government under which they should live.
That men should pray and fight for their own freedom, and yet keep others in slavery, is certainly acting a very inconsistent, as well as unjust and, perhaps, impious part, but the history of mankind is filled with instances of human improprieties.
Letter to Reverend Doctor Price (1785)
Among the strange things of this world, nothing seems more strange than that men pursuing happiness should knowingly quit the right and take a wrong road, and frequently do what their judgments neither approve nor prefer.
Letter to Lindley Murray (1774)
Man, in his present state, appears to be a degraded creature; his best gold is mixed with dross, and his best motives are very far from being pure and free from earth and impurity.
Letter to Lindley Murray (1774)
The Bible is the best of all books, for it is the word of God and teaches us the way to be happy in this world and in the next. Continue therefore to read it and to regulate your life by its precepts.
The Americans are the first people whom heaven has favoured with an opportunity of deliberating upon and choosing forms of government under which they should live.
Charge to the Grand Jury of Ulster County (1777)
We perceive that a great breach has been made in the moral and physical systems by the introduction of moral and physical evil; how or why, we know not; so, however, it is, and it certainly seems proper that this breach should be closed and order restored.
Letter to Lindley Murray (1774)
Distrust naturally creates distrust, and by nothing is good-will and kind conduct more speedily changed than by invidious jealousies and uncandid imputations, whether expressed or implied.
Federalist No. 5 (1787)
It is much to be wished that slavery may be abolished. The honour of the States, as well as justice and humanity, in my opinion, loudly call upon them to emancipate these unhappy people. To contend for our own liberty, and to deny that blessing to others, involves an inconsistency not to be excused.
Letter to R. Lushington (1786)
Our people had been so long accustomed to the practice and convenience of having slaves, that very few among them even doubted the propriety and rectitude of it. Some liberal and conscientious men had indeed, by their conduct and writings, drawn the lawfulness of slavery into question.
This country and this people seem to have been made for each other, and it appears as if it was the design of Providence, that an inheritance so proper and convenient for a band of brethren, united to each other by the strongest ties, should never be split into a number of unsocial, jealous, and alien sovereignties.
Federalist No. 2 (1787)
The people who own the country ought to govern it.
Attributed