Quote#Politics & Power
Slaves, though held by the laws of men, are free by the laws of God
Quote byJohn Jay · 1745–1829
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: As quoted in "The Present Aspect of the Slavery Question" (18 October 1859), by George William Curtis, Orations and Addresses of George William Curtis..
English (original)
Slaves, though held by the laws of men, are free by the laws of God.
— John Jay
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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 …
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No power on earth has a right to take our property from us without our consent.
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.
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.
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, …