Witherspoon's Statement on Slavery

The statement on slavery in 1787 undoubtedly reflected Witherspoon's own beliefs and may have been drafted by him. He did not think men should be forced into slavery, but once already enslaved he did not think immediate emancipation would be good for society or good for both slaves. The Synod of New York and Philadelphia do highly approve of the general principles in favor of universal liberty that prevail in America. And they moreover recommend that matters wherever they find servants disposed to make a proper improvement of the privilege would give them some share of property"