Dissertation on Slavery / With a Proposal for the Gradual Abolition of it, in the State of Virginia

Name: Dissertation on Slavery / With a Proposal for the Gradual Abolition of it, in the State of Virginia
Author: St. George Tucker

By St. George Tucker

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About This Book

The work argues that slavery contradicts the principles of the revolution and constitutional government, presenting moral, legal, and political objections while tracing the institution's rise and development in the states. It surveys statutes, judicial practices, and social consequences of bondage, compares measures adopted elsewhere, and analyzes practical obstacles to immediate emancipation. Drawing on lecture material, the author advances a scheme for gradual abolition designed to preserve existing property interests and protect creditors while progressively altering the legal status of enslaved people, and urges legislative adoption of a practicable plan to achieve a humane transition.

About the Author

St. George Tucker

St. George Tucker was an American jurist and author active in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He is best known for his work "Dissertation on Slavery / With a Proposal for the Gradual Abolition of it, in the State of Virginia," where he argued for the gradual emancipation of enslaved people, reflecting the complex attitudes toward slavery in his time. Additionally, Tucker wrote "Hansford: A Tale of Bacon's Rebellion," a historical novel that explores themes of rebellion and governance in colonial Virginia. His contributions to literature and legal thought provide valuable insights into the social and political issues of early America.