Anti-Slavery Opinions before the Year 1800

This collection brings listeners into a moment when the question of slavery began to surface in American public discourse. Presented originally to a Cincinnati literary club in 1872, the speaker draws on a little‑known pamphlet from George Washington’s own library to illustrate how early citizens grappled with the issue. The centerpiece is a faithful reprint of Dr. George Buchanan’s 1791 oration, a passionate appeal that framed slavery as both a moral and political evil.

The work also offers vivid snapshots of the era’s intellectual environment, from the cramped handwriting of a teenage Washington signing a popular novel to the eclectic holdings of his personal bookshelves. By weaving these details together, the volume reveals the foundations of anti‑slavery thought before the turn of the nineteenth century, making it a valuable listen for anyone interested in the roots of American abolitionism and the cultural backdrop against which it emerged.