17761972

[on the anti-slavery clause]

John Adams:
That little paper there deals with freedom for Americans!

Edward Rutledge:
Oh, really. Mr. Adams is now calling our black slaves "Americans!" Are they, now?

John Adams:
Yes, they are. They are people, and they are here. If there's any other requirement, I haven't heard it.

Edward Rutledge:
They are here, yes, but they are not people sir, they are property.

Thomas Jefferson:
No, sir they are people who are being treated as property! I tell you, the rights of human nature are deeply wounded by this infamous practice!

Edward Rutledge:
Then see to your own wounds Mr. Jefferson, for you are a practitioner are you not?

Thomas Jefferson:
I have already resolved to release my slaves.

Edward Rutledge:
Oh. Then I'm sorry, for you've also resolved the ruination of your own personal economy.

John Adams:
Economy. Always economy. There's more to this than a filthy purse-string, Rutledge! It is an offense against man and God!

Hopkins:
It's a stinking business, Eddie, a stinking business!

Edward Rutledge:
Is it really now, Mr. Hopkins? Then what's that I smell floating down from the North? Could it be the aroma of hy-pocrisy? For who holds the other end of that filthy purse-string, Mr. Adams? Our northern brethren are feeling a bit tender toward our black slaves. They don't keep slaves! Oh, no. But they are willing to be considerable carriers of slaves to others. They're willin'! For the shillin'.