"The Hypocrisy of this Country"
Benjamin Franklin, despite having brought two Black slaves to England
in 1757, became an eager supporter and correspondent of Anthony Benezet,
the Philadelphia abolitionist and educator, who had written important
anti-slavery pamphlets, books, and newspaper articles. As president
of the Pennsylvania anti-slavery society, Franklin appealed for public
support of a humanitarian plan to not only emancipate slaves, but
to educate free blacks and their children and to facilitate their
progress toward good citizenship.
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Benjamin Franklin to Anthony Benezet
(1713-1784), August 22, 1772
Manuscript letter
Enlarged version
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An Address to the Public from the
Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery,
and the Relief of Free Negroes. . . .
Philadelphia, 1789
Rare Book & Special Collections
Division (25)
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Restoring Harmony
When delegates became heated over the issue of proportional representation
at the Federal Constitutional Convention in 1787 at Philadelphia,
Benjamin Franklin urged "great Coolness and Temper," telling
the delegates "we are sent here to consult, not to contend,
with each other." As the eldest delegate at the Convention,
Franklin acted on several occasions to restore harmony.
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Benjamin Franklin
Draft speech, [June 11, 1787]
Manuscript document
Manuscript Division (26)
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Bill of Sale, August 1787, signed
by Benjamin Franklin
Manuscript document with seal
Manuscript Division (27)
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President of Pennsylvania
Benjamin Franklin was chosen president of Pennsylvania shortly after
his 1785 return from France. The bulk of Franklin's presidential
duties included signing land grants, such as this 1787 bill of sale,
and performing ceremonial functions. |
A Copy of the Federal Constitution
Benjamin Franklin enclosed a copy of the new federal constitution
with this letter to Thomas Jefferson, the American minister to France,
and thanked him for the receipt of a box of books.
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Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) to Thomas
Jefferson (1743-1826), October 14, 1787
Manuscript letter
Manuscript Division (28)
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Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) to Sarah
Bache (1743-1808), January 26, 1784
Manuscript letter
Enlarged version
Manuscript Division (29)
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"A Much More Respectable Bird"
Benjamin Franklin criticized the new American hereditary military
order of the Society of Cincinnati in this long letter to his daughter,
Sarah Franklin Bache. He was particularly critical of the Society's
symbol, featuring "a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turk'
y. For in Truth, the Turk'y is in comparison a much more respectable
Bird." |
The "growing Strength" of the United States
In his eighty-fourth year, seven months before his death, an ailing
Franklin writes to the nation's first president George Washington: "For
my own personal case, I should have died two years ago; but tho'
those years have been spent in excruciating pain, I am pleased that
I have lived them since they brought me to see our present situation."
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Benjamin Franklin to George Washington,
September 16, 1789
Page 2
Manuscript letter
Manuscript Division (30)
Partial Transcription |