In the early 18th century, slavery was outlawed in Georgia. In 1749, George Whitefield campaigned for its legalisation, claiming that the territory would never be prosperous unless farms were able to use slave labor.[18] He began his fourth visit to America in 1751 advocating slavery, viewing its re-legalisation in Georgia as necessary to make his plantation profitable.[19] Partly through his campaigns and written pleas to the Georgia Trustees, it was re-legalised in 1751. Whitefield purchased slaves, who then worked at his Bethesda Orphanage. To help raise money for the orphanage, he also employed slaves at Providence Plantation. Whitefield was known to treat his slaves well; they were reputed to be devoted to him, and he was critical of the abuse of slaves by other owners.[20] When Whitefield died, he bequeathed his slaves to the Countess of Huntingdon.[21] His attitude towards slavery is expressed in a letter to Mr B. written from Bristol 22 March 1751:
As for the lawfulness of keeping slaves, I have no doubt, since I hear of some that were bought with Abraham's money, and some that were born in his house.—And I cannot help thinking, that some of those servants mentioned by the Apostles in their epistles, were or had been slaves. It is plain, that the Gibeonites were doomed to perpetual slavery, and though liberty is a sweet thing to such as are born free, yet to those who never knew the sweets of it, slavery perhaps may not be so irksome. However this be, it is plain to a demonstration, that hot countries cannot be cultivated without negroes. What a flourishing country might Georgia have been, had the use of them been permitted years ago? How many white people have been destroyed for want of them, and how many thousands of pounds spent to no purpose at all? Had Mr Henry been in America, I believe he would have seen the lawfulness and necessity of having negroes there. And though it is true, that they are brought in a wrong way from their own country, and it is a trade not to be approved of, yet as it will be carried on whether we will or not; I should think myself highly favoured if I could purchase a good number of them, in order to make their lives comfortable, and lay a foundation for breeding up their posterity in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. You know, dear Sir, that I had no hand in bringing them into Georgia; though my judgement was for it, and so much money was yearly spent to no purpose, and I was strongly importuned thereto, yet I would not have a negro upon my plantation, till the use of them was publicly allowed in the colony. Now this is done, dear Sir, let us reason no more about it, but diligently improve the present opportunity for their instruction. The trustees favour it, and we may never have a like prospect. It rejoiced my soul, to hear that one of my poor negroes in Carolina was made a brother in Christ. How know we but we may have many such instances in Georgia ere it be long? - Wikipedia.
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In my heart I feel nothing but contempt for anyone who could work in the slave trade: stealing human beings from their native countries, tearing apart families, packing them into ships like objects without sensation, the brutality of That! alone, dammit, makes me want to forget this Whitefield instantly. But this letter shows perfectly clearly that the man knew that the manner by which the people from Africa were being barbarically torn from their homes and families was wrong; and it shows that he was concerned for their welfare - once here - and knew that they could be educated: that they were human beings of equal status with whites. All that being said, and granted: slavery is not condemned in the Bible, while its barbarity and cruelty is most definitely illustrated, I cannot find it in my heart to apologize for the institution of slavery as it was practiced in any nation at any time on this planet. Of course, work must be done, and labor requires laborers, but you don't go raping and pillaging multitudes of human societies and human individuals, and you don't pack human beings in ships like objects! You Do Not do this! Anyone who could stand by and tolerate, or contribute to such barbarity, whether by passive bystanding or willful cooperation, is not a Christian, and is not godly. Yes, we have civilizations that arose from such evil practice, from the vast exploitation, waste, and brutal destruction of precious human life, but does the end justify the means? If God says yes, then I must accept that. But as a man, and being the sinful creature that I am, my heart cries out an eternal Hell No to the entire idea of constructing any kind of concerted and sanctimonious apologetic for the institution of slavery. 12.9.13
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