Vermont attitudes toward slavery : the need for a closer look

Vermont attitudes toward slavery : the need for a closer look

Graffagnino, J. Kevin

The fact that a segment of Vermont's population in the first half of the nineteenth century at least tolerated, if not supported, slavery needs further examination. Graffagnino points to prominent Vermonters who opposed as well as a minority of Vermonters who did not oppose slavery and includes an excerpt of a letter written by Charles B. Fletcher (1818-1852), the only son of Isaac Fletcher of Lyndon, Vermont, who held a number of important political offices in Vermont. Father and son were traveling the South for the former's health, and the letter, dated 1837, recounts Charles' interaction and impression with the slaves, writing in part, "... they love their masters and everything that belongs to their masters..." Graffagnino also mentions John Henry Hopkins (1792-1868), the Protestant Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Vermont from 1832-1868, who was a strong voice in condemning the antislavery movements in Vermont and the United States.

1977

Vermont History, v. 45, no. 1 (Winter 1977): 31-34

VermontAttitudesTowardSlavery.pdf

pdf

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/

Vermont Historical Society, 60 Washington Street, Suite 1, Barre, Vermont 05641

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