John Jay and Slavery: Conclusion

Jay’s failure to propose antislavery legislation during his career was probably the result of his suspicion of “democracy” rather than indifference to the evils of slavery. He believed the self-serving electorate would refuse to support the abolition of slavery. In old age, guided by his religious principles, Jay concluded that national virtue required his active opposition to slavery. He seemed willing to break up the Union to end the domestic slave trade and eventually slavery itself. On the other hand, he considered the United States unique because it was settled by Christians whom God’s Divine Providence had chosen to institute a republican form of government. Unlike most of the early republic’s secular leaders, Jay’s ultimate public stance against the Missouri Compromise and in favor of abolitionism reveals that his ultimate objective was to merge devout Christianity, abolitionism, and republicanism. His remissness in urging public action against slavery during his active public career suggests that no politician was willing to risk his popularity in fighting for abolition of slavery in the early republic.