Echoes of slavery at Liberty Bell site

Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | March 24 2002 | Stephan Salisbury and Inga Saffron

[Fintan]

Historians say George Washington kept slaves there.

They've asked to have the site studied, but the Park Service says no.

In a year, when visitors enter the new $9 million pavilion to view the Liberty Bell, they will tread directly over ground where George Washington's slaves toiled, slept, suffered and plotted escape during the eight years of his presidency.

When the pavilion was designed, no one knew the exact location of the old President's House, where Washington and successor John Adams lived from 1790 until 1800.

And no one apparently considered the possibility that the pavilion would be on the soil where Washington kept his human property.

Now that soil is yielding caustic debate.

New historic research shows the presence of slaves at the heart of one of the nation's most potent symbols of freedom.

The National Park Service says the Liberty Bell is its own story, and Washington's slaves are a different one better told elsewhere.

But some historians insist slavery is an integral part of this piece of ground.

They are irate that the Park Service has refused to halt construction and excavate the site, to hunt for artifacts that would give a more complete picture of the nation's birth and slavery's role in it.

Mayor Street has joined those critics.

"This is brand-new information to the city," Street spokesman Frank Keel said Friday, referring to the relation of the new bell site to slave quarters.

"We think the issue is too important and too sensitive to ignore," he said. "The city is not about to let this slide by."

Street wants "to begin a very earnest dialogue with the Park Service" about how to address the issue of slavery on Independence Mall, Keel said.

Park Service officials could not be reached late Friday for comment on Street's views. They said in earlier interviews that the Park Service was not distorting the nation's past.

"I wouldn't paint the Park Service as doing anything bad with history," said Phil Sheridan, a Park Service spokesman. "Obviously we knew there was slavery. Obviously we know there were Africans living there. We are following what the vast majority of people wanted on that block - interpretation of the Liberty Bell."

In a less-racially charged debate, other critics are raising another issue about the pavilion. They complain that the Park Service's plans do not adequately commemorate the fact that the pavilion will be built on the site of Philadelphia's presidential residence.

The entire debate was set in motion by the painstaking archival research of local historian Edward Lawler Jr. Lawler - for the first time - has mapped the location of the house.

Moreover, he produced a floor plan showing the slave quarters built on Washington's instructions - quarters that were at what will be the entrance to the new pavilion.

Historians such as Gary Nash of the University of California at Los Angeles and Randall Miller of St. Joseph's University suggest that the Park Service is literally burying an unpleasant past by not allowing an archaeological dig of the area.

In the absence of that, they say, the Park Service should at least mount an exhibition telling the complete - and messy - story of the site.

Park Service officials, however, say their mission is to showcase the Liberty Bell.

Beyond that, they say, federal policy bars excavation unless a site is threatened with destruction, which is not the case with the slave quarters.

Privately, some park officials say that as construction on the pavilion has begun at Sixth and Market Streets - after innumerable public meetings to discuss the design and focus of the renovated mall - it is too late to turn back. The design will not be altered; the site will not be excavated.

When the new pavilion site was selected and the building design was approved several years ago - all part of a major overhaul of the Independence Mall area - the precise location of the President's House and its utility buildings was not known.

In a lengthy discussion of the President's House in the January 2002 issue of the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Lawler, an independent historian, demonstrated that Washington's slaves were housed in the stable area at the back of the house.

That area is within a few feet of what will be the new location of the bell, which at the time of the American Revolution hung in Independence Hall.

The bell is now most commonly seen as a symbol of the Revolution, but it became famous only after abolitionists fighting to rid the nation of slavery adopted it as a symbol of their cause.

In the 1840s, opponents of human bondage used the inscription incised on the bell as a rallying cry: "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof."

It is that juxtaposition of slave site and bell, Lawler wrote, that "will echo as one approaches the new building on Independence Mall."

But will it echo if few are aware of the archaeological and historical facts?

Miller, who teaches American history, points out that the Park Service rangers remind visitors of how the bell was embraced by the abolitionist movement.

Now, Miller says, the Park Service seems to be turning its back on its own telling of the history of its greatest icon - all in the interest of "getting a building up."

"While this is one of the most important historical sites not only for African Americans but for the nation, they are simply moving ahead in a rush to finish the project," Miller said.

"Here is an opportunity to tell the real story of the American Revolution and the meaning of freedom. Americans, through Washington, were working out the definition of freedom in a new republic. And Washington had slaves.

"Meanwhile, the slaves were defining freedom for themselves by running away. There are endless contradictions embedded in this site."

He and several other historians believe the Park Service should stop construction and perform an extensive archaeological exploration, which could yield important information about Washington as a slave owner and the President's House, where Washington and then John Adams (who adamantly opposed slavery) lived until the White House, known as the Executive Mansion, opened in Washington in 1800.

UCLA's Nash, a professor of American history and a scholar of the American Revolution and Philadelphia history, believes the Park Service was remiss in not excavating "one of the richest sites in Philadelphia."

"My argument is that the National Park Service is burying history," he said. "Our memory of the past is often managed and manipulated. Here it is being downright buried."

Nash noted that the Park Service oversaw preliminary archaeological work in the area and uncovered a pit used to store ice for the President's House. They also discovered what is known as a "shaft feature," a deep columnar hole that could have been a well or a privy.

If it is a privy, Nash says, it could yield invaluable information about the daily lives of Washington's slaves - how they lived, what they ate, and what they discarded.

But the Park Service covered up the ice pit and shaft, "preserving them in place," as a park official said.

Jed Levin, the Park Service archaeologist who has overseen all excavations on the three blocks of Independence Mall, said the shaft was excavated to four feet and yielded only modern construction debris. He said it was covered over and preserved.

Privy notwithstanding, spokesman Sheridan said that the first block of the mall is "about the Liberty Bell" and not about the President's House or Washington's slaves.

"You have to think in terms of, are we to dig up everything no matter what?" Sheridan said. "We don't deny knowledge is good. But it has been our practice to preserve in place."

Nash calls the presence of slave quarters beneath the new home of the Liberty Bell a "delicious irony."

Washington brought eight of his dozens of slaves to Philadelphia from Mount Vernon, including his cook, Hercules, and Martha Washington's personal servant, Oney Judge.

Both slaves ran away after tasting freedom in Philadelphia; slavery was illegal in Pennsylvania, but out-of-staters could bring their property with them.

"Washington couldn't understand it," Nash said, referring to his slaves' escape.

That kind of history must also be aired, according to Nash.

"Maybe the National Park Service feels it would besmirch the Liberty Bell to discuss this, and that the Liberty Bell should be pure. But that's not history. . . . People deserve to know."

Sheridan said there would be some kind of display within the bell pavilion that explores the site's history. But he said the content of that display and whether it would address slavery had not been determined.

As for the complaints that the house overall will not be properly commemorated, Park Service officials said a placard will note the President's House. Critics have urged outlining the perimeter of where the house stood.

"But how democratic is it to pick out one property and give it such treatment?" asked David Hollenberg, a Park Service architect.

 

[rebdov]

I used to blame the ACLU for all the problems until I realized that they can't make one law nor decide any case. I do blame our corrupt, leftist JUDICIARY that has so demeaned our constitution and our Founding Fathers that we will be facing the same problems as the Balkans very soon. We will have states where Spanish is spoken more than English; watch them pass then Spanish only laws. We will have groups demanding independent states for their oppressed. Protections for this,protections for that. Everything will be protected but the INDIVIDUAL because he is tooo insignificant to be a minority.

Even our so-called conservatives on the bench are usually too timid to be effective. We need thousands of scalias around the country.

[Ole Okie]

Even our so-called conservatives on the bench are usually too timid to be effective. We need thousands of scalias around the country.

You can say that again!

Now let's elect a Senate which will give George W's appointments a hearing.

[restornu]

Do not believe this nor give it credence,
everyday its a new CANARD to keep us busy defending lies.
They never put in the history books of when the Gen. Washinton fought
along side his men in the Revolution War,

Do our Generals do that today?

In one of the battles Washington was hit with arrows and bullets 17 times at his body and he was protected by God. he had holes in his hat and coat but body was never hurt and that was reported years later by an Indian Chief who spoke of it as an act of provident.

George Washington was a man chosen by God.

[crazykatz]

BIGGEST BUMP POSSIBLE!!!!

[Pharmboy]

What you speak of is Braddock's Massacre or Braddock's Defeat or The Battle of the Monongahela, as it is known by different names. This occurred at the outset of the French and Indian War, near Fort Duquesne (present day Pittsburgh) on July 9, 1755.

Approximately 1600 British and Colonial troops (mostly Brits with the colonials mainly Virginians and North Carolinians) were surprised by about 350 French and Indians. Young Washington (he was but 23) was a volunteer aide de camp for Braddock, but the old crusty general would not listen to the colonials, George among them, who warned about Indian fighting techniques.

About 900 Brits and colonials died that day with very few of the enemy being taken. Washington, who had been very sick in the days preceeding the battle, had to ride with pillows under his butt because of the discomfort. He had two horses shot from under him, four musket balls went through his cape and--as you said--his hat was shot from him. He was untouched, however.

Almost all the officers had been killed or wounded (and in that battle, wounded was as good as dead since the Indians killed and scalped--or scalped and killed--when they came to you wounded on the field of battle). Braddock was hit and GW carried him from the field under fire--fearlessly. Washington (as well as many of the Virginians) were praised for their selfless bravery that day and word of Washington's valor reached George II.

And you are correct in another thing: Washington believed his entire life that Divine Providence had extended its hand that day to protect him, and continued to do so during the RevWar.

Your Obdt. Svt.
Pharmboy

[restornu]

Thank you for telling the whole story,
I learn this in one of the documentary from Wallbuilder.
I love it and had no doubt it happen.

Should this Nation go, so would
the whole planet Earth be plunder.

[Pharmboy]

A ping for you, sir, and a bump for The General. Please see #25.

[crazykatz]

Another fellow who went on to be a hero of the Revolution was with Braddock as a wagoneer. He was Daniel Morgan of Virginia. He went on to be that "Old Wagoneer" and founder of the Virginia Company of Riflemen...Col. Daniel Morgan, later a Brig. General.

He was at Montreal( captured, exchanged), Boston, The Battle of Freeman's Farm( Saratoga), A Hero of Cowpens battle in S.C.( 2 of my ancestors from Virginia served with him as riflemen) and many other battles.

[Pharmboy]

That's great that you have two riflemen as ancestors--really neat and something to be proud of indeed.

I was just talking about General Morgan today. My daughter is getting married this fall near Winchester, VA, which is, as you know, his final resting place.

It is also interesting to note that Daniel Boone (Morgan's cousin) and Brig General Hugh Mercer (who fell at Princeton) were also at Braddock's Defeat.

[crazykatz]

I also had S.C. infantry,S.C. mounted militia and Virginia Dragoons as ancestors as well. I have always been interested in them and where they served and who were their commanders.

History is really interesting and studying family History as a young girl, was the spark that kindled my interest in History in general.

Thanks for the compliment about riflemen.

My own interest was in horses. We owned a few and I always felt closer to those Dragoon or mounted militia ancestors as a result. Especially, when I found out that one of them actually helped to provide horses for a group that fought at King's Mountain against Patrick Ferguson.

[crazykatz]

Please, Come over an read this thread.

[Pharmboy]

Wow...yet more fascinating stuff in your family tree. The riflemen probably, as you know, played their most important role in the Battle of Saratoga, a great vicory for the patriots.

Patrick Ferguson was an interesting Scotsman. He was a sharpshooter for the Brits and had General Washington in his sights but could not bear to fire upon him since he thought it ungentlemanly to shoot a mounted officer in the back.

Some say we owe our Republic to this fine soldier who died on King's Mountain (leading, I might painfully add, a Loyalist colonial army made up mainly of New Yorkers!)

[crazykatz]

Well, I almost hate to tell you that one of my ancestors was in the unit that refused to accept the loyalist surrender at King's Mountain, Col Brandon's mounted regiment,and keep firing and killed every just about all of them including Maj. Ferguson. It was "Tarleton's Quarter !!" they shouted as they killed the Loyalists. By the way, you know he had made a breech loading weapon didn't you?

The Revolution was almost a civil war in the South and most of the locals at King's Mt. were really out for payback for several British raids....especially, those lead by that butcher, Col. Banastre Tarleton.

I had an ancestor massacred at the Waxhaws by the Brits. So, our family was active all over the place...especially in S.C.

SPAR, Now you see where I get my fiesty attitude! YEE HAW!

[Pharmboy]

Well, can't blame your ancestor for choosing to give the Loyalists Tarleton's Quarter!

And yes I do know that he invented the first breech loader--that the Brits ignored!

And, it certainly was a civil war in South Carolina. It was also much like that in Westchester County, NY. It was the "Cowboys" (Loyalists who supplied beef to the Brits in NYC) against the "Skinners" ( a regiment of Patriots commanded by Col Skinner).

Huzzahs to your ancestors who gave the ultimate price for our Republic.

[Big Bunyip]

which could yield important information about Washington as a slave owner

The most important thing to remember about GW "as a slaveowner" is that he freed them in his will.

[AppyPappy]

Washington couldn't understand it," Nash said, referring to his slaves' escape.

Ever heard of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness", George?

[AppyPappy]

Except, unlike others, they didn't ask to some here.

[AppyPappy]

Except, unlike others, they didn't ask to come here.