So sorry, but you didn't specify 'public' discussion:
"In fact, I doubt there is much discussion of slavery as an evil by prominent southerners during the whole decade of the '50s."--Sherman Logan
From this quotation it is quite obvious that Lee had rejected the great ideal that "all men are created equal" for which his father fought.
You're cherry picking and misrepresenting at that. It's obvious that Lee is writing about the spiritual liberty of the blacks: "Their emancipation will sooner result from the mild and melting influences of Christianity than from the storm and tempest of fiery controversy. "
Is it not even more strange that the son of one of the great heroes of a war for human liberty could pen such a disgusting defense of its negation?
Please.....
Sorry for not being more explicit about “public.” I thought it was implied, as I had referenced public comments about the evils of slavery by the Founders, not their private communications.
I realize Lee was all in favor of “spiritual liberty” for blacks. He just didn’t think they should receive their physical liberty anytime in the next few centuries. Do you disagree that people are less likely to achieve spiritual liberty when they are physically enslaved?
Your final comment was a non-response response. By what criteria do you consider defense of the institution of slavery not to be in conflict with the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence? Lee quite obviously and explicitly did NOT consider “all men to be created equal.”