In 1856, he wrote to his wife, "In this enlightened age, there are few I believe, but what will acknowledge, that slavery as an institution, is a moral and political evil in any Country."
Lee believed that slaves should be emancipated gradually, their owners compensated, and the slaves trained and set up in steady jobs.
Lee never personally owned slaves. He was given charge of his father-in-law’s slaves after the man died. Lee freed them all, in slow stages. By the time Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, every slave in Lee’s charge had been freed.
Lee once urged Confederate president Jefferson Davis to emancipate all southern slaves and to allow "the use of… negroes as soldiers" to fight the Yankees. Davis rejected the plan.
After the war, Lee continued to set an example in treating black freedmen as equals.
At a service in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, a black man created a stir by rising to receive communion.
One witness reported that the parishioners "retained their seats in solemn silence and did not move," while the priest looked "embarassed."
It was Robert E. Lee who broke the ice. He strode up the aisle and knelt beside the black man to take communion. Others then rose and followed his lead.
In context, please. What Lee said was this:
"The views of the Pres: of the Systematic & progressive efforts of certain people of the North, to interfere with & change the domestic institutions of the South, are truthfully & faithfully expressed. The Consequences of their plans & purposes are also clearly set forth, & they must also be aware, that their object is both unlawful & entirely foreign to them & their duty; for which they are irresponsible & unaccountable; & Can only be accomplished by them through the agency of a Civil & Servile war. In this enlightened age, there are few I believe, but what will acknowledge, that slavery as an institution, is a moral & political evil in any Country. It is useless to expatiate on its disadvantages. I think it however a greater evil to the white man than to the black race, & while my feelings are strongly enlisted in behalf of the latter, my sympathies are more strong for the former. The blacks are immeasurably better off here than in Africa, morally, socially & physically. The painful discipline they are undergoing, is necessary for their instruction as a race, & I hope will prepare & lead them to better things. How long their subjugation may be necessary is known & ordered by a wise Merciful Providence. Their emancipation will sooner result from the mild & melting influence of Christianity, than the storms & tempests of fiery Controversy. This influence though slow, is sure. The doctrines & miracles of our Saviour have required nearly two thousand years, to Convert but a small part of the human race, & even among Christian nations, what gross errors still exist! While we see the Course of the final abolition of human Slavery is onward, & we give it the aid of our prayers & all justifiable means in our power, we must leave the progress as well as the result in his hands who sees the end; who Chooses to work by slow influences; & with whom two thousand years are but as a Single day. Although the Abolitionist must know this, & must See that he has neither the right or power of operating except by moral means & suasion, & if he means well to the slave, he must not Create angry feelings in the Master; that although he may not approve the mode which it pleases Providence to accomplish its purposes, the result will nevertheless be the same; that the reasons he gives for interference in what he has no Concern, holds good for every kind of interference with our neighbors when we disapprove their Conduct; Still I fear he will persevere in his evil Course. Is it not strange that the descendants of those pilgrim fathers who Crossed the Atlantic to preserve their own freedom of opinion, have always proved themselves intolerant of the Spiritual liberty of others?"
I have a sister who, while she believes abortion to be wrong and is something that she would never have, does not believe that government should be in a position to dictate what a woman should do with her body. She believes herself to be anti-abortion. Most other anti-abortion people I know would consider her pro-abortion.
And that is the position Lee seems to be taking in his letter. He says that he believes slavery is wrong and that he may pray for it's end. But by the same token he does not believe that it is the job of government or anyone else to actively work to end slavery. It is up to God to end it in his own time. So is Lee anti-slavery? He may believe he was but others would certainly disagree.
By the time Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, every slave in Lee’s charge had been freed.
When Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862 the slaves were still in Lee's charge. He emancipated them a day before the Emancipation Proclamation became effective on January 1, 1863.
Lee once urged Confederate president Jefferson Davis to emancipate all southern slaves and to allow "the use of… negroes as soldiers" to fight the Yankees. Davis rejected the plan.
Lee is not on record as endorsing a plan to enlist southern blacks as combat soldiers until after the confederate congress proposed legislation to that effect in December of 1864. In a January 1865 letter, Lee did support the enlistment of blacks, including slaves, and did support freedom for those slaves conscripted. But he began his letter by noting the following:
"Considering the relation of master and slave, controlled by humane laws and influenced by Christianity and an enlightened public sentiment, as the best that can exist between the white and black races while intermingled as at present in this country, I would deprecate any sudden disturbance of that relation unless it be necessary to avert a greater calamity to both. I should therefore prefer to rely upon our white population to preserve the ratio between our forces and those of the enemy, which experience has shown to be safe. But in view of the preparations of our enemies, it is our duty to provide for continued war and not for a battle or a campaign, and I fear that we cannot accomplish this without overtaxing the capacity of our white population."
It should also be noted that the legislation allowing for black combat troops, finally passed by the confederate congress in March 1865, did not require slaves be freed after their enlistment was over.
I liked your post. Those who blame the south for slavery forget that the very framers of the constitution didn't deal with the issue among them Washington and Jefferson. Adams wanted to but knew the Virginians and the other states wouldn't ratify without slavery being left alone. If the south had slaves, the framers of the constituion are to blame.