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Slavery discourages arts and manufacturing ...[and] every master of slaves is born a petty tyrant.

George Mason

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George Mason
Age: 66 †
Born: 1725
Born: December 11
Died: 1792
Died: October 7
Lawyer
Politician
Slaveholder
Statesman
Fairfax
Virginia
George Mason IV
Art
Tyrants
Every
Arts
Slavery
Discourages
Master
Tyrant
Slave
Discouraging
Constitution
Manufacturing
Masters
Petty
Born
Slaves

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We owe to our Mother-Country the Duty of Subjects but will not pay her the Submission of Slaves.
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That slow poison [slavery] is daily contaminating the minds and morals of our people. Every gentlemen here is born a petty tyrant, practiced in acts of despotism and cruelty.
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I determined to spend the Remainder of my Days in privacy and Retirement with my Children, from whose Society alone I cou'd expect Comfort.
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I begin to grow heartily tired of the etiquette and nonsense so fashionable in this city.
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The poor despise labor when performed by slaves.
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That no man, or set of men, are entitled to exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges from the community, but in consideration of public services which, not being descendible, neither ought the offices of magistrate, legislator, or judge to be hereditary.
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The Laws of Nature are the Laws of God, Whose authority can be superseded by no power on earth. A legislature must not obstruct our obedience to Him from whose punishment they cannot protect us. All human constitutions which contradict His laws, we are in conscience bound to disobey.
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The epithets of parent and child have been long applied to Great Britain and her colonies, [but] we rarely see anything from your side of the water except the authoritative style of a master to a school-boy.
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