David Ramsay on Slavery

In discussing slavery with Thomas Jefferson, Ramsay asserted his antislavery view. Ramsay appreciated Jefferson's “generous indignation at slavery.” But Ramsay argued that Jefferson had “depressed the negroes too low.” Then he proclaimed his radical view on slavery. According to him, “all mankind . . . [is] originally the same & only diversified by accidental circumstances,” and that “human nature is certainly radically the same in. . . [all humans].” In Ramsay’s view, all mankind was the same, they were just diversified by the environment. Therefore, the Africans were not destined to be slaves due to their race. Then he stepped further, arguing that social environment could even change physiology. He believed that the Africans were less black in Jersey than in Carolina and predicted that “in a few centuries the negroes will lose their black color.”

In terms of the use of strong drink, Rush also influenced Ramsay’s view on it. As an enlightened Christian, Rush objected to the use of strong drink. In 1772, Philadelphia printer John Dunlap produced Sermons to Gentlemen upon Temperance and Exercise. Dunlap’s name was the only one that appeared on the front of the 42 pages tract. While in fact, the anonymous author was Dr. Benjamin Rush. It included chapters on “Temperance and Eating,” “Use and Abuse of Wine and Strong Drink,” and “Exercise,” in which Rush discussed the benefits of walking, running and swimming. In order to help Philadelphians to keep their health, Rush warned them not to drink strong drinks. In 1785, he published his pamphlet —— An Inquiry into the Effects of Ardent Spirits Upon the Human Body and Mind, in which he argued that the effects of ardent spirits caused various diseases and vices of the body and mind. Then he enumerated the symptoms, which included unusual garrulity, unusual silence, captiousness, uncommon good humour, and an insipid simpering, or laugh, profane swearing and cursing…… as well as certain extravagant acts which indicate a temporary fit of madness. Ramsay disliked the use of strong drink, Robert L. Brunhouse assumes that it was “probably because of the influence of Benjamin Rush, who crusaded for temperance at a time when there was little sympathy for the cause.”