Historians In Awe Over Discovery At Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello Property

James Madison Passed Legislative But Never Freed His Slaves

Madison proposed the Three-Fifth Compromise which allowed slaves to be counted as three-fifths of a person for taxation purposes and legislative representation, however, he never freed his slaves upon his own death. After he passed away, it was his slave, Paul Jennings, that published the first-ever memoir of life in the White House.

Jennings was able to buy his own freedom at 48-years-old despite never being freed by his original owner. In his memoirs, he revealed that James Madison was always kind to his slaves, despite his inability to let them go in death. Dolley Madison, President Madison’s wife, unfortunately, was known to treat her slaves poorly.