Noah Webster condemned the abolitionist movement as deranged and dangerous.

Evidence

I have seen your last letter to your sister Julia, in which, as in a former letter, you say that the spirit of abolition is among you. I am very sorry for this. The abolitionists are pursuing a course which, if not checked, will or may drench this country with blood. They are absolutely deranged…. The inference in that, remove the protecting force of the north and the slaves will rise and vindicate their right—this would sacrifice fifty or perhaps a hundred thousand men, women, and children—but no matter, the slaves would obtain their rights! Such appear to be their wishes. — Tamara Lanier, From These Roots, 217

Categorization

• CANDY: The ‘Father of American Scholarship’ calling abolitionists ‘absolutely deranged’ and deserving of jail is a sharp, shareable counterintuitive tidbit.
• SHARE: Send to a history teacher or anyone with an interest in founding-era contradictions.