Cabinet Battle 3 (Demo) - Lin-Manuel Miranda

The issue on the table

A petition from a Quaker delegation in Philadelphia calling on Congress

To end the African slave trade and abolish slavery

In all its forms

This petition was written and signed by Benjamin Franklin

It cannot go ignored

This comes to a vote in Congress

What is the White House's position

Secretary Jefferson you first

Tread lightly

Sir

The constitution clearly states

That the states have to wait

Until eighteen oh eight to debate

On whether to end the slave trade

And whether or not you want it guys

That is the final compromise we made

Sir wait

But for a second let us say that we can legislate

Unanimous emancipation freedom reigns and yes it's great

We cannot cure prejudice or righteous desperate hate

So back to Africa or do they get a separate state

In 1784 I tried to float banning slavery in the West

My notion didn't get a single vote

Slavery's a sin it's growing like a cancer

But we can't address the question if we do not have an answer

Is it my turn

Good

Plantation states are packed with promise makers

Do you realize the precious time these legislators wasted

Institutionalizing slavery only multiplies our troubles

Wait till the 1800's and their population doubles

You all know

This is the stain on our soul and democracy

A land of the free

No it's not it's hypocrisy

To subjugate dehumanize a race call 'em property

And say that we are powerless to stop it can you not foresee

Sir even you you have hundreds of slaves

Whose descendants will curse our names when we're safe in our graves

How will the south find labor for its businesses

How will Thomas Jefferson find his next mistresses

How dare you

Yet still people follow like lemmings

All your hemming and hawing while you're hee hawing with Sally Hemings

That's enough

Well you asked how I feel

I don't pretend to know the answer but the question is real

If I may Mr President

Madison

Let's take this moment to establish a precedent

First of all sir we won't involve you in this

Imagine this debate with all of congress it's ruinous

I'll reassure the South 1808 is still the year

That was agreed upon

That buys us time and assuages fear

I'll tell the North that on January 1st

Of that year we'll ban importation handling the worst

Once I get all this agreed upon I'll pick up a pen

And introduce a notion never to discuss this again

Mr President

Hamilton if we support emancipation

Every single slave owner will demand compensation

And as for slandering Jefferson with talk of mistresses

Do you really wanna

Do you really wanna have that conversation

No

Madison execute your plan to the letter

Let's hope the next generation thinks of something better