Cabinet Battle #3 (Demo)
[Lin-Manuel Miranda as Washington]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. If this comes to a vote in Congress, what is the White House's position? Secretary Jefferson, you first. Tread lightly...
[Miranda as Jefferson]SirThe constitution clearly statesThat the states have to waitUntil eighteen-oh-eight to debateOn whether to end the slave tradeAnd whether or not you want it, guysThat is the final compromise we made
[Miranda as Hamilton]Sir wait-
[Miranda as Jefferson]But for a second let us say that we can legislateUnanimous emancipation, freedom reigns, and yes, it's greatWe cannot cure prejudice or righteous, desperate hateSo back to Africa or do they get a separate state?In 1784, I tried to float banning slavery in the WestMy notion didn't get a single voteSlavery's a sin, it's growing like a cancerBut we can't address the question if we do not have an answer
[Miranda as Hamilton]Is it my turn? GoodPlantation states are packed with promise makersDo you realize the precious time these legislators wasted?Institutionalizing slavery only multiplies our troublesWait till the 1800's, and their population doublesYou all knowThis is the stain on our soul and democracyA land of the free? No, it's not, it's hypocrisyTo subjugate, dehumanize a race, call 'em propertyAnd say that we are powerless to stop it, can you not foresee?Sir, even you, you have hundreds of slavesWhose descendants will curse our names when we're safe in our gravesHow will the south find labor for its businesses?How will Thomas Jefferson find his next mistresses?
[Miranda as Jefferson]How dare you
[Miranda as Hamilton]Yet still, people follow like lemmingsAll your hemming and hawing, while you're hee-hawing with Sally Hemings
[Miranda as Washington]That's enough
[Miranda as Hamilton]Well you asked how I feelI don't pretend to know the answer, but the question is real
[Miranda as Madison]If I may, Mr. President?
[Miranda as Washington]Madison?
[Miranda as Madison]Let's take this moment to establish a precedentFirst of all, sir, we won't involve you in thisImagine this debate with all of congress, it's ruinousI'll reassure the South, 1808 is still the yearThat was agreed uponThat buys us time and assuages fearI'll tell the North that on January 1stOf that year, we'll ban importation handling the worstOnce I get all this agreed upon, I'll pick up a penAnd introduce a motion never to discuss this again
[Miranda as Hamilton]Mr President!
[Miranda as Madison]Hamilton, if we support emancipationEvery single slave owner will demand compensationAnd as for slandering Jefferson with talk of mistressesDo you really wanna-
[Mirandas as Madison and Jefferson]Do you really wanna have that conversation?
[Miranda as Hamilton]No
[Miranda as Washington]Madison, execute your plan to the letterLet's hope the next generation thinks of something better