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 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 motion 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