Contrast the positions taken by Ben Frank, Madison, and Jackson on the silent issue.

Franklin- As a young man Franklin bought and sold slaves. This was simply a context of his life. Franklin did not publicly speak out against slavery until very late in his life. He became a very outspoken critic of slavery and introduced a petition to abolish it to the House on February 12 and to the Senate on February 15, 1790.

James Jackson strongly opposed to efforts to curtail slavery. He wanted it to continue as a silent status-quo practice.

James Madison was strongly opposed to slavery, he believed that it was bad for both the slave and the slave owner.