--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In 1790 we had less than eight hundred…" description: "\"In 1790 we had less than eight hundred thousand slaves. Under our mild and humane administration of the system they have increased above four millions...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/robert-toombs-19394_above_in-1790-we-had-less-than-eight-hundred-t_1575359.png" --- # In 1790 we had less than eight hundred thousand slaves… ![“In 1790 we had less than eight hundred thousand slaves. Under our mild and humane administration of the system they have increased above four millions.” quote by Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/robert-toombs-19394_above_in-1790-we-had-less-than-eight-hundred-t_1575359.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/robert-toombs-19394_above_in-1790-we-had-less-than-eight-hundred-t_1575359.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ff/robert-toombs-19394_above_in-1790-we-had-less-than-eight-hundred-t_1575359.png) > “In 1790 we had less than eight hundred thousand slaves. Under our mild and humane administration of the system they have increased above four millions.” [Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-toombs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Under a supposedly humane system, slave numbers grew dramatically, exposing the fallacy of “mild” administration. **In simple terms:** Slave population rose despite claims of humane rule. Key Takeaway Question euphemistic justifications. Themes history slavery politics Mood critical historical Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy debates - educational curricula - museum exhibits Key Concepts economics human rights systemic oppression Questions to Reflect On - How does language mask oppression? - What responsibilities do leaders have? A Different Perspective Bias may downplay brutality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [1790 Thousand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/1790-thousand-5938954/) [Above](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/above/) [Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) [Administration Increased](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration-increased-5938955/) [Eight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eight/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [Humane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humane/) [Hundred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hundred/) [Increased](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/increased/) [Less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/less/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Mild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mild/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Slaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaves/) [Slaves Mild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaves-mild-5938953/) [System](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/system/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Thousand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand/) [Thousand Slaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand-slaves-2994151/) ## Related quotes > [One big question that's come up is: Has autism increased on the mild side of things? I don't think so - they've always been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/one-big-question-that-s-come-up-is-has-autism-increased-on-the-mild/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [One dedicated worker is worth a thousand slaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/one-dedicated-worker-is-worth-a-thousand-slaves/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I would have been able to free a thousand more slaves if I could only have convinced them that they were slaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-would-have-been-able-to-free-a-thousand-more-slaves-if-i-could-only/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/freed-a-thousand-slaves-i-could-have-freed-a-thousand-more-if-only/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would advise persisting in our struggle for liberty, though it were revealed from Heaven that nine hundred and ninety-nine men were to perish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/i-would-advise-persisting-in-our-struggle-for-liberty-though-it-were/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [He made me by clay but the clay left soft and mild,and that is why I am so sensitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zarnab/he-made-me-by-clay-but-the-clay-left-soft-and-mild-and-that-is-why-i/) [Zarnab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zarnab/) > [Single parenting is sometimes just a case of sitting around by yourself in mild despair, not knowing what to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/single-parenting-is-sometimes-just-a-case-of-sitting-around-by/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) > [Relatively mild gusts of wind blow some trees down. Graceful palm trees, for example, are lovely to look at but will not stand up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/relatively-mild-gusts-of-wind-blow-some-trees-down-graceful-palm/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [Anger is like mild, it should not be kept too long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/anger-is-like-mild-it-should-not-be-kept-too-long/) [Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) > [One who is mild rather than forceful has greater capacity for outreach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-ibn-abi-talib/one-who-is-mild-rather-than-forceful-has-greater-capacity-for-outreach/) [Ali ibn Abi Talib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-ibn-abi-talib/) > [My mother, who was quite sharp when I was young, became utterly mild.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonia-fraser/my-mother-who-was-quite-sharp-when-i-was-young-became-utterly-mild/) [Antonia Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonia-fraser/) > [Catfish has a nice firm texture and mild flavor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-douglas/catfish-has-a-nice-firm-texture-and-mild-flavor/) [Tom Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-douglas/) > [The face of tyranny Is always mild at first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/the-face-of-tyranny-is-always-mild-at-first/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [I am not a Caspar Milquetoast, but most of the time, I'm mild. I can afford to be because I don't have the fears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bronson/i-am-not-a-caspar-milquetoast-but-most-of-the-time-i-m-mild-i-can/) [Charles Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bronson/) > [Remember that when you meet your antagonist, to do everything in a mild agreeable manner. Let your courage be keen, but, at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/remember-that-when-you-meet-your-antagonist-to-do-everything-in-a/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) ## More by Robert Toombs > [The day the army of Virginia allows a negro regiment to enter their lines as soldiers they will be degraded, ruined, and disgraced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-toombs/the-day-the-army-of-virginia-allows-a-negro-regiment-to-enter-their/) [Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-toombs/) > [We can today open wide the history of their administrations and point with pride to every act, and challenge the world to point out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-toombs/we-can-today-open-wide-the-history-of-their-administrations-and-point/) [Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-toombs/) > [There are courageous and honest men enough in both sections to fight. There is no question of courage involved. The people of both sections…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-toombs/there-are-courageous-and-honest-men-enough-in-both-sections-to-fight/) [Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-toombs/) > [Neither these statesmen nor their constituents sought in any way to use the Government for the interest of themselves or their section, or for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-toombs/neither-these-statesmen-nor-their-constituents-sought-in-any-way-to/) [Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-toombs/) > [The door of conciliation and compromise is finally closed by our adversaries, and it remains only to us to meet the conflict with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-toombs/the-door-of-conciliation-and-compromise-is-finally-closed-by-our/) [Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-toombs/) > [Liberty, in its last analysis, is but the sweat of the poor and the blood of the brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-toombs/liberty-in-its-last-analysis-is-but-the-sweat-of-the-poor-and-the/) [Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-toombs/) > [The basis, the corner-stone of this Government, was the perfect equality of the free, sovereign, and independent States which made it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-toombs/the-basis-the-corner-stone-of-this-government-was-the-perfect/) [Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-toombs/) > [This position of this Northern party brought about the troubles of 1850, and the political excitement of 1854.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-toombs/this-position-of-this-northern-party-brought-about-the-troubles-of/) [Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-toombs/) > [Peace and commerce with foreign nations could be more effectually and cheaply cultivated by a common agent; therefore they gave the Federal Government the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-toombs/peace-and-commerce-with-foreign-nations-could-be-more-effectually-and/) [Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-toombs/) > [They enlarged the domains of commerce by treaties with all nations, upon the great principle of equal justice to all nations, and special favors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-toombs/they-enlarged-the-domains-of-commerce-by-treaties-with-all-nations/) [Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-toombs/) > [Mr. Tyler acquired Texas by voluntary compact, and Mr. Polk California and New Mexico by successful war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-toombs/mr-tyler-acquired-texas-by-voluntary-compact-and-mr-polk-california/) [Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-toombs/) > [Those who tell you that the territorial question is an abstraction, that you can never colonize another territory without the African slavetrade, are both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-toombs/those-who-tell-you-that-the-territorial-question-is-an-abstraction/) [Robert Toombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-toombs/) > [Mr. President at this time it is suicide, murder, and will lose us every friend at the North. 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