That little paper there deals with freedom for Americans! Oh, really. Mr. Adams is now...

[on the anti-slavery clause] John Adams: That little paper there deals with freedom for Americans! Edward Rutledge: Oh, really. Mr. Adams is now calling our black slaves "Americans!" Are they, now? John Adams: Yes, they are. They are people, and they are here. If there's any other requirement, I haven't heard it. Edward Rutledge: They are here, yes, but they are not people sir, they are property. Thomas Jefferson: No, sir they are people who are being treated as property! I tell you, the rights of human nature are deeply wounded by this infamous practice! Edward Rutledge: Then see to your own wounds Mr. Jefferson, for you are a practitioner are you not? Thomas Jefferson: I have already resolved to release my slaves. Edward Rutledge: Oh. Then I'm sorry, for you've also resolved the ruination of your own personal economy. John Adams: Economy. Always economy. There's more to this than a filthy purse-string, Rutledge! It is an offense against man and God! Hopkins: It's a stinking business, Mr. Rutledge, a stinking business! Edward Rutledge: Is it really now, Mr. Hopkins? Then what's that I smell floating down from the North? Could it be the aroma of hy-pocrisy? For who holds the other end of that filthy purse-string, Mr. Adams? Our northern brethren are feeling a bit tender toward our black slaves. They don't keep slaves! Oh, no. But they are willing to be considerable carriers of slaves to others. They're willin'! For the shillin'. Or haven't you heard, Mr. Adams? Clink, clink.