Others of his time were able to align their moral values with their personal behavior. John Jay inherited slaves but allowed his to gain manumission and was responsible for eliminating slavery in New York/ John Adams didn't own slaves and decried the practice along with his son, John Quincy Adams. Ben Franklin made do without slaves. These men weren't persecuted or prosecuted. It was perfectly acceptable not to own slaves or fight for the institution, Henry did both. His family didn't have to fear for their lives, only those his family owned.