To circumvent this problem , in 1794 he quietly sought to sell off his western lands and lease his outlying farms in order to finance the emancipation of his slaves , but this plan fell through .
Not enough buyers and renters could be found .
To circumvent this problem , in 1794 he quietly sought to sell off his western lands and lease his outlying farms in order to finance the emancipation of his slaves , but this plan fell through because not enough buyers and renters could be found .