8.7.2++Slavery

Note: Just as the Abolitionist Movement was gaining momentum in the North, a counter-movement in defense of slavery was making itself felt in the justifications for their owning slaves. The following selection was written by George Fitzhugh of Virginia in 1854. It is taken from his book, SOCIOLOGY FOR THE SOUTH. 1. “the Negro is improvident (cannot provide for his future needs); will not lay up for the wants of winter; will not accumulate in youth for his needs of old age. He would become an insufferable burden to society. Society has the right to prevent this, and can only do so by subjecting him to domestic slavery.” 2. “…IN the last place, the Negro race is inferior to the white race, and in living in their midst they would be far outstripped or outwitted in the chase of free competition. Gradual but certain extermination would be their fate…” 3. “…But abolish Negro slavery, and how much slavery still remains. Soldiers and sailors in Europe enlist for life here for years. Are they not slaves who have not only sold their liberties, but their lives also?… wives and apprentices are slaves; not in theory only, but often in fact. Children are slaves to their parents, guardians to their teachers. Imprisoned culprits are slaves. Lunatics and idiots are slaves also. Three-fourths of society are slaves, no better treated when their wants and capacities are estimated, than Negro slaves. The masters in free society or slave society, if they perform properly their duties, have more cares and less liberty than the slaves themselves.” 4. “…We find slavery repeatedly instituted by God or by man acting under his immediate care and direction, as in the instances of Moses and Joshua. Nowhere in the Old of New Testament do we find the institution condemned, but frequently recognized and enforced.” 5. “…Slavery opens many sources of happiness and occasions and encourages the exercise of many virtues and affections which would be unknown as equality engenders antagonism and hostility on all sides…” 6. “…It is, we believe, conceded on all hands, that men are not born physically, morally, or intellectually equal…Their natural inequalities beget inequalities of rights. The weak in mind or body require guidance, support and protection; they must obey and work for those who protect and guide them…Nature has made them slaves; all that law and government can do is to regulate, modify and mitigate their slavery. The wise and virtuous, the brave the strong in mind and body, are by nature born to command and protect, and the law but follows nature in making them rulers, legislators, judges, husbands, guardians, committees, and masters.”
 * "In Defense of Slavery"**

I am with the South in life or in death, in victory or defeat. I never owned a negro and care nothing for them, but these people have been my friends and have stood up to me on all occasions. In addition to this, I believe the North is about to wage a brutal and unholy war on a people who have done them no wrong, in violation of the Constitution and the fundamental principles of government…We propose no invasion of the North, no attack on them, and only ask to be let alone.” -Patrick R. Cleburne May, 1861
 * __I am with the South__**

Racism was actually common on both sides and racial segregation actually begun in the north Free blacks in the north were still denied the right to vote in New Jersey in 1807 and Connecticut in 1811. Although there was a presence of abolitionists, the North had plenty of people who were attempting to prove the genetic inferiority of blacks. Eli Whitney’s cotton gin makes cotton very profitable and increases the need for large number s of slaves. Any threat to the end of slavery completely upturns way of life The South has a large share of political and economic power In the south, slavery is a “positive good” and not a “necessary evil”
 * More Myths about Slavery, Racism, and the North**

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schooladventures/slavery/ http://www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/ http://www.innercity.org/holt/slavechron.html Entire collection of images:http://hitchcock.itc.virginia.edu/Slavery/index.php