Slavery
Slavery is one of the most significant issues in the American history. It was one of the issues that drew both support and criticisms from different individuals and movements. On this note, the summaries of The American Anti-Slavery Society Declaration of Sentiments and the Declaration of Independence depicts both pro-slavery and anti-slavery arguments.
On the one hand, AAS Declaration of Sentiments served as a major voice among abolitionists in 1830s. The AAS advocated for abolition of slavery, racial equality, and separation of Free states from the slave ones. The sentiments argued that men had alienable rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, and they should be used to forbid people from doing evil (17). They opposed oppression, slavery, and suffering among people because the constitution provided legal protection to all men. More importantly the AAS was concerned about the fate of the slavery that had subjected one sixth of the population, especially, the Blacks to suffering. When expressing this grievance, the AAS claimed, “For the crime of having a dark complexion, they suffer the pangs of hunger, the inflictions of stripes, and the ignominy of brutal servitude (18)”. These words show that the slaves had suffered greatly, and it was becoming increasingly important to abolish slavery. They maintained that no man had the right to enslave the other or deny him any means to improve his intellectual, moral, and social wellbeing. It was important to abide by the law of nature that dictates that all people have the rights to enjoy their freedom. Therefore, the opposed they opposed the idea that white planters should be compensated for emancipating their slaves. The AAS maintained that the slaves are not property, and Congress should suppress the domestic slave trade between states (20). On this note, the AAS played a significant role in fighting against the enslavement of blacks.
On the other hand, George Fitzhugh is one of the most notable pro-slavery theorists. He was popular for taking extreme position towards the Declaration of Independence. Fitzhugh thought that the idea of all men being equal was wrong, and he also discussed other issues he had with this pronouncement. First, the Declaration of Independence proposed that are men were created equally, and they some rights such as life and liberty cannot be alienated from them. Secondly, any form of government should not destructive, alter or abolish these rights (177). However, Fitzhugh did not support this idea. He argued that there is no way all men can be treated equally because they have physical, moral, and intellectual differences. He stated, “Their natural inequalities beget inequalities of rights. The weak in mind or body requires guidance, support, and protection” (178). He implied that slavery should not be abolished
Fitzhugh argued that there are natural differences among men which should be the basis of denying some people to enjoy some rights especially liberty. Therefore, his position supported that the law should make it easy for those who are naturally wise and bold to command and even enslave the weak ones. Ironically, he believed that without slavery and control, some people would more prone to failures and evils. He insisted that the entitlement of equal rights to all men cannot be possible. He claimed, “That some were born with saddles on their backs, and others booted and spurred to ride them” (). In this case, Fitzhugh wanted to show that some rights cannot be considered alienable because naturally, men cannot be same. Therefore, as a pro-slavery theorist, he opposed the ideologies of granting all men freedom because he believed that nature dictated that the strong should master the weak.
Summarily, the summaries of The American Anti-Slavery Society Declaration of Sentiments and the Declaration of Independence makes it easier to understand the pro-slavery and anti-slavery arguments. Those who opposed slavery such as Fitzhugh argued that men had physical and intellectual differences which means that they cannot have equal rights. In their case, the anti-slavery movements claimed that no man had the right to enslave the other, and people should enjoy equal rights.