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Many southern Aristocrats did (and apparently, still do) hold to the notion that they were doing their slaves a favor by keeping them slaves, as they would be incapable of surviving the disadvantages of being free.
The slave holders had one opinion about the dangers of freedom, but I wonder if the slaves might not have had a different opinion.
Seems to me that our southern friend has a far better grasp of reality concerning slavery than our old friend Opn. While I won't use Ozarks's terminology, he ain't far off the mark. The most difficult part about studying this silly horrific war is placing oneself in the mid 19th century. Black folks, like white, yellow and red ones have considerably varying skills depending on their enivronment. Many a slave could read probably as well I can today. Many could not. Depending on the time spent in this country, the language barrier (remember the old Roots series) was a tremendous obstacle. While I'll bet most slaves had a desire for freedom, the circumstances they had to face were brutal. Yes, protection was part of the problem. No protection was worse. Slaves became family. Yes, it took a while, but TRUE.
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Ancestors in US Army: 13th TN Cav; 10th TN Cav; 3rd NC Inf
Ancestors in CSA Army: 48th VA; 63rd VA, 5th NC Cav; 37th NC
Wife and Grandson's CSA: 15th AL, 51st GA, 41st TN; 36th TN; GA Mil 1197 Dist
At the risk of being crude, let me put it this way:
Out here in the country, we're always having to deal with dogs that dumbarses from town have dumped on us. Lazy bastards that aren't willing or able to take care of their own. Over the course of my life, I bet I've seen 25 or 30 of 'em. Wild. Feral. Starving to Death. I believe dogs are man's best friend, Cash. I love dogs. I could NEVER dump my dog in the country. NEVER! I could take it out back and shoot it in the head, but I could NEVER dump it in the country.
How much more do you think I value human life Cash? How much more do you think my ancesters valued them young black girls?
Way more, sir. Way more!
Ain't no way they could've "cut 'em loose to fend for themselves". Ain't no way they could've "sold 'em down the river" either.
I don't understand your position. So are you saying that those girls weren't more intelligent than dogs? We are talking about human beings here, right? People who can think and reason?
Again, there were many, many free people in the US at that time, and they could survive without being slaves. Why did these young ladies have to be slaves to survive?
Seems to me that our southern friend has a far better grasp of reality concerning slavery than our old friend Opn. While I won't use Ozarks's terminology, he ain't far off the mark. The most difficult part about studying this silly horrific war is placing oneself in the mid 19th century. Black folks, like white, yellow and red ones have considerably varying skills depending on their enivronment. Many a slave could read probably as well I can today. Many could not. Depending on the time spent in this country, the language barrier (remember the old Roots series) was a tremendous obstacle.
There were plenty of white folks running around who couldn't read or write and nobody was enslaving them "for their own good."
Quote:
Originally Posted by larry_cockerham
While I'll bet most slaves had a desire for freedom, the circumstances they had to face were brutal. Yes, protection was part of the problem. No protection was worse. Slaves became family. Yes, it took a while, but TRUE.
If it weren't so sad, it'd be funny Cash. The letters and words appear to be English, but you and I ain't speaking the same language. How can that be, Ya'll?
Let's let'er go.
You go ahead and see things your way. I'll keep my mouth shut.
If it weren't so sad, it'd be funny Cash. The letters and words appear to be English, but you and I ain't speaking the same language. How can that be, Ya'll?
Let's let'er go.
You go ahead and see things your way. I'll keep my mouth shut.
John may have something there. Cash obviously ain't listening.
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Ancestors in US Army: 13th TN Cav; 10th TN Cav; 3rd NC Inf
Ancestors in CSA Army: 48th VA; 63rd VA, 5th NC Cav; 37th NC
Wife and Grandson's CSA: 15th AL, 51st GA, 41st TN; 36th TN; GA Mil 1197 Dist
I've thought about this a little bit more, Cash. I don't think you caught my drift.
Just what do you think we do with them dogs? Take 'em in and feed 'em? Spend hundreds of dollars on vet bills and run the risk of 'em killin' our own dogs or biting our kids? Not Hardly.
Back in the day .....
I can't even make myself say it.
Somebody else tell him what would've happened to them gals. Please.
Gents; I can see both positions. A woman alone, white or black, on the frontier had a very rough life ahead of her. That said; the further west a woman went the more precious commodithy she was. There are ample stories of men hanging other men simply because said man spoke poorly of or to a woman.
Life for a woman on the frontier was as harse as it gets and a woman gladly took what protection she could get. Would she better as a slave? No, but she would at least be in a situation she was familiar w/.
Would I free any slave I owned? Absolutely, but that is me a man of the 20th century.
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Shane Christen
American Legion Post 352
SUVCW Camp Abernethy# 48
Lifetime NRA member
3rd MN VI
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Eccl 1:18
Although southern society was, in fact, becoming more oppressive concerning it's slaves as the war approached and it became harder and harder for even freed slaves to obtain any justice anywhere in the south. It seems to be the historical case, that the lives of freed slaves was relatively, safe as long as they 'knew their place' and 'didn't get uppity' So a slave owner freeing his slaves, IF it were allowed in his state, was not an automatic excuse for murder and/or rape, by either the ex slave minority nor the racist majority.
After the CW the life of the freed slaves was still hard and maybe, in some cases, even problematic. It is well to remember, that no one took an official poll to see if the slaves really wanted to be freed, But it was assumed by the vast majority of of whites that given a choice of emancipation or continued slavery, that there was little doubt as to which option the vast majority of slaves would choose.
The slaves never voted to be slaves, but when the war came, the slaves voted for freedom with their feet, any time a Union Army came close enough.
To argue that you are saving the slave from a fate worse than death, by not freeing them, is an argument for slavery.
I've thought about this a little bit more, Cash. I don't think you caught my drift.
Just what do you think we do with them dogs? Take 'em in and feed 'em? Spend hundreds of dollars on vet bills and run the risk of 'em killin' our own dogs or biting our kids? Not Hardly.
Back in the day .....
I can't even make myself say it.
Somebody else tell him what would've happened to them gals. Please.
Again, there were plenty of free people in the United States. You said, "My paternal ancestors (G4 & G5) crossed the Mississippi River and settled Missouri before Missouri was a state. They came from Virginia via Kentucky. G5 earned a pension during the War of 1812. Like his father (G6) had done in the Rev. War."
So we're talking Virginia before 1820. Are you trying to tell me a free person in Virginia in 1820 couldn't survive?
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