Pinckney's Argument For Slavery

1. The basic premise of Pinckney’s argument is founded on the idea that slavery, as a societal instrument, naturally exists and has existed throughout recorded history of civilization and religion, therefore discrediting the notions of its immorality by several northern legislators. Additionally, Pinckney supports slavery as an economic tool as well as a political tool, both with the intention of maintaining the union. Representative Pinckney supports slavery through the theocratic appeal of the bible to the representatives of congress by stating, “Now, sir, … is there a single line in the Old of New Testament either censuring or forbidding it? I answer without hesitation.” In fact, Pinckney continues to enforce the idea of slavery by citing the historical influences of slavery in instances of “Hagar… and an African slave, brought out of Egypt… and the beloved servant of the Most High,” as well as, “the Jews and the Greeks and Romans had all slaves” (Document 2) Pinckney in his argument appeals to the representatives as an outstanding

Pinckney argues that slavery is, in fact, the force that unites the nation financially as, “an annual income of at least forty millions of dollars will be lost to your citizens, the loss of which will not alone be felt by the non-slaveholding states, but by the whole Union” (Document 2). On top of the moral concern of slavery, Pinckney also argues that the union only functions prosperously with the labor of slaves. The economic concern is true because of the industrial development of United States during the early 19th century. The first and largest industries developed in the North East focused around textiles and the production of finished clothing which would be less profitable and less incentivized without the active labor force of slavery providing the raw materials for industrial expansion through