I believe that slavery makes sense from various perspectives. There are historical, Biblical, natural, and legal justifications for the institution of slavery.
From a historical perspective, slavery is justified because it has always existed. Various societies across different historical periods have had slaves. Examples of such civilizations include the Greeks, Romans, and English. Given that there is a historical precedent for the “peculiar institution,” it would be erroneous to dismiss slavery as something that is new. Americans should follow the example set by other great civilizations and continue this practice.
The Bible also shares the view that slavery is right. Some of the people in the Bible who found God’s favor had slaves. For instance, Abraham, who was chosen by God to be the Father of All Nations, was a slaveowner. If God did not approve of Abraham’s actions, He would have condemned him instead. Additionally, the New Testament instructs slaves to obey their masters as wives do their husbands (Wills). God did not outrightly ask people to stop practicing servitude, which means that He did not disapprove of this action (Wills). Thus, the institution of slavery is found even in the Bible, and it is not something that God condemns.
Slavery can also be viewed as a natural institution since some people perform better as slaves. Some ancient philosophers, such as Aristotle, believed that certain people are innately slaves. This includes people who cannot sufficiently think for themselves (Wills). They are better suited to receive instructions from their masters. Natural slaves might even thrive under servitude because this enables them to serve in their rightful and most comfortable position in society. The servants become more civilized and enjoy better living conditions. Thus, it makes sense for some individuals to be natural servants to others. Besides, it is expected that the superior will rule over the inferior (Wills). Human beings have never been equal, and the natural order of beings dictate that some people will be above others. Therefore, slavery is not only justifiable, but it is also natural.
Lastly, slavery is sanctioned by the law as evidenced in the Dred Scott ruling. In 1857, the Supreme Court ruled that slaves cannot sue their masters because the former are not considered US citizens. Furthermore, the court established that slaveowners are legally protected by the Fifth Amendment which considers enslaved persons as legal property of their owners (Nicholas 7). American citizens must respect the sanctity of the law and follow decisions made by the court.
As a white man, I do not find any major flaws with the institution of slavery. I believe it gives African Americans a shot at a better life. Some civilizations rose to greatness because of the contributions made by those in servitude. Slavery was also practiced during biblical times, and it would be a mistake to deviate from this tradition. Moreover, there are natural and legal reasons why enslavement is right. From whatever angle you look at it, America should uphold this peculiar institution.
Works Cited
Nicholas, Mike. “Supreme Decision: Roger Taney and the Dred Scott Case.”The Histories, vol. 5, no.1, 2019, pp. 1-10. Web.
Wills, Matthew. “How Antebellum Christians Justified Slavery.”Daily JSTOR, 2022. Web.