George Fitzhugh Why Slavery Is Wrong

George Fitzhugh, a well-known planter and lawyer from Virginia, who believes that slavery is a necessary evil. This, however, is untrue, slavery is morally wrong and by enslaving people we are abducting them of their natural rights. Fitzhugh describes slavery as “impractical and self-destructive”, but isn’t it self-destructive to enslave and force manual labor to beings of the same species, one of which are not so different from ourselves other than the tone of their skin? Slavery has and always will be iniquitous. The truth is, all men are created and should be treated as equal because everyone has something to offer. Although Fitzhugh attempts to persuade people that slavery is a requisite, slavery is an atrocious act that is unnecessary to society.

How could anyone own another person? Is it right to call someone as their own property? These are the questions that Fitzhugh wrongly answers. Fitzhugh falsely declares slaves as a person’s property, comparing them to things like land, houses and money. This states that slaves, human beings that live and breathe the same air as our own are just items. This leads to anyone, even those with white skin, to have the ability to become

property. Someone could own you, and sell, trade, abuse you, just like items that we buy from a local store. Stripping you of your right to an education, the right to own property, to earn money, and to vote. Not to mention the fact, that these people are taken from their homeland and their families to be put to work for our own benefit.
Fitzhugh argues that some slaves are the “happiest” or “freest” people in the world. Despite the fact that those “free” slaves work numerous of hours in the blazing sun to do their master’s squalid work. In addition, Fitzhugh in an endeavor to promote slavery, portrays the white man as the victim, stating “When the day’s labor is ended, he is free, but is overburdened with the cares of family and household, which make his freedom an empty and delusive mockery.” This is an inadequate argument because the slaves also are burdened with taking care of the loved ones in more severe unlivable conditions. Fitzhugh goes on to insist that slaves are free too. “The negro slave is free, too, when the labors of the day are over, and free in mind as well as body; for the master provides food, raiment, house, fuel, and everything else necessary to the physical well-being of himself and family.” Although master “provides” the common slave with these necessities, the master is profiting from their numerous of hours of manual labor. Of course, the owner would provide for them if he’s profiting from them. It’s no different than providing food and shelter for the house pet because the owner has the pleasure of the pet’s company. Though this is a more delighting relationship than the one of a slave and his master.
Fitzhugh claims “The respectable way of living is, to make other people work for you, and pay them nothing for so doing—and to have no concern about them after their work is done.” How respectful it is to force people to work for you, especially since the slaves aren’t benefiting from their work?

Fitzhugh believes that freeing slaves would be detrimental not only to us, but to the slaves themselves. He stresses how society would “devour” them, but they are what is holding our society. They are what makes this society work, without them farms and crops would slow down significantly. So we should treat them as equal and with respect because they are an asset, that could improve this country. Setting them free would bring peace between two different races and prosperity to the

country.
“Hence, white slave- holding is much more respectable than negro slavery—for the master works nearly as hard for the negro, as he for the master.” Even though Fitzhugh asserts that the master works nearly as hard as the slave, this is untrue. The common slaves spend practically the whole day under the scorching hot sun while the master spends a quarter amount time outside and a majority of the time inside, breaking the slightest sweat. The master also has the liberty to take a break whenever he wants, but when the slaves take even the slightest break, they are significantly punished with a whip or more labor.
“The negro slaves of the South are the happiest, and, in some sense the freest people in
the world.” Fitzhugh stresses, but if this was true why do they appear so unhappy? They are given minimal food and water to survive, and are forced to live in horrendous conditions. In no way could you even stretched the truth to say that they are happy. Fitzhugh believes that the women, children and the aged that are enslave do little to nor work, and have the “necessaries of life provided for them.” If this were true, then they’re hands wouldn’t be drenched with red liquid from picking cotton. Though Fitzhugh continues to insist that the slaves aren’t working in bad conditions stating “the negro men and stout boys work, on the average, in good weather, not more than nine hours a day.” This can’t be true in the south, where the weather could get up to triple digits. His definition of good weather, is a huge stretch, and spending nine hours out in what he considers “good weather” doing labor could result for an exhausting day. Nevertheless, Fitzhugh even admits that the masters live in luxury without labor. “You retain your capital, and never labor, and yet live in luxury on the labor of others.” The ‘you’ in that sentence refers to the “respectable reader” that makes three thousand dollars per year while those that labor receive nothing.
To further assist his argument, Fitzhugh goes on to reiterate that the slaves are blessed with their enslavement. “With their faces upturned to the sun, they can sleep at any hour; and quiet sleep is the greatest of human enjoyments…” This is in fact would be true, if the slaves weren’t working a majority of the day for their master. How could they enjoy themselves when they’re on the edge of dying from dehydration and exhaustion? Because of this fact, this makes Fitzhugh’s argument invalid.