Ebook Slavery in History

History demonstrates that slavery is not coevalwith, nor inherent in, human society, but is the off spring of social derangement and decay. The health iest physical organism may, under certain conditions, develop from within, or receive by infection from without, diseases which are coeval, so to Speak, with the creation, and which hover perpetually over animal life. The disease, too, may be acute or chronic, ao cording to the conditions or predispositions of the organism. History teaches that domestic slavery may, at times, affect the healthiest social organism, and be developed, like other Social disorders and crimes, so to speak, in the very womb of the nation. As the tendency of vigorous health is to prevent physical derangements and diseases, so the tendency of society in its most elevated conception is to pre vent, to limit, to neutralize, if not Wholly to extirpate, all social disorders. Not depravity and disease, but purity and virtue are the normal condition of the indi vidual: not oppression but freedom Is the normal condition of society.