James Henry Hammond

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 James Henry Hammond



My name is James Henry Hammond. Let me tell you about the institution of slavery. First, let me tell you a little about my life. I was born in Newberry County, South Carolina on November 15, 1807. At the age of sixteen, I attended South Carolina College. I went on to get a law degree. I worked hard after college and won a congressional seat, became a senator, and served as the governor of South Carolina. I am now married to my beautiful wife Catherine and have an estate with nearly eleven thousand acres and 147 slaves. 


As a slave owner and a citizen of the United States, I am here today to endorse the institution of slavery. "In all social systems, there must be a class to do the menial duties, to perform the drudgery of life.” In the south, our menial laborers are slaves and in the north, they are immigrant workers. Radicals may believe that as a country we should all adopt the northern philosophy towards their lower-class workers but that would be a mistake. Northerner’s treat immigrant factory workers, worse than slaves. Workers are given Fifteen to sixteen-hour shifts, while only earning ten cents an hour. With those earnings, these workers must find housing, food, and clothing which many times leave them starving and without medical care. Down here in the south, slaves are given a roof over their head, food, clothing, and medical care. 





Economically, it is clear that slavery is important to the United States. Without slavery in the south, there would be no cotton to be shipped to the northern factories. This would result in massive unemployment and a complete collapse of the United States economy. "You dare not make war on cotton no power on earth dares make war upon it. Cotton is king." Slavery, I'm sure you can now see is economically beneficial for the whole of the United States and must remain intact. 





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