Over the course of US History, slavery has been a major conflict in the nation. Starting from when America was still the 13 Colonies under the rule of Great Britain, slavery still existed until the 1800’s when President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation declaring all slaves to be freed. However, before the war, there were many debates on the morality of slavery and whether or Constitution supported this practice. On one side was Frederick Douglass, a black abolitionist who is a former slave; he believed that the Constitution gave all men, including African Americans, the three basic rights that everyone should have: life, liberty, and property. Jefferson Davis on the other hand, argued that the Constitution required the government
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In addition, the Preamble began with “We, the people of the United States,” meant ALL people in his eyes, including blacks, and not just “we the white people...not we the privileged class, not we the high, not we the low, but we the people” (Douglass). Since blacks should be considered to be proper people of the United States, they should not be deprived of life, liberty, or property as the Constitution stated. Davis on the other hand, strongly believed that the Constitution gave men the right of “property” with the life and liberty. Being a plantation owner in Mississippi, slaves was part of the definition of “property” since they were owned by someone. Additionally, he wants the federal government to protect that right of property by not submitting to the Northerner's plea of abolition. Likewise, Davis requested that the Territorial Legislature not violate that right by deciding themselves if slavery will be permitted in any new territory. He saw it as an overstepping of it’s power by making decisions not in their …show more content…
Douglass wants the government to pass a law that will outlaw slavery altogether. He even mentioned the idea of letting only the North run the country so that slavery could be abolished. Meanwhile, Davis, who was pro-slavery, wants the government to honor the people’s rights to own property as stated in the Constitution. The important fact that he stressed was that he didn’t want a war between the two regions, but just the North’s acceptance that the South needed slaves and for them not to interfere with the people’s
In addition, the Preamble began with “We, the people of the United States,” meant ALL people in his eyes, including blacks, and not just “we the white people...not we the privileged class, not we the high, not we the low, but we the people” (Douglass). Since blacks should be considered to be proper people of the United States, they should not be deprived of life, liberty, or property as the Constitution stated. Davis on the other hand, strongly believed that the Constitution gave men the right of “property” with the life and liberty. Being a plantation owner in Mississippi, slaves was part of the definition of “property” since they were owned by someone. Additionally, he wants the federal government to protect that right of property by not submitting to the Northerner's plea of abolition. Likewise, Davis requested that the Territorial Legislature not violate that right by deciding themselves if slavery will be permitted in any new territory. He saw it as an overstepping of it’s power by making decisions not in their …show more content…
Douglass wants the government to pass a law that will outlaw slavery altogether. He even mentioned the idea of letting only the North run the country so that slavery could be abolished. Meanwhile, Davis, who was pro-slavery, wants the government to honor the people’s rights to own property as stated in the Constitution. The important fact that he stressed was that he didn’t want a war between the two regions, but just the North’s acceptance that the South needed slaves and for them not to interfere with the people’s