Analysis Of Garnet's Appeal For The Bondsman

The phrase “All men are created equal,” infamously declared by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, is perhaps one of the most captivating and influential sayings to ever be written. However, it’s ironic how the colonists were chasing after their independence from England, claiming that the British didn’t properly protect their rights and liberties, when they didn’t even give freedom to everyone amongst themselves, given their increasingly harsh treatment of slaves. Slaves were seen as property without any kinds of rights, whom can be sold and bought at any given time. Reliance on slave labor developed in America, especially in the South, as a result of the overwhelming need for labor on large plantations in order to help grow crops such …show more content…
Garnet reasons that trading with the U.S. is promoting the egregious slavery system, in which slaves are constantly treated like chattel property. Garnet depicts America’s cruel treatment of slaves by comparing the unfortunate lives of some in England to those of slaves. He says that at least the poor men in England, who have to work really hard to make a living, are working for themselves and not for an owner, like slaves have to do. At least nobody can force them to separate from their respective families, like slaves are frequently forced to. At least they can leave and come to a place whenever they please, unlike slaves. Lastly, even though they don’t make much, at least they can receive a wage, while an American slave will likely never see a wage a day in his life. (p.1) As a result, those who are unfortunate in England can at least have hope that one day their fortunes will turn for the better, whereas American slaves have no hope because they aren’t even seen as