Was in an argument on another board about whether the Southern state governments had any kind of legislation in the works for an eventual end to slavery.
I argued that even though there were probably several anti-slavery groups in the South prior to the war, few of them had any kind of real influence or political power, and the power structure of the South, which of course included the wealthy plantation owners, who benefitted the most from slavery and who would be the most hurt by ending it, would vehemently oppose any kind of plan to free the slaves, gradual or otherwise.
The other party claimed otherwise, that the South was in fact going to free the slaves eventually, but they recognized that a wholesale freeing of all slaves, all at once, would have severe economic and societal impacts, not just in the South, but in the North as well, and the Abolitionists only served to fan flames that were best left to a slow burn.
I've searched the INternet for any articles stating that ANY Southern state was planning this, but came up empty. Maybe some of our more learned Civil War scholars can shed light on this? |