Not “legend”, but “myth”. Nothing in the original texts of either the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution of the United States ever enshrined slavery as any kind of national policy or a protected right. It did take several amendments to the Constitution to spell out the actual prohibition of human bondage, but the roots of slavery were never in what was to become the United States.
Slavery was a condition of mankind from times immemorial, before there was recorded history, and is mentioned time and again in the earliest records of history, from ancient texts that have survived and been translated into today’s language. Outlawed today in virtually every country except for some of Muslim-majority rule, and practiced clandestinely yet today, there is no moral code that elevates slavery in any way to a virtue, or conversely even necessary as an evil.
Slavery in ancient Rome was a necessary part of both their culture and their economy, as the slaves were the task force that supplied the wants and needs of the “free” people and the upper ruling class. Human bondage was used to procure status, both by those who willingly signed into indentured service, and by those who imposed involuntary servitude upon others.
Slaves and indentured servants were delegated the jobs of doing all the scut work, that kept the power of the Roman Empire at the forefront of the civilized world in its time. The idea of a free people undertaking these tasks was not even considered.
“Not “legend”, but “myth”. Nothing in the original texts of either the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution of the United States ever enshrined slavery as any kind of national policy or a protected right.”
Garrison was a powerful voice in spreading that myth in the runup to the Civil War. And it still echoes in history departments that like his version of history.
This is incorrect. Article IV, section 2 makes it clear that slavery is protected, though it goes to some effort to avoid using the word "slave" or "slavery."
Also the section that allows congress to stop the slave imports after 1807 is a tacit indication that slavery was accepted under the constitution.