[Hostage]

You argument and the other are silly. Slavery was an accepted condition of life before, then and now in parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Many slaves were indentured slaves, were of Caucasian descent. Many black slaves were also indentured and when they were freed, they bought land and slaves.

[donmeaker]

I will go beyond what you say. Slavery for the Roman Republic was an act of mercy. Before that, they simply killed the captured enemy out of hand, perhaps with a few saved for the triumpant parade. Many symbols of freedom come from Roman society, to include the cap of liberty (see the Army seal) and the striking of a freed slave with a "vindicta" stick to "vindicate" him. Also from Rome comes the law that kills all slaves in a household, if any one slave murders his master. The Greeks may also have had such a law? What have you found? I would rather look through the code of Draconis, rather than the code of Solon for it.

Of course the Bible describes slaves in Egypt. The american indians also had slaves, but also had a tradition of adopting the people they enslaved, joining them to their family. I have no illusions that American Indians were kinder or gentler than others. All slave owning people have natural affection for people with whom they spend time. Such natural human affections are only submerged by fear. When the slaves outnumber the owners plus the non-slaves, fear is the natural result.

The first movement of slaves in modern African history was Nigerians moved by the Dutch into Ghana, to work in the gold mines. The Dutch occupied the trading posts, now one of the tourist landmarks along the coast of Ghana. Later Slaves were more profitable than gold. Absolutly, the Dutch were involved up tho their eyebrows with slavery. However, the first africans imported for slavery came into Virginia before 1617, before the Dutch "Neu Amsterdam" colony was established. Therefore slavery in the south was NOT established by the North.

1617- "Symon the Negro" is condemned to become a slave to the colony during the Governor’s pleasure.
Nicholas Gabriel, a white man, is sentenced to become a slave to the colony until his good behaviour earns him a pardon.

1624 Dutch settle in New Amsterdam
June: The Virginia Company loses its charter; Virginia becomes a royal province due to mismanagement of the colony.

And if you want to find an interesting link, Google "Meaker Riot". My folks have been around here for a good while.

Still not ready to apologize? Tsk tsk.

[donmeaker]

I recall one case where Negroes, even freed Negroes were not allowed to own land in Virginia. They hired a lawyer, who started a Corporation, and they bought land and slaves. Since Corporations have no race, that was found to be legal. Many of the slaves that were bought were the wifes, children, siblings or parents of the share holders.

Fredrick Douglass was also bought out of slavery. It offended him no end that his "master" was still able to profit from him, years after he had made his escape.

Cinque, the leader of the revolted slaves on the Spanish ship "Armistad" later became a slave trader. The US Navy officer who took the Armistad took it to Connecticut, rather than to New York. Slavery was not legal in NY at that time, but was still legal in Connecticut, and if found to be legal slaves, they could be sold at auction, with the salvage or prize money to go to the Navy ship's company (with extra shares to the officers. They could have doubled their prize in this way. John Quincy Adams was able to argue successfully that the slaves were not legal, they were traveling under forged papers, and were, of right, free men and women. Some were returned to Africa, some stayed in the US.

The Great Rebellion was begun by foolish southern hotheads. The south had mooched off the north for tens of years. building forts using slave labor off the federal dollar.

Then, they lose one election, and they come up with a completely unjustified idea that the States, joined by the Articles of Confederation, and joined further by the current Constitution, are now suddenly "sovereign".

Rather than sue in court, the southern hotheads appealed to the sword. They lost. Badly. The winners have ever after had to console them with fairy tails about their bravery.

The notion that the Confederates got rid of their slaves before the north is pretty bogus. They lost their slaves by military action, conducted by the Union forces, at high cost. The rebels held on as long as they could, and tried to reestablish slavery after the war. The 13th and 14th amendment were necessary to keep the slaves free, by permitting them to arm themselves.

Now I am tired of correcting your egregious errors. good night.