Why do you find it disturbing that the majority of the USA wanted to end slavery, but lacked the political power to do so - or that they tried political methods before resorting to war 70 years later?
The slaveholders obviously did not consider their slaves to be fully human, but oddly enough wanted them counted as people so they could increase their political power. It sounds odd, but it was the people trying to end slavery that had to press for slaves to be counted as non-humans. Politics has strange twists.
I made no defense of either slavery or lynching. Both were obviously evil - although it was the democrats who opposed federal anti-lynching laws. However, in terms of impacting black Americans today, I point out black on black murders (93% of the total) are killing twice as many young black men each year as were killed by lynching during its 70 year evil reign. Inner city black churches should spend less time complaining about slavery (ended over 140 years ago) and more on ending the suicidal tendencies in inner city society.
Rev Wright can complain as much as he wants about white people holding back blacks, but it is black men who are killing young black men in terrifying numbers. If he was less wrapped up in hate, he would be better able to see where the problem really lies!
“I made no defense of either slavery or lynching. Both were obviously evil - although it was the democrats who opposed federal anti-lynching laws. However, in terms of impacting black Americans today, I point out black on black murders (93% of the total) are killing twice as many young black men each year as were killed by lynching during its 70 year evil reign. Inner city black churches should spend less time complaining about slavery (ended over 140 years ago) and more on ending the suicidal tendencies in inner city society.
Rev Wright can complain as much as he wants about white people holding back blacks, but it is black men who are killing young black men in terrifying numbers. If he was less wrapped up in hate, he would be better able to see where the problem really lies!”
Worth repeating.
The state proportional power was based upon the number of people to be represented who lived there. The slave States thought the slaves should count, for they ‘represented’ their interests inasmuch as wishing to retain their value as a commodity. The compromise was that they only represented 3/5ths of that persons interests, not that the person was less than a person.
“Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.)” From Article I.