‘To insist that southern colonies immediately free their slaves would have been tantamount to demanding they destroy the economic livelihood of the entire region.’
One’s economic livelihood does not justify holding people in slavery.
RE: One’s economic livelihood does not justify holding people in slavery.
I understand that. But I believe the author is saying that freeing the slaves IMMEDIATELY would have been impractical.
Gradual emancipation would have been a better idea ( too bad it never happened ).