Fitzhugh vs. Douglass

In the decades leaving up to the civil war two men argued in the 1850's with opposing opinions about slavery. George Fitzhugh and Frederick Douglass tried to convince people each of their own opinions were correct. Douglass was against slavery while Fitzhugh was fighting for it.

Douglass is a former slave from the South, born in Maryland and strongly disagrees with slavery. He is an abolishinist as well. Douglass thinks it is wrong to have sympathry for the slaves and does not think people should ever consider, "what do we do", just do not do it. In his argument he says everyone should get a chance no matter who you are, "Give him a chance to stand on his own legs" (Douglass). He believed that everyone should get a chance to start even if everyone around them thinks they are destine to fail. Also, he argued that white africans should not be sent back to Africa and also that everyone should be free regardless of who they are. He believed that the killing of the black man Attuck Crispus was the start to freedom. Lastly, Douglass believed that it was wrong to force blacks to be forced to celebrate the fourth of July because although the American's were free they were not. By forcing them to celebrate freedom that does not apply to them it id just teasing them with something they cannot have.

George Fitzhugh is a former lawyer from Virginia and an author of two books and articles advocating slavery. He believes that blacks are inferior to the whites, "...the negro race is inferior to the white race, and living in their midst, they would be far outstripped or outwitted in the chaos of free competition" (George Fitzhugh). He beleived slaves are unprepared for the future and owners are providing?preventing them from struggling. He argued that the south would care for the slaves and they would freeze/starvein the North because no one would be caring for them. He also argued that the North had domestic violence and that the South had higher morals than the whites in the North. He said slavery protects, supports, civilizes the slaves. Fitzhugh also says Negros are protected by slave owners and if they have no freedom they no worries.

Although I do not agree with Fitzhugh's argument I would say that it is presented stronger than Douglass' argument. Fitzhugh is more specific and much more pursuasive than Douglass is throughout his argument. Fitzhugh states continuesly states examples of how the the negro race will be much happier and safer and have an overall better life if they stayed in the South. Yet, leaving out how they will have no freedom and instead stating, "The negro slaves of the South are the happiest, and, in some sense, the freest people in the world" (Fitzhugh). This statement is extremely powerful for his argument because he is saying that because the negroes have no freedom therefore they have no worries and if they go and compete in the free market with freedom and decision making it will create worries. This could make someone rethink their decision to go into the North and be free or stay in the South and be a slave.

Douglass' argument may be a bit weaker than Fitzhugh's but I agree with Douglass' argument in the long run. Douglass' argument has many strong points when he is arguing that slavery is wrong. He argues that negroes should get a chance to try new things and compete just as white people do, "...If the negro cannot stand on his own legs, let him fall also." (Douglass) This is a strong point in his argument that I agree with, as he is saying everyone should get a chance to try, even if they fail. Also, that whites have the same chance to fail as blacks do, just as they have the same chance to succeed. Overall I agree with Douglass' argument even if it was slightly weaker than Fitzhugh's.

Fitzhugh and Douglass argued over different points about slavery in the 1850's, trying to convince people that each of their different opinions were correct. Douglass was overall correct I believe, even if Fitzhugh's argument may have gotten to the people in a clearer more pursuasive way.