Pro slavery Vs. Anti Slavery

    My last blog post was written about a man who basically goes against all of my morals. In class we were split into 2 sides pro slavery and anti slavery, then we were split into 2 different topics. One side argued State vs. Mann and the other was Pro slavery people vs. Anti slavery people. My side of the classroom had to take notes on the State vs. Mann case I found myself once again disgusted with our history. The State V. Mann case argued if or if not the slave owner John Mann should be punished by being fined $10 for shooting the slave Lydia in the back. The State started their argument off by saying that a slave owner Arthur William Hog whipped his slave to death for dropping a mango. Arthur was later hung as his punishment, therefore John Mann should also be punished even though Lydia didn't die. The anti slavery side continued by saying that John Mann only made things harder for himself by shooting Lydia because if she can't function, she can't work, he will also have to pay for her to be fixed up, and he could have permanently damaged her so she may never be able to work again. To conclude they said that since John Mann rented Lydia he is liable for the damages he causes to her under the contract he signed.  

    The Pro Slavery side of the classroom arguedon behalf of John Mann saying that he should have the  $10 returned to him because he didn't kill the slave Lydia. During this time Jim Crow Laws were in place which were also known back then as slave codes which stated that the slave can be punished, and the owner can not be punished if they accidentally kill the slave. Therefore John Mann is protected by the laws for shooting Lydia. Back then slavery was for economic purposes so slaves were in a sense property, they didn't even get citizen ship either. To conclude, the side of John Mann stated that even God accepts slavery. Even though religion doesn't hold up in court, the court ruled in favor of John Mann and returned the $10 to him. After hearing the verdict I was in complete shock I really felt that the Pro Slavery side had a very strong argument but I guess laws are laws and there is no bending them.