Excerpt from Memoir on Slavery, Read Before the Society for the Advancement of Learning, of South Carolina, at Its Annual Meeting at Columbia, 1837

Will those who regard Slavery as immoral, or crime in itself, tell us that man was not intended for civilization, but to roam the earth as a biped brute? That he was not to raise his eyes to Heaven, or be conformed in his nobler faculties to the image of his Maker? Or will they say that the Judge of all the earth has done wrongin ordaining the means by which alone that end can be attained? It is true that the Creator can make the wickedness as well as the wrath of man to praise him, and bring forth the most benevolent results from the most atrocious actions. But in such cases, it is the motive of the actor alone which condemns the action. The act itself is good, if it promotes the good purposes of God, and would be approved by him, if that result only were intended. Do they not blaspheme the previ dence of God who denounce as wickedness and outrage, that which is rendered indispensable to his purposes in the government of the world Or at what stage of the progress of society will they say that Slavery ceases to be necessary, and its very existence becomes sin and crime? I am aware that such argument would have little effect on those with whom it would be degrading to contend - who pervert the inspired writings - which in some parts expressly sanction Slavery, and throughout indicate most clearly that it is a civil institution, with which religion has no concern - with a shallowness and presumption not less flagrant and shameless than his, who would justify murder from the text, and Phineas arose and executed judgment.

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