Slavery demonstrated the superiority of southern civilization, continued Hammond. “In all social systems there must be a class to do the menial duties, to perform the drudgery of life. … It constitutes the very mudsill of society. … Such a class you must have, or you would not have that other class which leads progress, civilization, and refinement. … Your whole hireling class of manual laborers and ‘operatives,’ as you call them, are essentially slaves. The difference between us is, that our slaves are hired for life and well compensated … yours are hired by the day, not cared for, and
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