utbagpiper
Banned
And, lets forget totally that slavery needed government to hold it up and enforce it.
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Whereas, without government laws requiring the return of runaway slaves, prohibiting arms to slaves and freedmen, treating self-defense by a slave as assault or against manumission, it would be very, very difficult to for slavers to maintain slavery. Your slaves either kill you, or run away. Without government to enforce your interests against the slaves, you're up a creek and out your "investment" as a slaver.
No it didn't.
All it needs is for one group to be stronger than another. Laws the upheld slavery were helpful, not at all necessary to perpetuate slavery as evidenced by the fact that slavery still exists (including underground in this nation) despite laws banning it, legal penalties, and the aid of society to free slaves when they are found. There was no government (beyond tribes that look a lot like what anarchists want voluntary social groups to look like) in Africa supporting the slave trade on that end.
When your only tool is a hammer, every problem must be warped into a nail.
Some seem to forget, overlook, or are ignorant of the Fugitive Slave law(s) passed by the fedgov requiring non-slave states to return courageous slaves who legitimately escaped their enslavers. A secession movement got started in northern states over that law. (See Dr. Tom Woods' book Nullification. Also, possibly videos of his addresses and comments on YouTube.)
Sounds a bit like laws that protect abortionist. Shall we discuss who owns you if "you" happen to be baby who hasn't been born yet?
Charles