James Henry Hammond Quotes

• In all social systems there must be a class to do the menial duties, to perform the drudgery of life. That is, a class requiring but a low order of intellect and but little skill. Its requisites are vigor, docility, fidelity. Such a class you must have, or you would not have that other class which leads progress, civilization, and refinement.

  James Henry Hammond

  Skills, Order, Civilization

  James Henry Hammond (1866). “Selections from the Letters and Speeches of the Hon. James H. Hammond: Of South Carolina”, p.318

  40 Copy quote

• Sir, I do firmly believe that domestic slavery, regulated as ours is, produces the highest toned, the purest, best organization of society that has ever existed on the face of the earth.

  James Henry Hammond

  War, Believe, Organization

  James Henry Hammond (1866). “Selections from the Letters and Speeches of the Hon. James H. Hammond: Of South Carolina”, p.45

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• I think then I may safely conclude and I firmly believe that American slavery is not only not a sin but especially commanded by God through Moses and approved by Christ through His Apostles.

  James Henry Hammond

  Believe, Thinking, Slavery

  David Christy, Albert Taylor Bledsoe, William Harper, Thornton Stringfellow, James Henry Hammond (1860). “Cotton is king”, p.636

  45 Copy quote

• Slavery can never be abolished.

  James Henry Hammond

  War, Civil War, Slavery

  James Henry Hammond (1836). “Remarks of Mr. Hammond, of South Carolina, on the Question of Receiving Petitions for the Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia”, p.13

  24 Copy quote

• The very mudsills of society. We call them slaves. But I will not characterize that class at the North with that term; but you have it. It is there, it is everywhere, it is eternal.

  James Henry Hammond

  Class, Slavery, Term

  Speech in the U. S. Senate, March 1858.

  20 Copy quote

• The moment this House undertakes to legislate upon this subject slavery, it dissolves the Union. Should it be my fortune to have a seat upon this floor, I will abandon it the instant the first decisive step is taken looking towards legislation of this subject. I will go home to preach, and if I can, practice, disunion, and civil war, if needs be. A revolution must ensue, and this republic sink in blood.

  James Henry Hammond

  War, Taken, Home

  James Henry Hammond (1836). “Remarks of Mr. Hammond, of South Carolina, on the Question of Receiving Petitions for the Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia”, p.12

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• I endorse without reserve the much-abused sentiment of Gov. M'Duffie, that "slavery is the corner stone of our Republican edifice;" while I repudiate, as ridiculously absurd, that much-lauded but nowhere accredited dogma of Mr. Jefferson, that "all men are born equal.

  James Henry Hammond

  Men, Slavery, Stones

  James Henry Hammond (1866). “Selections from the Letters and Speeches of the Hon. James H. Hammond: Of South Carolina”, p.126

  23 Copy quote

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