Personally, I think that Fitzhugh has a very interesting perspective. I am not saying that I agree with him, just that I think it is something very different and also intriguing. I completely understand where his ideas are coming from. The southern economy flourished during slavery, and has never been able to match its prosperity since. Obviously slavery is wrong and immoral, but looking at it from a completely economic standpoint, there were many benefits. Fitzhugh had a fascinating outlook that slavery should not have been about race, it should have been about economics.I think that fitzhugh was trying to say that the work needed to be done, regardless of who was doing it.
Fitzhugh viewed the south as a “mother figure.” This is understandable; the south was much more prosperous than other “countries” at that time, and Fitzhugh believed that was because of their view on slavery. Fitzhugh thought that other states should look to them for advice and guidance, like one would look to their mother. I think that another way to look at his calling the south “she” and “her” would be to make it appear more nurturing, also like a mother.
In Fitzhugh’s eyes, the south took care of their slaves, and thus flourished. “She flourishes like the bay tree, whilst Europe starves, and she is as remarkable for her exemption from crime as her freedom from poverty. She is by far, very far, the most prosperous and happy country in the world. Her jealous ad dependent rivals have begun to imitate her. They must soon openly approve her course in order to vindicate themselves (Fitzhugh). When, and only when Europe looks to the south for guidance, they could possibly flourish as well.
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I think that its nice that Fitsugh was so proud about the South and his home that he encouraged others to act in the same. He felt so strongly about the south and their ways that he justified slavery because he saw it as crutch to their economy. He backed up his argument well, and made slavery about whats best for the South rather than about race.
Fitzhugh was nothing if not proud of the South. It is interesting that he shows how well the economy can work through the slave system, but I think that this piece goes beyond showing the South’s economic superiority to other countries. It also places the South over the North. Fitzhugh acts as though they are separate countries, and I feel that this piece has a hostile undertone. He states that “the Union” is “secure” only if there is no “further aggression by the North” (1991), which foreshadows the War. What aggression do you think he is referring to? Does he mean abolitionists trying to outlaw slavery? Fitzhugh is very protective of slavery, and he apparently did not realize that antagonizing the North was not a smart move. Though he argues that the South has economic superiority, the North eventually manages to defeat the South in the Civil War and clearly was a formidable match to the South.
I liked how your piece focused mainly on the south as a mother figure. That was a very interesting point that Fitzhugh made, that the south nurtured its slaves, took care of them like no other place in the world that had slaves and how others should look up to the south. It was an interesting prespective that I'm assuming most southerns shared- that and the fact that the North was a completely different country. Fitzhugh not only felt superior to the North but felt they should look up to them since they were similar to a "mother." Basically, the south ran the "house", or the world in that it was tremedously sucessful...you're post was very reflected of that point.
I have to agree with you at an economic stand point slavery keep the south going. I think the idea of the south being a mother figure was very interesting. He wanted to make it look pleasing and what is more pleasing then the idea of a mother standing there with her arms wide open. Its a good image.
Good points, Kate. I think in looking at slavery from an economic standpoint definitely puts it into a different perspective for us. We never really think about that when we hear the word, slavery. I also found it interesting that the south is constantly the embodiment of a female. I know what you are saying, that you find Fitzhugh intriguin, not because you agree with him, but because he makes sense. As much as we may disagree with his policy, it seems that his was a very interesting piece of writing on the south.
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