for slavery can only live by keeping down the under-growth morality which nature supplies.
 Frederick Douglass, My Bondage and My Freedom (1855). copy citation

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Author Frederick Douglass
Source My Bondage and My Freedom
Topic slavery morality
Date 1855
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/202/202-h/202-h.htm

Context

“The slave-holder is not satisfied to associate with men in the church or in the state, unless he can thereby stain them with the blood of his slaves. To be a slave-holder is to be a propagandist from necessity; for slavery can only live by keeping down the under-growth morality which nature supplies. Every new-born white babe comes armed from the Eternal presence, to make war on slavery. The heart of pity, which would melt in due time over the brutal chastisements it sees inflicted on the helpless, must be hardened.” source