Passenger on the Pearl by Winifred Conkling

Author:Winifred Conkling [Conkling, Winifred]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Published: 2015-05-20T16:00:00+00:00

Henry Ward Beecher was one of the best-known clergymen of the day. Several of his brothers and sisters became respected educators and abolitionists, including his sister Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Was It Wrong to Ransom Mary and Emily?

Many abolitionists were reluctant to pay to ransom slaves, even though they wanted to end slavery. They had several key concerns:

• Negotiating with slaveholders recognized and legitimized the institution of slavery. If abolitionists didn’t believe one person had the right to own another, how could they engage in this kind of commerce?

• Paying ransom provided money to those who could use it to buy additional slaves. Wouldn’t buying slaves drive up the prices and give slave traders the money they needed to stay in business?

• Using money to ransom individual slaves misused funds that could otherwise be used to promote the emancipation of all enslaved people. Should the resources of the abolitionists be used to free all slaves, not just the fortunate few?

• Engaging in the buying and selling of human beings was sinful and morally wrong. Was it ever appropriate to do what is wrong, even if the goal was to achieve a greater good?

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