Cotton is king, and pro-slavery arguments : comprising the writings of Hammond, Harper, Christy, Stringfellow, Hodge, Bledsoe, and Cartwright, on this important subject

This volume gathers a series of mid‑nineteenth‑century essays that set out the Southern perspective on slavery and its economic foundations. The contributors argue that cotton is the nation’s chief commodity and contend that the institution of slavery is essential for its continued prosperity, invoking legal, moral and international precedents to bolster their case. An introductory piece places these arguments within the broader political clash between North and South, highlighting concerns about sectional distrust, legislation, and the growing divide over property rights.

Readers will encounter a stark portrait of the era’s rhetoric, from appeals to constitutional authority to warnings about the social consequences of abolitionist movements. The collection also reflects contemporary anxieties about national unity, territorial expansion, and the looming threat of conflict. By presenting these primary texts, the book offers insight into the intellectual foundations of a pivotal debate that shaped the United States on the eve of civil war.