1. paternalistic Care: Southern slaveholders argued that they provided their slaves with paternalistic care, ensuring they had food, shelter, and medical attention. Plantation owners claimed to view slaves as a valuable investment, so maintaining their health and well-being was essential for their own economic interests.
2. Close Relationships: Slaveholders argued that they developed closer and more personal relationships with their slaves, leading to a sense of mutual respect and reciprocal obligations. They often portrayed the slave-master relationship as a paternalistic one, where slaves were provided for and disciplined with a benevolent authority figure.
3. Job Security: Slaveholders emphasized that their slaves had guaranteed job security, as compared to Northern factory workers who were susceptible to layoffs and economic downturns. They argued that industrial workers experienced harsh working conditions, low wages, and unstable employment, while slaves were exempted from these uncertainties.
4. Religious Justifications: Many slaveholders invoked religious and biblical references to support their claim that slavery was a benevolent system. They asserted that Christianity promoted the idea of masters fulfilling their biblical duty to provide care for their dependents.
5. Economic Comparison: Slaveholders argued that the economic conditions of slaves were better than those of Northern industrial workers. They compared the provisions of food, housing, and essential goods given to slaves to the often precarious living conditions of factory workers in urban centers.
6. Limited Mobility: Slaveholders claimed that the restricted mobility of slaves limited their exposure to the negative influences and moral dangers found in Northern cities, thereby providing a safe environment for them.
However, it's essential to recognize that these claims were often distorted or exaggerated and ignored the oppressive and dehumanizing aspects of slavery, including the lack of freedom, basic rights, and the inherent violence of the system.