title: Defending Slavery: Proslavery Thought in the Old South: A Brief History with Documents (The Bedford Series in History and Culture)
author:  Paul Finkelman 
description: "This collection will make an excellent addition to the Bedford series.... The documents are well selected. Readers will get a good sampling of many 'classic' statements of the proslavery ideology. Moreover, a wide variety of arguments are represented.... The introduction is especially note worthy; I am unaware of any concise introduction to proslavery thought that is better suited to the classroom."
zlib_text: # GREAT SPEECH,
  
    
  
  ### DELIVERED IN NEW YORK CITY,
  
  ##### BY
  
  # HENRY WARD BEECHER,
  
  ##### ON THE
  
  ## Conflict of Northern and Southern Theories
  
  ## OF MAN AND SOCIETY,
  
    
    
  
  ### January 14, 1855.
  
    
    
  
  #### ROCHESTER:
  
  ##### STEAM PRESS OF A. STRONG & CO., COR. OF STATE AND BUFFALO STREETS.
  
  ##### 1855.
  
    
  
  * * *
  
    
  
  ##  _Conflict of Northern and Southern Theories_  
  OF MAN AND SOCIETY.
  
  The Eighth Lecture of the Course before the Anti-Slavery Society, was
  delivered, January 14, 1855, at the Tabernacle, New York, by the Rev. Henry
  Ward Beecher . The subject, at the present time, is one of peculiar interest,
  as touching the questions of Slavery and Know-Nothingism, and, together with
  the popularity of the lecturer, drew together a house-full of auditors.
  
  There were a number of gentlemen of distinction, occupying seats on the
  rostrum—among whom were the Hon. Joshua R. Giddings, James Mott, of
  Philadelphia, and Mr. Dudley, of Buffalo.
  
  Mr. Beecher was introduced to the audience 