William Harper (South Carolina)
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William Harper (January 17, 1790 in Antigua and Barbuda-October 10, 1847) was a US Senator from South Carolina in the 1800's. In 1837 he spoke out in favor of slavery, saying it was an evil that was pushed on the South for the growth of the country, but that it was necessary for the US to continue down the path of economic stability. One of his main defenses of slavery was that slaves are saved from ever having to be out of work, and that whipping was not harmful to them, because children are whipped all the time.
He also defended the place of women slaves, saying that their stature as helping in the work force actually helped raise women up to men's levels.
Finally, the effect that abolition would have on foreign commerce was covered in Harper's speech. He felt that if slavery was abolished, it would do nothing but hurt the country, rather than help it.
Overall economics was valued over morals.
Quote: "Without [slavery], there can be no accumulation of property, no providence for the future, no taste for comfort or elegancies, which are the characteristics and essentials of civilization."
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| Preceded by John Gaillard |
United States Senator (Class 3) from South Carolina 1826 Served alongside: Robert Y. Hayne |
Succeeded by William Smith |
