Evil necessity2003
slavery and political culture in antebellum Kentucky
by Harold D. Tallant
"Long before the Civil War began, Kentucky was the quintessential border state. As states in the Lower South embraced a militant proslavery ideology, Kentuckians viewed slavery as an "evil necessity," a harmful institution that was nonetheless necessary for the immediate economic, social, and political survival of the region.".
"This understanding of slavery as a necessary evil both helped and harmed the cause of antislavery reform. Most immediately, it sparked debate on the subject of slavery. While other southern states were considering secession, Kentuckians were questioning the very existence of slavery in their state during the constitutional reform effort of 1849. This tolerant attitude allowed even radical antislavery activity, including the work of abolitionists like James G....