A Defence of Virginia
Author: Robert L. Dabney
This title is available in a spiral-bound hardcopy for the price of $29.95. Please contact sales@portagepub.com for details. Coming soon: Additional binding options and online ordering.
Publisher's Commentary: Although slavery is illegal in the United States today, it is far from being a dead issue. Abolition of slavery is still the living excuse for the Yankee overthrow of the U.S. constitution during the War Between the States. Dabney addresses the slavery issue from every angle: historical, legal, economic, and, most importantly, scriptural. He shows from Scripture that those who oppose just slavery actively oppose the very words of Christ Himself. He predicts in the preface that “The few among them [the anti-slavery party] who do not pass me by with silent neglect, I am well aware will content themselves with scolding; they will not venture a rational reply.” To this day, we know of no attempt at a rational reply to this little book.
Potentially Offensive Content
Many readers will find some or all of the content in this book objectionable. Such readers will fall into two broad categories:
- Those who separate Dabney’s brilliant writing and sound theology from his opinions that are based on conditions that cannot be replicated nor understood by a modern reader.
- Those whom Paul describes in I Timothy 6:1–5 as “[4] proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, [5] Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” [Emphasis ours]
For those in the first category, separate the wheat from the chaff, recognize that Dabney had evidence before him that you do not have, that you have evidence before you that Dabney did not have, and learn from a great man of God. For those in the second, those who start by denying that slaveholders are “worthy of all honour” and that believing masters are “brethren ... faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit,” beware: this book will offend you, as well it should.
Other Editions:
- Sprinkle Publications (hardback)