The role that slavery played in the southern plantation was valuable for
the plantation owners but deeply abhorrent. Slavery was of course free
labor for these Southern plantations. Due to the fact that the children
of slaves were born into slavery themselves, it was also a reliable
source of labor. The use of free labor meant far more profits for the
owner, who was already protected due to special laws. For example, the
runaway slave law meant that if a runaway slave was found by any member
of the public, they would have to be returned to their owner, even if
caught in a state where slavery had already been abolished.
