State V Mann

 I have learned a lot from the State V. Mann mock trial. This whole notion of property versus is a slave a person seemed to be the main concept with these debates. The debates on both sides very I guess “valid”. I use it very loosely because I do not believe anyone should be stripped of their rights at all.

 

North Carolina had better points than Mann did. NC brought up reputation and the notion of the slave still being human while Mann only kept saying how she was property. They brought up a major point that there are no renting policies which could go both ways. That could defiantly serve as a way of saying since it was not Mann’s he is not allowed to punish or damage property that is not his. Mann could also use the defense that is nothing from saying that he can not claim the slave as his.

 

Mann defense also used a religious reasoning which does not help anything. Bringing religion in a court of law only just makes the defense weak. Not everyone has the same interpretation of the scripture so it could just cause problems.

 

The cattle analogy is a reoccurring theme in these defenses. They kept referring to a slave as cattle because I am guessing because of the domestication of slaves. Which is honestly s powerful analogy. It demonstrates how slaves are perceived as only a additional add on instead of actual people with feeling. It also notes on the fact of how little slave owners cared about other living things that were not them.

 

Lastly, I do want to touch up on the point that Mann was poor. I just felt like that does nothing for his case at all. It is trying to appeal to the emotions of the audience. He wants the audience to pity him and take his side. It adds nothing to his case. It honestly makes me want to turn against him more. Slaves are poor too.