--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If that form of government, that system…" description: "\"If that form of government, that system of social order is not wrong - if those laws of the Southern States, by virtue of which slavery exists there, a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/leonard-bacon-77452_exists_if-that-form-of-government-that-system-o_2051819.jpg" --- # If that form of government, that system of social order is… ![“If that form of government, that system of social order is not wrong - if those laws of the Southern States, by virtue of which slavery exists there, and is what it is, are not wrong - nothing is wrong.” quote by Leonard Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/leonard-bacon-77452_exists_if-that-form-of-government-that-system-o_2051819.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/leonard-bacon-77452_exists_if-that-form-of-government-that-system-o_2051819.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/leonard-bacon-77452_exists_if-that-form-of-government-that-system-o_2051819.jpg) > “If that form of government, that system of social order is not wrong - if those laws of the Southern States, by virtue of which slavery exists there, and is what it is, are not wrong - nothing is wrong.” Leonard Bacon ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that if slavery’s legal basis is deemed just, then nothing is wrong with it. **In simple terms:** If law deems something right, it’s seen as acceptable. Key Takeaway Question moral foundations of law. Themes morality law slavery justice Mood critical historical Type ethical political When to use this quote - civil rights activism - legal reform - educational curricula - public debate Key Concepts ethical relativism legal authority historical context Questions to Reflect On - How do we evaluate laws ethically? - What role should morality play in legislation? A Different Perspective Legal justification can mask moral injustice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-order/) [System](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/system/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Slavery exists. It is black in the South, and white in the North.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-johnson/slavery-exists-it-is-black-in-the-south-and-white-in-the-north/) [Andrew Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-johnson/) > [Laws can be wrong and laws can be cruel. And the people who live only by the law are both wrong and cruel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardel-wray/laws-can-be-wrong-and-laws-can-be-cruel-and-the-people-who-live-only/) Ardel Wray > [“Once it's no longer accepted that something is wrong, all the laws in the world will avail you naught. The law functions as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/once-it-s-no-longer-accepted-that-something-is-wrong-all-the-laws-in/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [Just because someone gets arrested doesn't mean what they are doing is wrong. Some laws are unfair and unjust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/just-because-someone-gets-arrested-doesn-t-mean-what-they-are-doing/) [Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) > [Is it not possible that an individual may be right and a government wrong? 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This, then, is not a question of general morality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buchanan/the-constitution-expressly-recognizes-the-right-to-hold-slaves-as/) [James Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buchanan/) > [“It is a mistaken opinion that prevails in some quarters that the slave does not understand the term - does not comprehend the idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/it-is-a-mistaken-opinion-that-prevails-in-some-quarters-that-the/) [Solomon Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-northup/) > [“The prejudice of race appears to be stronger in the states that have abolished slavery than in those where it still exists,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibram-x-kendi/the-prejudice-of-race-appears-to-be-stronger-in-the-states-that-have/) [Ibram X. Kendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibram-x-kendi/) > [We say that slavery has vanished from European civilization, but this is not true. Slavery still exists, but now it applies only to women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/we-say-that-slavery-has-vanished-from-european-civilization-but-this/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [African slavery, as it exists in the United States, is a moral, a social, and a political blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/african-slavery-as-it-exists-in-the-united-states-is-a-moral-a-social/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) > [27th, join us and other Freedom Fighters from around the world as we SHINE A LIGHT ON SLAVERY. Draw a RED X on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/27th-join-us-and-other-freedom-fighters-from-around-the-world-as-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In any country, regardless of what its laws say, wherever people act upon the idea that the disadvantage of one man is the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/in-any-country-regardless-of-what-its-laws-say-wherever-people-act/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [It would be well for those interested to reflect whether there now exists, or ever has existed, a wealthy and civilized community in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-calhoun/it-would-be-well-for-those-interested-to-reflect-whether-there-now/) [John C. Calhoun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-calhoun/) > [The prejudice of the race appears stronger in the States that have abolished slaves than in the States where slavery still exists. White carpenters,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/the-prejudice-of-the-race-appears-stronger-in-the-states-that-have/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [First of all, everyone must acknowledge and feel that child slavery still exists in the world, in its ugliest face and form. And this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/first-of-all-everyone-must-acknowledge-and-feel-that-child-slavery/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) ## More by Leonard Bacon > ['Thou shalt not get found out' is not one of God's commandments; and no man can be saved by trying to keep it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bacon/thou-shalt-not-get-found-out-is-not-one-of-god-s-commandments-and-no/) Leonard Bacon > [Technique! The very word is like a shriek of outraged Art. It is the idiot name given to effort by those who are too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bacon/technique-the-very-word-is-like-a-shriek-of-outraged-art-it-is-the/) Leonard Bacon Explore all 3 Leonard Bacon quotes ## More Exists quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [What's gone will never come back, but it exists when you think of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/what-s-gone-will-never-come-back-but-it-exists-when-you-think-of-it/) [John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/) > [ Does God know he \[exists\]?" "Of course he does. Otherwise, you could not have asked the question, and I could not have answered. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/does-god-know-he-exists-of-course-he-does-otherwise-you-could-not/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [I have to admit that I get quite emotional listening to the amazing talent that exists in the New York subways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-o-hare/i-have-to-admit-that-i-get-quite-emotional-listening-to-the-amazing/) [Lisa O'Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-o-hare/) > [No good end exists for any dictator!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/no-good-end-exists-for-any-dictator/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Nothing exists until it is created.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-coalson/nothing-exists-until-it-is-created/) Les Coalson > [I don't spend much time thinking about whether God exists. I don't consider that a relevant question. It's unanswerable and irrelevant to my life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-kaminer/i-don-t-spend-much-time-thinking-about-whether-god-exists-i-don-t/) [Wendy Kaminer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-kaminer/) > [Once you realize just the sort of glut of books that exists out there, it does become incumbent on you not to add to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/once-you-realize-just-the-sort-of-glut-of-books-that-exists-out-there/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [The launch of phase 1 Ebola vaccine studies is a first step in developing a vaccine that could be licensed and used in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-launch-of-phase-1-ebola-vaccine-studies-is-a-first-step-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What do I believe? I believe in God, if he exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/what-do-i-believe-i-believe-in-god-if-he-exists/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [Love exists to show us how much we can endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-hesse/love-exists-to-show-us-how-much-we-can-endure/) [Herman Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-hesse/) > [More than ever, Romania now needs to see that a force exists that puts an end to Ponta and Antonescu's abuses and coup d'etat.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/traian-basescu/more-than-ever-romania-now-needs-to-see-that-a-force-exists-that-puts/) [Traian Basescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/traian-basescu/) > [“Love exists to the extent that you give it away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-woodward-thomas/love-exists-to-the-extent-that-you-give-it-away/) [Katherine Woodward Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-woodward-thomas/) > [Attention may sound dull, but it is an essential aspect of consciousness. In fact, it governs what it is that we turn out to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-mcgilchrist/attention-may-sound-dull-but-it-is-an-essential-aspect-of/) [Iain McGilchrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-mcgilchrist/) > [That is what poetry can do. It speaks to us of what does not exist, which is not only better than what exists, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-turgenev/that-is-what-poetry-can-do-it-speaks-to-us-of-what-does-not-exist/) [Ivan Turgenev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-turgenev/) Browse all 647 Exists quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If that form of government, that system of social order is not wrong - if those laws of the Southern States, by virtue of which slavery exists there, and is what it is, are not wrong - nothing is wrong.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leonard Bacon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bacon/if-that-form-of-government-that-system-of-social-order-is-not-wrong/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Exists" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bacon/if-that-form-of-government-that-system-of-social-order-is-not-wrong/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/leonard-bacon-77452_exists_if-that-form-of-government-that-system-o_2051819.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/leonard-bacon-77452_exists_if-that-form-of-government-that-system-o_2051819.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d00/leonard-bacon-77452_exists_if-that-form-of-government-that-system-o_2051819.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If that form of government, that system of social order is not wrong - if those laws of the Southern States…” — Leonard Bacon", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Leonard Bacon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bacon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If that form of government, that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bacon/if-that-form-of-government-that-system-of-social-order-is-not-wrong/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bacon/if-that-form-of-government-that-system-of-social-order-is-not-wrong/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```