Perhaps the payments were to appease the powerful slave owners so that another civil war does not happen. It was not done for some sort of moral duty or obligation.
The slaves had no power, and this would not pose threat of civil unrest.
This is a train of thought that appears to pull into the station of using civil unrest to balance the scales. After all, if the government only responds to power then power is the coin of the realm to purchase the justice one wants.
Interesting, and worth considering the next time there's a riot.
The slaves had no power, and this would not pose threat of civil unrest.