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An opposing view: Descendant of black Confederate soldier speaks at museum
Thomasville Times-Enterprise ^ | 24 Feb 2004 | Mark Lastinger

Posted on 02/25/2004 11:52:26 AM PST by 4CJ

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To: Colt .45
Had the South been left alone,...

They were left alone until they fired on Sumter.

...slavery would've died a natural death,...

Decades later. You must not think slavery is much of a crime against humanity if you think that it's OK for it to go on for another hundred years.

in fact many Southerners were trying to figure out what to do with the slaves once they were freed.

Their Declarations said they intended to keep it going forever.

Don't believe me, go research it for yourself. As to your illusion that all the wicked Southerners wanted to perpetuate slavery - think again.

I don't have to think again, I can simply read the South's own official word, and their official word in the Declarations said the whole purpose of secession was to perpetuate slavery.

How could that be true when only 10% of the Southern populace owned any? So then what would make a white backwoods Southerner fight for the Confederacy? His rights of self-determination was what the driving force was.

No, he fought because they were down there. That's what made secession such a crime. The peasants fought for the criminals for a cause which would not have benefitted them even if they'd won.

What you Yankee idiots can't stand is the fact that you did repudiate the cornerstone of American ideology in 1865 and hand over all the States to bigger government.

What do you mean "what we can't stand"? Things went perfectly considering there was a war. We won. We established freedom. We defeated all the little dictators (those who drove secession) of the South. It doesn't get any better than that.

You hide behind the supposed cloak of moral righteousness to cover up your aggressive bullying of the Southern states.

I'm proud that the north agressively bullied the little dictators after Sumter was fired upon. Death to tyrants!

You think you have it all sewn up, but if you would take the time to study what the Founders' intended you would find that you are wrong. You say "Well the Supreme Court ruled that the unilateral secession of the States was illegal." I however, take my cue from the Founders', and I quote Thomas Jefferson.

I've never said secession was illegal. I've said that the way they did it was illegal. Article IV, Section 1 lays out the procedure for states to prove their acts. The South didn't follow the Constitution.

"[T]he germ of dissolution of our federal government is in the constitution of the federal Judiciary." --Thomas Jefferson Meaning this - "The overarching issue is that the system of government envisioned by our Founders and defended in The Federalist Papers -- a government "to ... establish Justice," a republic where "we, the people" would elect representatives who were to be held accountable by an independent judiciary -- has devolved into little more than a system of government by judicial decree. Alas, our Founders expected judges to honor our constitution; to be constitutional constructionists bound by the letter of that venerable document; to be above the whims of democratic elections that would, inevitably, politicize the courts. But once an activist judge begins, in the words of that stalwart old Sen. Sam Ervin, to "interpret the Constitution to mean what it would have said if he, instead of the Founding Fathers, had written it," our Constitution is, in effect, rendered null and void. No sooner had judicial activists begun "interpreting" the constitution such that it comported with their political agenda, than the courts became political instruments. Elected officials were thereafter chosen based upon who they'd appoint to the courts, knowing that those appointments would reflect a particular political agenda. Thomas Jefferson warned of the potential tyranny of the "despotic branch": "Over the Judiciary department, the Constitution [has] deprived [the people] of their control. ... The original error [was in] establishing a judiciary independent of the nation, and which, from the citadel of the law, can turn its guns on those they were meant to defend, and control and fashion their proceedings to its own will. ... The opinion which gives to the judges the right to decide what laws are constitutional and what not, not only for themselves in their own sphere of action but for the Legislature and Executive also in their spheres, would make the Judiciary a despotic branch. ... It is a misnomer to call a government republican in which a branch of the supreme power [the judiciary] is independent of the nation. ... It has long, however, been my opinion, and I have never shrunk from its expression...that the germ of dissolution of our federal government is in the constitution of the federal Judiciary; working like gravity by night and by day, gaining a little today and a little tomorrow, and advancing its noiseless step like a thief, over the field of jurisdiction, until all shall be usurped." - The Federalist, 04-08 Digest You can't argue with the Founders' they knew what they wanted, and you and the rest of the Yankee ilk denied the States that vision under the noble guise of "Freeing the slaves". The war was really "to preserve the Union" was it not? And in doing so you all nullified the 9th, and 10th Amendments to the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, and in effect - the Constitution as it was explained in the following quote -"...[T]he States will retain, under the proposed Constitution, a very extensive portion of active sovereignty..." --James Madison, Federalist No. 45 "Indeed, virtually all has been usurped. Jefferson, in his great wisdom knew that human nature being what it is, judges would eventually abandon the plain language of the Constitution." - The Federalist 04-08 Digest

Secede if you want, but follow the Constitution when you do.

But what the hell, you trashtalkers won and all the "People" lost.

No, freedom was established for 4 million people. A very good outcome.

So you can still wallow in your self-righteous putridness by deluding yourself with the following phrase "It was for the good of the Country". But then how many tyrannical abuses have been committed under that phrase?

There was no tyranny here. You seceded, you attacked, we responded, the south's little tyrannists (those who drove secession) were defeated, slaves were freed. Like I said, it doesn't get any better than that.

And how many are still being attempted today? Activist judges with their "Gays can marry", and the 10 Commandments cannot be placed in state office mall. Seems to this "neo-confederate" redneck that you turds got it all wrong all those years ago. You made the Federal government bigger, and the States (ergo the People) less powerful. It isn't about slavery, and never was ... its about the right of self determination.

Actually, it was the South that voted for Democrats in all those decades that they overexpanded the powers of the federal government. They voted for Wilson, Roosevelt, Johnson. They wanted every bit of the bigger federal government these three were able to dish out to them.

Lastly I'll leave you with this, I served for 20 years to defend the Constitution of the United States, and I'm not relenquished from that oath. But in trying to educate you to another view, I still serve -"The best service that can be rendered to a Country, next to that of giving it liberty, is in diffusing the mental improvement equally essential to the preservation, and the enjoyment of the blessing." --James Madison

And you should get your facts right then. The South seceded for the tyranny of slavery as clearly declared in their Declarations. The South voted Democrat in all those decades the Democrats turned this nation into a welfare state, from the 1910s through the 1970s.

I'll leave you with this from Lincoln's Gettysburg Address:

"It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."

181 posted on 02/28/2004 9:35:14 PM PST by #3Fan (Kerry to POW-MIA activists: "You'll wish you'd never been born.". Link on my homepage.)
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Comment #182 Removed by Moderator

To: 4ConservativeJustices
Additionally, they note that not all rapes are reported as such, many are cited as 'conduct prejudicial'.

Can you prove that there were thousands of "conduct prejudicial" cases that were actually rapes?

It's not as if he's a novice on the subject, Lowry authored Tarnished Eagles: The Court-Martial of Fifty Union Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels The Story the Soldiers Wouldn't Tell: Sex in the Civil War Tarnished Scalpels: The Court-Martials of Fifty Union Surgeons Swamp Doctor: The Diary of a Union Surgeon in the Virginia and North Carolina Marshes The Attack on Taranto: Blueprint for Pearl Harbor Curmudgeons, Drunkards, and Outright Fools: Courts-Martial of Civil War Union Colonels Don't Shoot That Boy! Abraham Lincoln and Military Justice

A very biased author, it appears. Where is his stories of Confederate malfeasants?

And refering to the rapes you report by Confederates - that was the "bait". Despite NOT being documented in the Confederate Records which they researched, you located some not documented. Thank you for proving my point for me.

So you say they didn't happen?! Man you are more delusional than I thought! All that documentation is fake?! Why you your documentation real and mine fake? You guys are out there, really out there. lol

183 posted on 02/28/2004 9:41:33 PM PST by #3Fan (Kerry to POW-MIA activists: "You'll wish you'd never been born.". Link on my homepage.)
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To: GOPcapitalist
I see you've encountered FR's resident pet lunatic #3. He must have wandered off the NASCAR and Jessica Lynch stalker threads. The best thing to do is ignore him and he'll simply go away.

Still smarting from the whoopings I gave you too, I see. LOL

184 posted on 02/28/2004 9:42:26 PM PST by #3Fan (Kerry to POW-MIA activists: "You'll wish you'd never been born.". Link on my homepage.)
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To: GOPcapitalist
How about some links? Here's mine.
185 posted on 02/28/2004 9:46:26 PM PST by #3Fan (Kerry to POW-MIA activists: "You'll wish you'd never been born.". Link on my homepage.)
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To: GOPcapitalist
Terrorists and irregulars should be shot, by the way.
186 posted on 02/28/2004 9:50:21 PM PST by #3Fan (Kerry to POW-MIA activists: "You'll wish you'd never been born.". Link on my homepage.)
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To: Colt .45
since when does veteran status give anyone immunity from the freedom of speech you protected? for benedict arnold, hitler or kerry?

the founders weren't moses and the constitution didn't come down on stone tablets--in fact it's only worth more than asswipe to the extent it persuades folks to exercise their conscience instead of mere power

tell me, if you were black, which side would you have fought on?
187 posted on 02/29/2004 12:10:54 AM PST by dwills
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It seems the pet lunatic is still here. Must not be any Jessica Lynch stalker threads going right now.
188 posted on 02/29/2004 12:14:51 AM PST by GOPcapitalist
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To: #3Fan
[#3 Fan #170] they should've followed the Constitution in their secession attempts.
[nc #171] Could you please explain what you mean by this?
[#3Fan #174] Article IV, Section 1 makes clear the procedure for states to prove their acts. It certianly isn't "up and leaving".

U.S. Const, Art 4, Sec 1, Cl 1:
Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State.

U.S. Const, Art 4, Sec 1, Cl 2:
And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.

By what general laws did Congress prescribe the Manner in which an act of secession be proved? What procedures were prescribed? To the best of my knowledge, no such procedures have ever existed.

What prescribed procedures, if any, were not followed?

An assertion that the failing of the secessionist states was procedural appears to concede that secession was lawful and constitutional. Were secession unlawful or unconstititutional, there could be no proper constitutional procedure.

189 posted on 02/29/2004 12:17:21 AM PST by nolu chan
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To: nolu chan
By what general laws did Congress prescribe the Manner in which an act of secession be proved? What procedures were prescribed? To the best of my knowledge, no such procedures have ever existed.

Exactly my point. The South didn't allow the Congress to prescribe the general laws that would've proved the South's secession. If the Southern legislators would've went to the Congress and said they intended to secede and needed to enact the general laws to prove that secession, then there would not have been the messy separation if the Congress would've went along with it.

What prescribed procedures, if any, were not followed? An assertion that the failing of the secessionist states was procedural appears to concede that secession was lawful and constitutional.

It was not lawful because they didn't allow the Congress to prescribe the manner to prove it in accordance with Article IV, Section 1.

Were secession unlawful or unconstititutional, there could be no proper constitutional procedure.

I've never said secession was illegal. The manner in which the South seceded was illegal though. In any case, they started the war anyway, so they technically weren't taken to war because of secession, but because of an attack against the United States.

190 posted on 02/29/2004 1:29:01 AM PST by #3Fan (Kerry to POW-MIA activists: "You'll wish you'd never been born.". Link on my homepage.)
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To: GOPcapitalist
It seems the pet lunatic is still here. Must not be any Jessica Lynch stalker threads going right now.

You aren't too bright in leveling this kind of criticism toward me since your own posting history can be looked at. In the last few months, I've posted extensively on the subjects of:

the JFK assassination
Nascar
Lynch
Kerry's Purple Hearts
the men who Killed Jesus
Stern
migrations of peoples
Nixon/Deep Throat
Kerry vs. Edwards
Bryant's alleged victim
drug dealers
forest policy
immigration
border security
free trade
labor and wages
offshoring
the quest for Saddam
Saddam's connections to terrorism
miracles in the bible

off the top of my head. Now, what does one see when they look at you posting history?: Civil War, Civil War, light rail, Civil War, civil War, Civil War, light rail, Civil War.... You narrow little mind just can't handle more than two subjects it would appear (and you're totally screwed upon one of them). Either that or you're obsessive compulsive. Probably both. lol

(Now go run off and post a couple of sentences on about 7 threads to try to cover up your recent posting history like last time...LOL)

191 posted on 02/29/2004 1:45:52 AM PST by #3Fan (Kerry to POW-MIA activists: "You'll wish you'd never been born.". Link on my homepage.)
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To: Silas Hardacre
"Why waste your time with Lincoln's first inaugural address."

Lincoln's inaugural address was in 1861. This was just before the civil war began and reflected his feelings before his declaration of war.
192 posted on 02/29/2004 5:33:19 AM PST by FR_addict
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To: #3Fan
Who are you responding to, #3? I certainly haven't pinged you here.
193 posted on 02/29/2004 9:13:20 AM PST by GOPcapitalist
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Comment #194 Removed by Moderator

To: GOPcapitalist
You mentioned me in post #179 (which has been removed, I see).
195 posted on 02/29/2004 9:46:03 AM PST by #3Fan (Kerry to POW-MIA activists: "You'll wish you'd never been born.". Link on my homepage.)
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To: nolu chan
Did I mention that Jessica Lynch is a perfect reason why women should never be in combat?
196 posted on 02/29/2004 9:51:07 AM PST by GOPcapitalist
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Comment #197 Removed by Moderator

To: #3Fan
[#3Fan] It [secession] was not lawful because they didn't allow the Congress to prescribe the manner to prove it in accordance with Article IV, Section 1.

I accept your concession that the procedures that you said were not followed, in fact, did not exist.

I've never said secession was illegal.

[#3Fan] I accept your concession that there was nothing inherently illegal about an act of secession.

[#3Fan] The manner in which the South seceded was illegal though.

Something is not illegal unless there is a law against it. You have just conceded such law did not exist.

[#3Fan] In any case, they started the war anyway, so they technically weren't taken to war because of secession, but because of an attack against the United States.

Actually, orders to violate the existing armistice were issued within 8 days of Lincoln's inauguration.

March 12, 1861
To Captain I. Vogdes
First Artillery, U.S. Army
[in USS Brooklyn]

"At the first opportunity, you will land your company, reinforce Fort Pickens, and hold the same till further orders, etc."

[This order was received by Capt. Vogdes on March 31, 1861]

LINK

U. S. TRANSPORT ATLANTIC,
[New York,] April 6, 1861 -- 2k p. m.

Hon. WM. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State:

DEAR SIR: By great exertions, within less than six days from the time the subject was broached in the office of the President, a war steamer sails from this port; and the Atlantic, built under contract to be at the service of the United States in case of war, will follow this afternoon with 500 troops, of which one company is sappers and miners, one a mounted battery. The Illinois will follow on Monday with the stores which the Atlantic could not hold.

While the mere throwing of a few men into Fort Pickens may seem a small operation, the opening of a campaign is a great one.

Unless this movement is supported by ample supplies and followed up by the Navy it will be a failure. This is the beginning of the war which every statesman and soldier has foreseen since the passage of the South Carolina ordinance of secession. You will find the Army and the Navy clogged at the head with men, excellent patriotic men, men who were soldiers and sailors forty years ago, but who now merely keep active men out of the places in which they could serve the country.

If you call out volunteers you have no general to command. The general born, not made, is yet to be found who is to govern the great army which is to save the country, if saved it can be. Colonel Keyes has shown intelligence, zeal, activity, and I look for a high future for him.

England took six months to get a soldier to the Crimea. We were from May to September in getting General Taylor before Monterey. Let us be supported; we go to serve our country, and our country should not neglect us or leave us to be strangled in tape, however red.

Respectfully,
M. C. MEIGS.


198 posted on 02/29/2004 11:51:23 AM PST by nolu chan
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To: Silas Hardacre
Lincoln sent a fleet of warships to Ft. Sumter in South Carolina. Sending military war ships after the North agreed to withdraw the garrison was tantamount to a declaration of war.

In his inaugural address, he said he had no intention of declaring war over the slavery issue, but that the peservation of the union would force his hand.

His inaugural address is before the beginning of the Civil War. I'll take Lincoln at his own words as to what he considered important enough to cause him to take military action and that is the secession of the states:

1) Slavery
"I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so... "

2) prevent competent resident citizens from holding the Federal offices (secession means that no one would hold Federal office)

"unless it be forced upon the national authority. The power confided to me will be used to hold, occupy, and possess the property and places belonging to the Government and to collect the duties and imposts; but beyond what may be necessary for these objects, there will be no invasion, no using of force against or among the people anywhere. Where hostility to the United States in any interior locality shall be so great and universal as to prevent competent resident citizens from holding the Federal offices, there will be no attempt to force obnoxious strangers among the people for that object."
199 posted on 02/29/2004 12:06:01 PM PST by FR_addict
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To: nolu chan
I accept your concession that the procedures that you said were not followed, in fact, did not exist.

Yes they did exist. The first step was to allow the Congress to prescribe the general rules for the South to prove their secession. The South refused to follow this first step.

[#3Fan] I accept your concession that there was nothing inherently illegal about an act of secession.

What concession? If I never said that secession was illegal, there's nothing to concede.

Something is not illegal unless there is a law against it. You have just conceded such law did not exist.

Article IV, Section 1 did exist and it said the Congress would decide how the South would prove their secession. The South refused to follow this rule.

Actually, orders to violate the existing armistice were issued within 8 days of Lincoln's inauguration.

Sumter was fired upon, there's no getting around that.

March 12, 1861 To Captain I. Vogdes First Artillery, U.S. Army [in USS Brooklyn] "At the first opportunity, you will land your company, reinforce Fort Pickens, and hold the same till further orders, etc." [This order was received by Capt. Vogdes on March 31, 1861] LINK U. S. TRANSPORT ATLANTIC, [New York,] April 6, 1861 -- 2k p. m. Hon. WM. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State: DEAR SIR: By great exertions, within less than six days from the time the subject was broached in the office of the President, a war steamer sails from this port; and the Atlantic, built under contract to be at the service of the United States in case of war, will follow this afternoon with 500 troops, of which one company is sappers and miners, one a mounted battery. The Illinois...

Woo hoo!

...will follow on Monday with the stores which the Atlantic could not hold. While the mere throwing of a few men into Fort Pickens may seem a small operation, the opening of a campaign is a great one. Unless this movement is supported by ample supplies and followed up by the Navy it will be a failure. This is the beginning of the war which every statesman and soldier has foreseen since the passage of the South Carolina ordinance of secession. You will find the Army and the Navy clogged at the head with men, excellent patriotic men, men who were soldiers and sailors forty years ago, but who now merely keep active men out of the places in which they could serve the country. If you call out volunteers you have no general to command. The general born, not made, is yet to be found who is to govern the great army which is to save the country, if saved it can be. Colonel Keyes has shown intelligence, zeal, activity, and I look for a high future for him. England took six months to get a soldier to the Crimea. We were from May to September in getting General Taylor before Monterey. Let us be supported; we go to serve our country, and our country should not neglect us or leave us to be strangled in tape, however red. Respectfully, M. C. MEIGS.

It was federal property. We could do as we wished.

200 posted on 02/29/2004 12:19:07 PM PST by #3Fan (Kerry to POW-MIA activists: "You'll wish you'd never been born.". Link on my homepage.)
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