Posted on 03/10/2010 6:35:02 PM PST by Idabilly
Over the course of American history, there has been no greater conflict of visions than that between Thomas Jefferson’s voluntary republic, founded on the natural right of peaceful secession, and Abraham Lincoln’s permanent empire, founded on the violent denial of that same right.
That these two men somehow shared a common commitment to liberty is a lie so monstrous and so absurd that its pervasiveness in popular culture utterly defies logic.
After all, Jefferson stated unequivocally in the Declaration of Independence that, at any point, it may become necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them…
And, having done so, he said, it is the people’s right to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Contrast that clear articulation of natural law with Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address, where he flatly rejected the notion that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.
Instead, Lincoln claimed that, despite the clear wording of the Tenth Amendment, no State upon its own mere motion can lawfully get out of the Union; [and] resolves and ordinances [such as the Declaration of Independence] to that effect are legally void…
King George III agreed.
(Excerpt) Read more at southernheritage411.com ...
THE INDICTMENT by DiLorenzo
Against King Lincoln
Assuming these are in order of importance, you realize that the first five apply to Davis as well? Perhaps more so? Also number 10 is incorrect - in the 1841 case Baily v Cromwell, Lincoln successfully argued in the defense of a black woman named Nance who had been seized as a runaway. Number 12 was a position also held by Robert Lee - he paid passage for several of his former slaves to Liberia. Number 13 was certainly held by Davis. Number 17 is bogus - what Union troops were in Georgia early in the war for anyone to free? Number 19 is Davis and Lee as well - the confederacy was the first to resort to conscription. Number 20 is bogus - the casualties were nowhere near that. Numbers 21 through 26 are absolute nonsense. Number 27 is bogus - there were no peace commissioners sent. Numbers 28 through 37 are nonsense as well. Number 38 is bogus - 'chief political rival'? Vallandigham? Oh hell, 80% of the remainder are lies and the rest ain't true. Typical Tommy rot.
So let's see, of those which are true they could also be used to indict every one of your southern leaders. The rest are figments of Tommy's imagination. Some indictment.
Well in the first place Lee owned slaves much of his adult life. And in the second, Lee never said anything like that. Certainly not pre-rebellion. Post rebellion revisionist ramblings, maybe. But post rebellion every Southern leader in sight was decrying slavery as a cause.
Not all people.
"The unity of government which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. It is justly so, for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize...Citizens, by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism more than any appellation derived from local discrimination's. With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles. You have in a common cause fought and triumphed together; the independence and liberty you possess are the work of joint counsels, and joint efforts of common dangers, sufferings, and successes." - George Washington, 1796
But hey, what the hell did Washington know, right?
Yes he could, under the laws in place at the time. But just out of curiosity, what do you suppose the 100,000 confederate troops called up in legislation passed on March 4, 1862 for?
The source of choice for most members of the Lost Cause Brigade.
It’s like saying climate change legislation is about saving the planet. No, it’s about money and power.
Like I said , Brother, it’s 2010 and that war is history. A new one might be right around the corner.
Choose your side carefully.
If alive today, do you think George would still think that those comments he made then are still Germain? One look at the mess the Feds have created now and he would declare marshal law....
FYI, We are at Division strength now....
Of course you are.
Step away from the bong, sir. You've got the date wrong in your alternate view of history.
Unlike all y'all I don't pretend to know what Washington would say. I would like to think that he'd believe the whole country was worth fighting for instead of running away.
Ok, March 4, 1861. That was still an army 6 or 7 times larger than the U.S. army. And larger than the call Lincoln originally made to suppress the rebellion.
Ah, I don't think so. He would probably consider the Constitution null and void and the famous question to Franklin in Philadelphia answered -- answered in the NEGATIVE.
Are you serious? It is called protection- the purpose of government. There was a new confederacy which required troops for protection just as any real country does. Only this was more important since the storm clouds of war were gathering in the Lincoln administration. Lee knew only too well what Lincoln was preparing since it was to Lee that Lincoln offered the command of the US Army in 1861.
There was no reason the two separate countries could not have existed side by side, except that Lincoln didn't want it that way. Left alone, the southern states would have gradually began coming back to the Union and they would have dumped slavery without 50,000 men dying for that end.
The true slave master of the 1860s was Abraham Lincoln, a man who made slaves of the whole south for years and a man whose great idea for solving the slave problem was to send them all back to Africa, something modern historians are loath to mention.
Wow, somebody gets it. King Abraham I exposed, finally taking hold. I never thought I would see the day even on FR.
In response to Lincoln's threats in his first inaugural speech (which was, as you know, widely viewed as a declaration of war), the Confederate Congress passed the following on March 6, 1861 (my emphasis below):
The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That in order to provide speedily forces to repel invasion, maintain the rightful possession of the Confederate States of America in every portion of territory belonging to each State, and to secure the public tranquility and independence against threatened assault, the President be, and he is hereby authorized to employ the militia, military and naval forces of the Confederate States of America, and to ask for and accept the services of any number of volunteers, not exceeding one hundred thousand, who may offer their services, either as cavalry, mounted riflemen, artillery or infantry, in such proportion of these several arms as he may deem expedient, to serve for twelve months after they shall be mustered into service, unless sooner discharged.
Only portions of that number were called up before Lincoln's battlefleet reached South Carolina's waters.
I'm off for the rest of the day, non-seq, heading out to enjoy barbeque and country music among the cowboys and bikers at Luckenbach. God bless Texas!
Protection from what? What was left of the U.S. army? A government which had not taken a single hostile act against them?
Only this was more important since the storm clouds of war were gathering in the Lincoln administration. Lee knew only too well what Lincoln was preparing since it was to Lee that Lincoln offered the command of the US Army in 1861.
Check your timelines. Storm clouds seem to have been all on the part of the rebels. And the army was called up months before Lee was offered the command and before Virginia joined the rebellion.
“If the slaves on the South were mine, I would surrender them all without a struggle, to avert this war.” R.E. Lee when asked his opinion of the view being set forth in the North that the war was fought over the issue of slavery.
An honest assessment of history reveals that Lee inherited 6 slaves from his father. A will written 24 years before his death (and before the invasion from the north) indicated that at that time he had legal title to one female slave. Lee emancipated most of his slaves years before the war, and had sent those to Liberia that were willing to go. Interestingly enough those in Liberia sent very affectionate letters back to him through the lines of war.
Well I remain unconvinced of your argument and I doubt you'll ever be convinced of mine.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.