Don't spin the Civil War

Washington Post ^ | 12.27.10 | E.J. DIONNE jR.

[trumandogz]

The Civil War is about to loom very large in the popular memory. We would do well to be candid about its causes and not allow the distortions of contemporary politics or long-standing myths to cloud our understanding of why the nation fell apart.

The coming year will mark the 150th anniversary of the onset of the conflict, which is usually dated to April 12, 1861, when Confederate batteries opened fire at 4:30 a.m. on federal troops occupying Fort Sumter. Union forces surrendered the next day, after 34 hours of shelling.

[American Constitutionalist]

Abraham Lincoln said that if he could save the Union without freeing the slaves, that he would do it, but, his destiny would not allow him to do that..... Lincoln's main focus was to save the Union above the issue of slaves, but, since it was such a hot button issue and he know without him freeing the slaves the Union would fall apart into total anarchy while at the same time fighting a war with the South.... There were those who used the blacks as a political tool to gain and keep power.... OPPSSSSSS !!!!! sounds just like what we have today......

[Drennan Whyte]

And why was the North so afraid to grant slaves as 100% human instead of the 3/5ths of a man compromise ?

Would you agree to a proposal from California that all illegal immigrants in that state should be counted by the census for the purpose of determining Congressional delegations?

[ASA Vet]

I found that soon after posting my question. Seems another after-birther, Drew68, quickly followed n-s down the zot rabbit hole.

[Repeal The 17th]

Oh, I ain’t about leavin’, sugar britches; on that you can rest assured.

[exit82]

With the advent of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, I hope that the central argument can be revisited—does a sovereign State, once it joins the Union of several States, forever lose its rights to leave that Union, if that Union does not serve its best interests or does not safeguard its freedoms?

The Federal Governement now does not protect the States from invasion, nor does it stay within the bounds of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, or the Tenth Amendment.

To wit: Virginia’s lawsuit against the individual mandate in Obamacare, Arizona having to fight the Feds on immigration laws, and Texas about to battle the EPA on air permits. And let’s not forget the TSA keeping us oh-so-safe while using the air transport system.

The Declaration of Independence tells us that people have the right to find new guardians for their liberties when the powers that be fail to do so. Is this such a time? Was that such a time?

The limits of the Federal Government may will be the cause of the second Civil War.

We also have to realize that victors revise history, and there was a substantial amount of that after the Civil War. After all, the death of 600,000 Americans on both sides ahd to have SOME noble purpose.

Thanks to all on this thread. The Civil War remains fascinating to this day. The bravery and beliefs of those of that generation, especially those who contended on the field of battle, still inspire us today.

I think God had his purposes with that War. He knew what was going to come in the 20th Century. And He knew the South would invent country music. ;)

Let’s hope another Civil War is not needed now.

[Little Pharma]

You handle your incarceration with such grace.

[American Constitutionalist]

" You forgot the “/sarc”

Well, in my enthusiasm, I forgot.

[Repeal The 17th]

It was interesting to watch, like moths drawn to a bug-zapper, some just could not help themselves.

[American Constitutionalist]

I am not saying that owning slaves was right, all I am saying was how it was back then, and how the South felt about it. but, I would agree with you, it still does not make it right.

[Othniel]

Why is it fantasy? Great Britain banned the slave trade in the 19th century. Lee and other Southern leaders freed their own slaves. The importation of new slaves had stopped, IIRC. Guys like Pickett educated their slaves and weren't the Simon Lagrees that some people think of when the notion of slavery is brought up.

[central_va]

The only reason the Illinois Butcher™ pretended to end slavery after Antietam was that he was running out of Irish FOB’s to put between D.C. and the Army of Northern Va. He was in desperate need for fresh meat for his cleaver and the “freed” slaves would do just fine.

[American Constitutionalist]

" Would you agree to a proposal from California that all illegal immigrants in that state should be counted by the census for the purpose of determining Congressional delegations? "

First place, I do not equate the black slaves as the same as a illegal ( they can never be called Immigrants since they have came here by breaking our laws and coming here illegally ).... DEPORT THEM BACK !!
The only true immigrants are those who come here and go through the legal process of becoming American citizens....
The issue of slavery is and was a totally different matter, in the first place, they where brought here against their will and they had no choice in the matter, so, you can't equate the black slaves with the illegals who come here illegally...

[Othniel]

Both cited the Constitution. When it was ratified, it was with the understanding that the agreement could be voided at any time.

[TexConfederate1861]

The stupid Yankees couldn’t even AGREE whether the Seceding States had left or not......

Lincoln’s belief was that they had never left, while the Radical Carpetbagger Republicans said they DID, and had to meet conditions to RE-APPLY for statehood. We should have told them all to “shove it” and fought a guerilla war until they were choking on their own blood!

[TexConfederate1861]

The stupid Yankees couldn’t even AGREE whether the Seceding States had left or not......

Lincoln’s belief was that they had never left, while the Radical Carpetbagger Republicans said they DID, and had to meet conditions to RE-APPLY for statehood. We should have told them all to “shove it” and fought a guerilla war until they were choking on their own blood!

[TexConfederate1861]

The stupid Yankees couldn’t even AGREE whether the Seceding States had left or not......

Lincoln’s belief was that they had never left, while the Radical Carpetbagger Republicans said they DID, and had to meet conditions to RE-APPLY for statehood. We should have told them all to “shove it” and fought a guerilla war until they were choking on their own blood!

[TexConfederate1861]

Yea...he can kiss my rebel *SS!

[TexConfederate1861]

We TRIED to leave. You Yankee T*rds wouldn’t let us.

[TexConfederate1861]

Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy! :)

[rockrr]

Fortunately more rational minds than your prevailed.