If Secession Was Illegal - then How Come...?

The Patriotist ^ | 2003 | Al Benson, Jr.

[Aurelius]

"But the South did fire on Fort Sumter, and in their infinite wisdom, manage to start a war."

They could have been smarter, but Lincoln maneuvered them into it. He would have had his war in any case; it just would have been preferable had responsibility lain plainly with him.

[Aurelius]

FYI

[mdmathis6]

The war was fought so that 50-80 years later there would be a economic and military power house to counter balance the Isms of Europe(Nazism, communism). (and to help Israel back into being). Only a strong federal union with a large population of morally directed people could be that buffer between a semblance of international order and total chaos and barbarity!
It was also about freedom for blacks sure enough but more than that, it was God, seeing beyond the page of time. Had the United States remained divided, and had everything else remained the same in Europe(the same trends towards philosophical and scientific secularism), history would have been decidedly different. There would be no Jews or Christians left alive, and the world early would be brutally maimed by the competing isms; the competing Isms would have been the most barbaric(like choosing caustic poison or slow painful garroting as you form of death) in terms of their governments and there would be no freedoms. Nuclear suicide would have been the result. Look at what the Civil War really saved us from(or at least forestalled)and you begin to see where God is truly active in the affairs of man. Look at the big picture of the resulting history after the war and you see God still on his throne.("man proposes but God disposes...")

Another example...what end of trouble would the Isrealites have had if the flower of Egyptian military might and Pharoah(even had they escaped to the promised Land)had not been destroyed in the sea. It would be about 700 years before EGYPT WOULD BE A THREAT AGAIN but every-one was afraid of the Babylonians by then!

What great wonders is God cooking up for the future starting with trends in our own era...hmmmm?

[Non-Sequitur]

I would point out that it was the author of the POS that linked the conviction of Davis with declaring secession illegal. His statement is wrong, the Supreme Court did declare secession illegal. And the fact that you disagree with their decision is meaningless. The Supreme Court decision is valid and secession is illegal.

[Non-Sequitur]

I can't read Mr. Benson's mind but I would assume that he considered it irrelevent.

You may assume all you want, but the fact is that the Supreme Court did determine that secession as practiced by the southern states was illegal, and it managed to do that while not trying and convicting Davis of anything. And since you're assuming for him then how did he come to the conclusion that the legality or illegality of secession was dependent on Jefferson Davis being tried in the first place?

[Aurelius]

"And since you're assuming for him then how did he come to the conclusion that the legality or illegality of secession was dependent on Jefferson Davis being tried in the first place?"

Two non sequiturs in one sentence, Non-Sequitur?

[Non-Sequitur]

Well that was as enjoyable as always. Sorry to bother you.

[Corin Stormhands]

The call for reparations is frequently (and, IMNHO, rightly) met on Free Republic with a response of "it took place almost 150 years ago, get over it."

There's a huge difference between "getting over it" and "forgetting it."

[John H K]

What mechanism exists to eliminate a state from the union? Are we stuck with the NE states for ever?

There was a great deal of serious discussion of seccession in New England during the War of 1812, as the war was hated in those states because it completely destroyed the seaborne trade of the US; support for the war was entirely from inland states that wanted to conquer Canada.

[John H K]

So what is your position on portions of states that secede that are anti-seccession seceding from the state they are in (West Virginia) or the potential for that in, say, Eastern Tennessee?

[Aurelius]

(For others) A review and ordering information for the book can be found here.

[Aurelius]

You and I have hashed over the case of Texas v. White on several occassions and been unable to come to any agreement. I don't see how it has any relevence whatever to the present post which deals with happenings prior to 1869.

[Poohbah]

Let me know when you actually start "getting over it," will ya?

[Corin Stormhands]

That'll be purty much as soon as y'all stop tellin' me to fergit it.

[Poohbah]

There was a great deal of serious discussion of seccession in New England during the War of 1812, as the war was hated in those states because it completely destroyed the seaborne trade of the US; support for the war was entirely from inland states that wanted to conquer Canada.

And John Calhoun was most noisily against secession--but suddenly flip-flopped when it suited him.

[SCDogPapa]

Good post!!!

[SCDogPapa]

Good post!!!

[SCDogPapa]

Good post!!!

[Aurelius]

Thanks

[Grand Old Partisan]

"FYI"

Thanks!