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To: Non-Sequitur
You most certainly did misrepresent by changing the context and meaning. It was intentional, an outright misrepresentation, and self serving.

It is not you in this year to determine the principle issue, and then heap criticism on the peace effort.

914 posted on 06/28/2009 8:56:56 AM PDT by PeaRidge
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To: PeaRidge
You most certainly did misrepresent by changing the context and meaning. It was intentional, an outright misrepresentation, and self serving.

OK, then let's look at it in it's entirety. Link. Be sure you take the time to read it. I'm not sure you've bothered to so far.

First half, first paragraph:

"For the purpose of establishing friendly relations between the Confederate States and the United States, and reposing special trust, &c., Martin J. Crawford, John Forsyth, and A. B. Roman are appointed special commissioners of the Confederate States to the United States."

Notice that there is no offer to negotiate over recognition. What Davis presents is his position and that of the confederate government and no other point of view is open for discussion. If Lincoln had said, "No, I want to discuss an end to secession and the resumption of the rule of law in the South" then what would the commissioners do? Would they negotiate along those lines? Of course not, that wasn't what they were there for. They were there for one reason and one reason only, obtain Lincoln's surrender on the question of confederate sovereignty. No other alternative was acceptable. That's an ultimatum.

Second part of the paragraph:

"I have invested them with full and all manner of power and authority for and in the name of the Confederate States to meet and confer with any person or persons duly authorized by the Government of the United States being furnished with like powers and authority, and with them to agree, treat, consult, and negotiate of and concerning all matters and subjects interesting to both nations."

Note the '...matters and subjects interesting to both nations...' Now compare that with the instructions that the confederate congress mandated when they passed the legislation authorizing the commissioners in the first place - Link. Note how their instructions were for "the settlement of all questions of disagreement between the two governments upon principles of right, justice, equity, and good faith." So if Davis was at all interested in settling questions of payment for property stolen or debts repudiated then why did he water that down? Why did 'all questions of disagreement' suddenly become 'all matters and subjects interesting to both nations?" Why did Davis deliberately ignore the instructions of the confederate congress and insert his own instructions to the commissioners? The answer is that Davis had no interest in settling questions of disagreement, no intention of paying for property stolen, no desire to pay the South's share of the debt, and no interest in a peaceful solution.

939 posted on 06/28/2009 12:04:08 PM PDT by Non-Sequitur
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