When Lincoln Returned to Richmond

The Weekly Standard ^ | 12/29/03 | Andrew Ferguson

[Non-Sequitur]

Merry Christmas

You forgot the </sarcasm> tag.

[stand watie]

only the USA would erect a memorial in the national capitol to a WAR CRIMINAL & TYRANT!

free dixie,sw

[Grand Old Partisan]

This statue of President Lincoln is in Richmond, which is not the national capital.

[Non-Sequitur]

only the USA would erect a memorial in the national capitol to a WAR CRIMINAL & TYRANT!

We didn't have much choice in the matter. No restrictions were placed on who the states could choose for Statuary Hall and Mississippi went and sent the statue of Jefferson Davis.

[ZULU]

If the REALLY swore to uphaold and defend the Constitution of the United States, he wouldn't have been INVENTING Constitutional authority he DIDN'T have.

NOWHERE in the Constitution does it state "The Federal Government shall have the power to prevent secession".

[Grand Old Partisan]

If the legislature of your state voted for secession, would you shoot U.S. troops who tried to keep the state in the U.S.?

[ZULU]

Not today.

This is 2003. But in 1860, things were different.

On the other hand, if a "President" declared a "National Emergency", suspended elections, and suspended the Bill of Rights, what would any of do? (Not to imply that such a scenario was in any way analgous to 1860.)

The Civil War, Lincoln, Lee and the concept of seccesion are troubling to the modern mind. Slavery was a great evil, inconsistent with the principles upon which this Nation was founded, as are affirmative action, Judges legislating from the bench, an army of illegal aliens violating our borders evey night, a central governmnet which refuses to identify the objects of terroristci assault upon the nation (Islamic immigrants and their mosques and schools), the atheization of America, a holocaust of slaughtered babies, disarming a free people, etc.

Times today are even MORE troubling than back in 1860.

[Gunslingr3]

I would assume, in deference to a humanity I hope exists in all, that your comments are based on ignorance fed by public schools, not understanding based in study. I suggest dropping a few dollars on 'The Real Lincoln', to see the origin of the consolidated democracy that currently plunders over two trillion dollars per annum and considers within it's power to dictate what vegetables are grown in your backyard.

[tet68]

Seven rebel state governments seceded -- thus attenpting to destroy the UNITED States of America -- before Lincoln became President.

Um, just curious, but that would have left how many states?
If there were more than one, wouldn't THEY have still been "United"?

Curious.

[Gunslingr3]

Seven rebel state governments seceded -- thus attenpting to destroy the UNITED States of America -- before Lincoln became President.

So you disagree with the Declaration of Independence?

[Gunslingr3]

If the legislature of your state voted for secession, would you shoot U.S. troops who tried to keep the state in the U.S.?

With a smile on my face. I'd gladly take arms to throw off the shackles of this consolidated democracy that is intent on plundering one group of citizens in order to buy the votes of another.

Would you join an army to conquer another set of people who had expressed through their duly elected legislature a desire to set their own laws? In short, would you join an army to bury the very principle of the Declaration of Independence?

[stand watie]

i was talking about the so-called "lincoln memorial" in DC.

free dixie,sw

[KC_Conspirator]

Sorry, I won't waste my money or my time on that tripe.

[Gunslingr3]

Sorry, I won't waste my money or my time on that tripe.

Then content yourself with the level of ignorance your government schools sought to instill in you. Your willful ignorance highlights why we failed to live up to Franklin's warning, and keep the Republic they created. We've traded it for myths and a consolidated democracy that trades liberty for government control. Knowledge and understanding are attainable, but they require effort.

[Grand Old Partisan]

"With a smile on my face. I'd gladly take arms to throw off the shackles of this consolidated democracy"

Looks like al-Queda has a new recruit!

[Gunslingr3]

Looks like al-Queda has a new recruit!

No, just an American tired of working so many months out of the year for politicians to rob me and bribe other citizens for their vote with the proceeds. How you derive support for theocracy out of that is up to you to explain.

[KC_Conspirator]

That is one insult too many. This country has dealt with the horrendous issue of slavery since its founding and it has been noted that freedom while still allowing slavery is hypocritical in the worst form. Yet you proclaim rebellion in the name of freedom for slavery.

Now go starch your sheets.

[Gunslingr3]

That is one insult too many.

I doubt it is enough to provoke you out of your comfortable delusions and inspire you to examine the facts.

This country has dealt with the horrendous issue of slavery since its founding and it has been noted that freedom while still allowing slavery is hypocritical in the worst form.

Lincoln did not go to war to end slavery. He said so, before and during the fact. Again, familiarity with the facts would greatly aid your understanding. The hypocrit is your hero.

Yet you proclaim rebellion in the name of freedom for slavery.

No, I proclaim secession is a right of any people. It is the very heart of the Declaration of Independence which you seem intent on forgetting.

As in previous secession conferences of American history, the issue was trade and tariffs (whether examing the Hartford Convention - when northern states examined the question of secession, or the Abominable tariffs - when South Carolina and others examined it again). The people of the South were sick of seeing 80% of federal revenue being generated by tariffs on the South's trade whilst the money was expended on the Whig/Republican program of 'internal improvements' (which, if you bother to educate yourself you'd learn States across the Union had been outlawing in their own constitutions because of disasterous plundering by politicians) in the North. The passage of the Morrill Tarriff, combined with the election of the Republican Lincoln, convinced the South no relief from the federal plunder was in sight. So they decided to leave the Union. Lincoln decided they would be conquered, burned and plundered instead. The Federal Republic was dead, replaced with a national, consolidated democracy which recognizes almost no limit to its powers.

[KC_Conspirator]

I can't make you see the elephant in your own living room, so this is pointless.

[Gunslingr3]

I can't make you see the elephant in your own living room, so this is pointless.

The beautiful thing about ignorance is it needn't be permanent. I encourage you to read more than a government high school text account of the factors contributing to Lincoln's decision to conquer the South.