Lincoln holiday on its way out (West Virginia)

West Virginia Gazette Mail ^ | 9-8-2005 | Phil Kabler

[Colonel Kangaroo]

Lincoln holiday on its way out

By Phil Kabler Staff writer

A bill to combine state holidays for Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays into a single Presidents’ Day holiday cleared its first legislative committee Wednesday, over objections from Senate Republicans who said it besmirches Abraham Lincoln’s role in helping establish West Virginia as a state.

Senate Government Organization Committee members rejected several attempts to retain Lincoln’s birthday as a state holiday.

State Sen. Russ Weeks, R-Raleigh, introduced an amendment to instead eliminate Columbus Day as a paid state holiday. “Columbus didn’t have anything to do with making West Virginia a state,” he said. “If we have to cut one, let’s cut Christopher Columbus.”

Jim Pitrolo, legislative director for Gov. Joe Manchin, said the proposed merger of the two holidays would bring West Virginia in line with federal holidays, and would effectively save $4.6 million a year — the cost of one day’s pay to state workers.

Government Organization Chairman Ed Bowman, D-Hancock, said the overall savings would be even greater, since by law, county and municipal governments must give their employees the same paid holidays as state government.

“To the taxpayers, the savings will be even larger,” he said.

The bill technically trades the February holiday for a new holiday on the Friday after Thanksgiving. For years, though, governors have given state employees that day off with pay by proclamation.

Sen. Sarah Minear, R-Tucker, who also objected to eliminating Lincoln’s birthday as a holiday, argued that it was misleading to suggest that eliminating the holiday will save the state money.

“It’s not going to save the state a dime,” said Minear, who said she isn’t giving up on retaining the Lincoln holiday.

Committee members also rejected an amendment by Sen. Steve Harrison, R-Kanawha, to recognize the Friday after Thanksgiving as “Lincoln Day.”

“I do believe President Lincoln has a special place in the history of West Virginia,” he said.

Sen. Randy White, D-Webster, said he believed that would create confusion.

“It’s confusing to me,” he said.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall, suggested that the state could recognize Lincoln’s proclamation creating West Virginia as part of the June 20 state holiday observance for the state’s birthday.

Proponents of the measure to eliminate a state holiday contend that the numerous paid holidays - as many as 14 in election years — contribute to inefficiencies in state government.

To contact staff writer Phil Kabler, use e-mail or call 348-1220.

[Grand Old Partisan]

Thanks, but I can't see anything about imports, broken down by region. It does mention coastal shipping. Pea Ridge would have us believe that while the South exported directly from New Orleans, Savannah, and other southern ports, it imported everything via ports in the North, then sent it all South by coastal steamer.

That is ridiculous, and goes to show the lengths to which neo-Confederates will go to support their fantasies.

[mac_truck]

[GOP]Why in the world would imports destined for, say Georgia, go overland from Boston rather than be delivered to the perfectly good ports in Georgia?

[Pea] They didn't. They largely went by water.

Regardless of their method of transport South, imports from Europe were unloaded in Northern ports first, stored, then loaded again on smaller transports for delivery to Southern ports. [note: this extra handling was not done for free]

If Southerners really were responsible for so much of the product imported into the United States and by extension the tariffs on them, why weren't the imports shipped directly to them in the South? Seems like ol Pea ducked the question [again].

[Non-Sequitur]

One would think that point of entry would depend on where the demand was. If 91% of all imports are consumed by southerners then why weren't those imports routed to Charleston and New Orleans instead of New York and Boston. Economics would dictate that, if nothing else. Millions of bales of cotton were exported from southern ports but very little imported there. Why were all those ships arriving to load up on cotton coming empty? Why weren't they loaded with all those imports for southern consumers?

[M. Espinola]

"That's your hero - mass murderer, a white supremacist - Sherman [*SPIT*]. It speaks volumes that you venerate the man.

In terms of being "a mass murderer, a white supremacist" you neo-confederates should love the guy, after all your heroes are the likes of the founders of the KKK in the post Civil War era, the pro-Confederate, cowardly, murdering assassin of President Lincoln, plus of course the South's 'former' leading racial segregationists, such as the fire eating lunatic Edmund Ruffin, who did America a big favour by removing himself off the planet since he could not function without his slaves.

My bottom line is General Sherman was instrumental in defeating the biggest domestic threat to freedom in America during the mid 19th century, your hero's - the Confederate insurrectionists.

Let's face it, the way Sherman men torched the Cradle of Secession & Insurrection, (South Carolina), was a sight to see. Those massive cotton plantation manors were great for roasting marshmallows. "The Fiery Trail" (Orangeburgh and Columbia) was payback for that state's starting the Civil War.

"Boys this is old South Carolina, lets give her Hell"

In South Carolina cotton was just as much god as "King". Because of its large planter population and clout, South Carolina would require many slaves to keep the economy going. This would of course make the state a rabid defender of the institution of Slavery. South Carolina's upper class therefore became completely unwary of any attempt that might end the practice.

Since South Carolina was the first state to begin the secession of the Southern States and the first to "start the war" (by firing on Federal Fort Sumter), Sherman made South Carolina a focal point for payback plus. South Carolina in Sherman's eyes had brought forth civil war on the country. In Sherman's mind those Southern wealthy 'gentlemen' from the planter states had used their paranoia to bring forth a war that had torn apart his nation and killed hundreds of thousands of his country men.

"General Sherman's army passed through this place. We will fight until every rebel is slain unless they will lay down their arms and come back in to the Union under the old Constitution. South Carolina was the root of Secession. The south are to blame for this war and none others. Why did not the Southern States wait and see whether A. Lincoln would interfere with slavery before they seceded." A federal Solider's words left in a court clerk's office in Bennetsville, SC.

"South Carolina cried out the first for war and she shall have it to her hearts content. She sowed the wind and she shall reap the whirlwind". An Iowa soldier at Savannah.

"One thing for certain S Carolina is about to feel the Iron Hand of War placed on her and it will be no gentle manner, all soldiers know that it was the birth place of dark treason and we will make it the death place of some Traitors". Illinois Cavalry trooper.

"I have never burnt a house down yet, but if we go into South Carolina I will burn some down if I can get the chance." Federal soldier

"The thousands of homes she has filled with mourning, the unnumbered hearts she has wrung with anguish, are all witnesses of the justice of her punishment. Let her drink the cup she has brewed, and lie on the bed she has made." A federal Chaplain regarding South Carolina.

"I suppose; in fact I know, that in the course of this army in South Carolina will be severely condemned by many in the North. If you hear any condemning us for what we have done, tell them for me and for Sherman's army, that 'we found here the authors of all the calamities that have befallen this nation and the men and women whose hands are red with all the innocent blood that has been shed in this war, and that their punishment is light when compared with what justice demanded." Ohio Officer in Sherman's army

"Today commences the destruction of SC and we gave her a good initiation". Wisconsin officer

Sherman's March to the Sea was a reward for his brave troops since at the end of the glorious March was a day at the beach :)

"You Cannot judge war in Harsher terms then I will. War is Cruelty and you cannot refine it, and those who brought war into our country deserve all the curses and maledictions a people can pour out." Union General William Tecumseh Sherman

"South Carolina is reaping at last the consequence of her treason..." George W. Pepper, speaking of the Burning of Columbia, South Carolina.

I would tell you to go fly a kite, but in your case the banner of rebellion will do.

[stainlessbanner]

Shame, this old boy is still fighting the war in his mind. Liberalism is a sickness.

[Gianni]

Don't mention it chump, it goes double for all anti-American, neo-confederate cultists.

FYI, in case you missed it in the papers: Confederates were Americans.

Those of us who chose to show respect for Americans past can take all the abuse you'd like to dish out, Mr "I wish y'all were dead," knowing that we are not the ones in the wrong. Those of you who choose to incessantly berate the Confederates show not only disrespect for them, but also for their ideological forerunners (Jefferson, Henry, Lee, et al), and the small-government conservatives of today.

And if that isn't rediculous enough, you hold agreement with your rediculous notion of a solidified Union held together at the point of a bayonet as a litmus test for patriotism. Real American of you.

[Gianni]

In other words Lee accomplished his strategic objectives during the Seven Days Battles even though he suffered a series of tactical defeats throughout, is that right Professore?

It appears we're in agreement about everything but the semantics. It has been largely held that Lee was the most capable field commander of the war. I would, then, place him in the category of a tactical commander, as he was planning defeat for his enemies on a battle-by-battle basis. My notion for a strategic commander is someone who, today, resides at the pentagon and maps the larger picture of the war, leaving the tactical detail of specific conquest to the field commander.

In the latter sense, Lee came up short; his failed invasin of Pennsylvania was a disaster for the Confederacy. On the other hand, Lee's failure in any given battle seems to be preceeded by some instance of gross incompetence among his subordinates sabotaging the overall battle plan.

[Gianni]

Since we can safely say that the imports destined for southern consumers dropped to zero, then can we agree that all tariffs income was collected on imports destined for Northern consumers?

"Safely" in the sense that you can say it without danger to life or limb, but not in the sense that it is correct.

[Gianni]

Simply shocking how many far-eastern imports those folks in Seattle go through, ain't it?

[Gianni]

There is no link named "Historical Documents" on that page. Please post a link to the website you cite, rather than lead me, inaccurately, on a chase.

C'mon, Lucy, at least three of us read The Reward of Patriotism on a snipe-hunt courtesy of you.

[Non-Sequitur]

"Safely" in the sense that you can say it without danger to life or limb, but not in the sense that it is correct.

Oh really? Then please present your statistics showing the level of imports destined for southern consumers landing in Northern ports during 1862 and 1863. Pea claims it was $331 million for 1860. How much was it 2 or 3 years later?

[Non-Sequitur]

Liberalism is a sickness.

It never fails to amaze me how you can equate opposition to the southern rebellion with being a liberal, especially given the socialistic tendencies of the Davis regime. It would seem to me that it would be his supporters who were the liberals.

[Grand Old Partisan]

Slavery is the biggest Big Government program there is. And, the Confederate government was very socialist, with wage and price controls, internal passports, government-owned industries, rationing, production and delivery directives to private industry, bans on most imports, and on and on.

[Grand Old Partisan]

Don't forget that a thid of the southern population were slaves or the nearly-slave fee blacks, whose total imports amounted to zilch, so according to Pea Ridge imports by southern whites were at least 50 times per capita the imports of northerners in 1860.

Pea Ridge's fantasies all stem from his desire to fool us into believing that a need for southern tariff revenues was one of President Lincoln's reasons for opposing the Confederacy. As is obvious, southern tariff revenue was less than 10% of total tariff revenue. While the South did most of the exporting, it imported very little -- and on imports tariffs are assessed.

[mac_truck]

Great quotes. Thanks for posting them.

[M. Espinola]

"FYI, in case you missed it in the papers: Confederates were Americans."

Emphasis on the "were" the second they plunged into their sedition & insurrection against the United States government and her citizens. You recall that, it was 1861 and it was gone with the wind by mid-1865.

"Those of us who chose to show respect for Americans past can take all the abuse you'd like to dish out, Mr "I wish y'all were dead,"

Do you feel abused, isolated, maybe even rejected? Your breaking my heart...

"knowing that we are not the ones in the wrong."

Whose "we" chump? Since when were you correct on anything?

"Those of you who choose to incessantly berate the Confederates show not only disrespect for them.."

Once again you forgot about the 'neo' as in neo-confederate. As far as any disrespect for cult worshiping anti-American malcontents in a perpetual state of rebellion, I am glad you catch on so quickly.

"Real American of you."

Don't mention it.

[M. Espinola]

This quote bears repeating :)

"South Carolina is reaping at last the consequence of her treason..." George W. Pepper, speaking of the Burning of Columbia, South Carolina.

[mac_truck]

It appears we're in agreement about everything but the semantics.

Well, lets see. You said that Lee devised a plan of battle for the Seven Days that was "horribly executed". You also said that Lee's "failed invasion" of Pennsylvania was a "disaster for the Confederacy".

I'd say we're in total agreement. Lee was a great strategic planner, but he sucked as a tactical commander.

Lee's failure in any given battle seems to be preceeded by some instance of gross incompetence among his subordinates sabotaging the overall battle plan.

If Lee wished to blame subordinates for his own shortcomings, so be it. Others however, would point out that Lee's inability to adjust his battle plans accordingly was one of his biggest flaws as a tactical commander.

Cheers.

[Heyworth]

he information is in the US Treasury Report section of President Buchanan's Message and Documents also known as the State of the Union speech. It requires some research.

I've posted the document you've cited for all to see. Please point to where it says what you've repeatedly claimed it says. Page and column will do.

[stainlessbanner]

And, the Confederate U.S. government was very socialist, with wage and price controls, internal passports, government-owned industries, rationing, production and delivery directives to private industry, bans on most imports, and on and on.