Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: LS; 4CJ
the tariff didn't hurt the South so much prior to Lincoln's election that it ever became and issue (except for Tariff of Abom.)

The Morrill Tariff of 1862 was already in the works, everyone knew what the Republicans wanted to do on tariffs -- and Morrill was the Son of the Abomination, so to speak. The Republicans were high-tariff guys, and the Southerners knew it.

1,190 posted on 05/30/2007 12:36:08 PM PDT by lentulusgracchus ("Whatever." -- sinkspur)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1179 | View Replies ]


To: lentulusgracchus
The Morrill Tariff of 1862 was already in the works, everyone knew what the Republicans wanted to do on tariffs -- and Morrill was the Son of the Abomination, so to speak. The Republicans were high-tariff guys, and the Southerners knew it.

According to the very first proposed declaration discussed by the Georgia secession convention, tariffs weren't the issue that caused alarm:

"The State of Georgia is attached to the Union, and desires to preserve it, if it can be done consistent with her rights and safety; but existing circumstances admonish her of danger: that danger arises from the assaults that are made upon the institution of domestic slavery, and is common to all the Southern States."

That's danger from assaults on slavery, not from Republican tariffs.

I found a link to the proceedings of that Georgia meeting and didn't see any concern with tariffs. But I admit that I wasn't looking too hard or expecting to find it. Maybe somebody can find a preoccupation with tariffs that matches the worry about slavery expressed in the above quote.

Georgia Convention

1,194 posted on 05/30/2007 1:21:55 PM PDT by Colonel Kangaroo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1190 | View Replies ]

To: lentulusgracchus
Here's a link to the 1860 party platform of the Southern Democrats. NO mention of tariffs, almost all of it is concerned about slavery except at the end where the champions of limited government call for a transcontinental railroad.

Slavery, not Tariffs

The regular Democrats had a little more moderation in their platform, but it was still dominated by slavery with a call for a railroad. No concern over tariffs expressed by the Douglas Democrats

Northern Democrats

You are right about the Republicans openly supporting tariffs, but even in their platform the subject takes a minor place compared to the slavery issue.

1860 Republican Platform

Here's the link where you can find all the party platforms over the years:

Party Platforms

I just can't find a great Southern concern about tariffs in 1860 except as an after the fact justification for rebellion. Yet more evidence that from the Confederate side, the war was all about slavery.

1,236 posted on 05/31/2007 5:30:00 AM PDT by Colonel Kangaroo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1190 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson