How the Civil War Could Have Been Avoided

vanity | 10/31/01 | vanity

[smolensk]

Being one who definitely thinks that our Civil War was an unnecessary loss of life and property, I have finally figured out how the South could have averted war, and stopped Northern aggression in its tracks.

You see the South possessed a 'secret weapon' that it didn't realize it had. What the South should have done, in the late 1850's, is to have realized that slavery was a dying institution anyway and that it could get by for the time being with half or a third less slaves than it had.

The South could have granted immediate freedom to half of its slave population with the condition that after manumission they couldn't remain in the South, but would have to move up North. If politically astute, the South could have 'spun' this relocation requirement as simply a way of spreading 'diversity' to the North.

With this, the abolitionist movement up North would have stopped 'dead in its tracks', in my opinion, and over 700,000 lives would have been saved, and all slaves would have been gained freedom anyway before 1900 due to international pressure.

[Cagey]

I'll lend you my time machine when I'm done with it. I'm using it right now to prevent the French Revolution.

[Puppage]

The Civil War was NOT about slavery, so your opinion means squat. Go back to the history books & get back to us.

[Puppage]

ROTFLMAO

[Liberty Ship]

General Patrick Cleburne, CSA, had a similar thought. He spent the last part of the war in "time out" for suggesting that the South could win if they granted freedom to any slave who enlisted in the Confederate Army. From their desks in Richmond, Jeff Davis and Braxton Bragg thought this was a bad idea. So bad that when Davis relieved Johnston after the Battle of Atlanta, the command was given to Hood rather than Cleburne. Hood proceeded to loose the rest of the Confederate Army (and Cleburne) in Nashville and Franklin.

[texlok]

The war was about states' rights. Don't let the liberals fool you.

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

Interesting premise, but I don't think that would work, because quite a few southern leaders had an interest in slavery as an institution.  If Calhoun and other southern hotheads hadn't tried to break the Missouri compromise, the north would not have gotten hot and bothered.  If the north had gotten rid of, or significantly reduced, those nasty tariffs, then the southern leaders would probably not have been able to whip up war sentiment in the south.

[Shooter 2.5]

You're correct. Removing the will of the North would have stopped the Fire Eaters and as one politician said, "Let the erring sister go". It also would have helped if good old what's his name[I can't remember his name at the moment] didn't pull the first shot. He wouldn't have blown his brains out in 1865.

[sola gracia]

I noticed that you posted this under Political Humor/Cartoons. Hmmmmm, interesting. I needed a good giggle this morning. Thanks!

[mdittmar]

Agree:

1828-1832 Taxes and Tariffs: The 1820s ushered the issue of taxes and tariffs. Following the Missouri Compromise, there were fears in the South that tariffs which protected Northern manufacturing profits were causing economic difficulty in the South to the advantage of Northern manufacturers. These tariffs, Southerners argued, resulted in much higher prices for imported manufactured goods. A recession in the South during the 1820s was blamed on the country's tariff policies.

In 1831 S.C. Senator John Caldwell Calhoun., introduced the 'Nullification' Doctrine' proclaiming, "the right of any state to overrule or modify ...... any federal government law deemed unconstitutional."

In 1831, over The Nullification Doctrine, The 'First Shot' of the Civil War was fired. On April 13, 1830: President Andrew Jackson, "Our Federal Union: It must be preserved"

Senator John C. Calhoun, " The Union. Next to our Liberties most dear".

With this proclamation, Calhoun thus began the fight for States' Rights.

[Savage Beast]

The destruction of the South could also have been prevented by the military assistance of Great Britain in return for the abolition of slavery and the repeal of the Declaration of Independence.

From this point of view, Victoria repeated the colossal mistake of George III--the loss of the American colonies.

[Non-Sequitur]

Y'all spend a lot of time complaining it was about taxes. Nice to see you're admitting that the major cause was the defense of slavery by southern political leaders.

[smolensk]

To Non-Sequitur... SHUT UP! (Non-Sequitur has absolutely nothing better to do than constantly monitor FR for any posting, whether tongue in cheek or not, to inject his hateful crap. Post something Civil War related and he/she is there with their ignorance within 5 minutes)

[Non-Sequitur]

Tongue in cheek? Is that what you call it? I'd think it leans more towards the stupid, IMHO of course, and I wouldn't quit my day job for a career as a comedian if I where you. But even in jest you talk of uprooting and expelling several hundred thousand people once you are done with them and I'm the one spouting 'hateful crap'.

[Savage Beast]

Note that slavery was abolished in the South before it was abolished in the North. No thanks to the South--it was done by Lincoln as a military strategy. But the fact remains.

Slavery was legal in every state at the time of the American Revolution. It was not abolished by the State of New York until the late l820's, little more than 30 years before the Civil War.

By the grace of God and the wisdom of their founding fathers, the American people did finally manage to expunge this horror (from America; it still exists in other parts of the world).

Their savior was the U.S. Constitution and The Declaration of Independence--two of the most sacred and subversive documents ever created by mankind.

No wonder tyrants the world over tremble before the Constitution and The Declaration of Independence! No wonder tyrants fear America so!

[jgrubbs]

If this wasn't posted under Political Humor/Cartoons I would have thought you have no clue what you are talking about, or have been totally brainwashed by the government education system.

If you look at the facts you will see that while although slavery was an issue in the War between the States, it was not the main issue. You will also find that the Southern General Robert E. Lee set his slaves free way before Northern General U.S. Grant who even kept his slaves after 1865.

[SamKeck]

It also would have helped if good old what's his name[I can't remember his name at the moment] didn't pull the first shot. He wouldn't have blown his brains out in 1865.

Edmund Ruffin.

[Savage Beast]

Yeah, I tried that time machine bit myself. It didn't work.

When I tried to convince the Southerners to abolish slavery and not take on the North, they damn near lynched me.

When I tried to persuade the Athenians not to embark on the Expedition to Syracuse, they thought I was a Spartan agent. Had Aspasia not hidden me in a very large amphora... (She agreed with me, by the way. I'm still in love with her!)

When I tried to explain the germ theory to Elizabeth I, she thought I was a witch and damn near locked me in The Tower.

All was not lost, however.

I did manage to persuade Isabella to sell her jewels and send Columbus to India (an ounce of inaccuracy is worth a pound of explanation).

And I did help Cleopatra get over Caesar. (Ooooo was she good to me.....!)

[Republic of Texas]

Just so you know, the Civil War is over, move on. Unless you have a way to bring back Hood's Texas Brigade to kick some Taliban ass.

[Shooter 2.5]

I couldn't remember his name and I didn't feel like searching for an hour trying to find it. Thank you. By the time I found the name, the thread would have disappeared.