I guess the whole "the constitution isn't a suicide pact" phrase so beloved about here gets tossed in the trash when blacks are considered Americans in the 1860's.
Oh, right, they weren't citizens, so we should have stuck to the letter of the law. I guess if slaves were all, say, Irish people or Brits we'd all feel the same way. Should have just let slavery die in its own time. Not like slaves were PEOPLE.
I await the laughable flames from those who want to pretend slavery had NOTHING to do with the Civil War.
Yeah, isn't it awful? What a horrible country! We should have left slavery in place rather than break the law.
I guess the whole "the constitution isn't a suicide pact" phrase so beloved about here gets tossed in the trash when blacks are considered Americans in the 1860's.
Oh, right, they weren't citizens, so we should have stuck to the letter of the law. I guess if slaves were all, say, Irish people or Brits we'd all feel the same way. Should have just let slavery die in its own time. Not like slaves were PEOPLE.
I await the laughable flames from those who want to pretend slavery had NOTHING to do with the Civil War.
"I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races. I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people. There is a physical difference between the white and black races, which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality."
"I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the states where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so."
At the start of the War, it is quite clear, except perhaps to you Jaffaites, that he cared less about the issue of slavery. Of course reading his inaugural address of 1860 and his implicit support of the original 13th Amendment makes this clear. The man's goal in 1860 was the fruition of Clay's 'American System', tariffs to pay for it, and nothing else. But keep fooling yourself will you?
I guess the whole "the constitution isn't a suicide pact" phrase so beloved about here gets tossed in the trash when blacks are considered Americans in the 1860's.
Yes, let's talk about rights of blacks in the north before the war shall we? Then let's talk about free blacks in the South who fought for the South, supported the South, and even owned slaves in the South. Then talk to me about how blacks were considered 'Americans' in the north in the 1850s