A Black Libertarian’s Thoughts on the Confederate Flag: No One "Won" the Civil War

Pajamas Media ^ | 06/26/2015 | Walter Hudson

[JAKraig]

Well written and thought out.

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It is only well reasoned from a lopsided point of view. Recall that Slavery was as legal in the North as it was in the South. The US Constitution recognized slavery as legal. This fact takes the well reasoned idea that everyone keeps referring to off the table.

Slavery is immoral, sinful and just wrong but it was legal. We don’t invade states for following the law.

We invaded the South for a variety of reasons but the biggest reason of Mr. Lincoln was to preserve the Union.

Mr. Lincoln made it clear early on that the war was not about slavery and in fact he didn’t make it about slavery until he saw the Union as losing the war. After the proclamation the North got behind the war. One of my great, great grandfathers died from the war. Another great, great, grandfather heard Mr. Lincoln speak and thought that was one the highlights of his life. My great, grandmother told me about 60 years ago how her father’s face would light up as he spoke about Mr. Lincoln.

Personally, I believe the war should be called “The War of the Northern Aggression”. That being said I am glad the nation was held together but I believe there would have been much easier ways to do it. It would have been a relatively simple matter for the US to purchase the freedom of all slaves. That would have been much cheaper than the war and saved a million lives.

The war to me will always have been a mistake. We should have sued for peace and come back together and solved the problem.

The Republic as it was before the Civil War did not survive. We no longer have a republic where the Federal government derives its powers from the States but just the opposite, it is sickening when I think about it.

No, I’m afraid the article was not well thought out, not at all.

[lacrew]

Ok,

I’ll re-phrase a little. To me it was refreshing that the author at least articulated his reasoning, in an age where any attempt at legitimate discussion is countered with accusations of ‘hate’.

I see your point - to accept on its face that the north only invaded due to slavery, is to accept a ‘switcharoo’, in which they gradually outlawed slavery...and woke up one morning and decided that it was so immoral, that its eradication justified war. I get your point...and you therefore don’t accept one of the author’s central assumptions. But at least we can get that far - because he did articulate his position.

I see the civil war as unnecessary (at least as it relates to slavery). In the centuries prior to the civil war, slavery was present in western nations. Now (for the most part) it isn’t. Why? I think the industrial revolution stopped slavery - its not that mankind is collectively more moral today, slavery just isn’t necessary. Its a cynical point of view, I know. I’m sure this sounds terrible, but isn’t meant to be - but for very similar reasons, farmers no longer spend their time and money maintaining horse and oxen, because a tractor is a whole lot les effort.

Anyway, I can’t imagine slavery having lasted in this country past the end of the 19th century. And in much of Europe, the colonial world, and South America, slavery died a peaceful death, with changes in law, etc....no war.

So, the civil war may be looked at as the abrupt end of the great American Experiment. The idea of sovereign states was over.

[rockrr]

Mr. Lincoln made it clear early on that the war was not about slavery and in fact he didn’t make it about slavery until he saw the Union as losing the war.

Not true. The southern warriors were audacious and surprisingly effective beyond anyone's expectations - early on. but the war took it's toll and the south was all but bifurcated by the time Lincoln issued the EP (and was complete by July 9th).

It would have been a relatively simple matter for the US to purchase the freedom of all slaves.

The Lincoln administration floated that idea, but it didn't resonate with the rebels.

[rockrr]

Wow, that really hurts me toad. That I fail to live down to your expectations has kept me up many a night. And here I was trying to be all supportive of the right for y'all to wave whatever freak flag that twists your crank. You go girl!