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Old times not forgotten: Civil War at 150
hosted ^ | Apr 2 | CHRISTOPHER SULLIVAN

Posted on 04/02/2011 7:53:41 AM PDT by JoeProBono

A hush fell over the crowd filling the elegant hall in downtown Richmond, Va. The vote was about to be announced, and a young staffer of the Museum of the Confederacy balanced his laptop across his knees, poised to get out the news as soon as it was official.

Who would be chosen "Person of the Year, 1861"?

Five historians had made impassioned nominations, and the audience would now decide.

Most anywhere else, the choice would be obvious. Who but Abraham Lincoln? But this was a vote in the capital of the rebellion that Lincoln put down, sponsored by a museum dedicated to his adversary. How would Lincoln and his war be remembered in this place, in our time?

A century and a half have passed since Lincoln's crusade to reunify the United States. The North and the South still split deeply on many issues, not least the conflict they still call by different names. All across the bloodstained arc where the Civil War raged, and beyond, Americans are deciding how to remember....

(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...


TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: anniversary; civilwar; dixie; militaryhistory
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To: southernsunshine

Since this is an anonymous inter-net chat room anyone of us could be anyone at all. Notwithstanding, I’m not assailing the US Navy or the ‘’gentleman’’ per se, I’m just a little fed up with the glorious ‘’Lost cause’’ bs. And I don’t need anyone’s ‘’education’’ thank you.


101 posted on 04/02/2011 2:53:50 PM PDT by jmacusa (Two wrongs don't make a right. But they can make it interesting.)
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To: central_va

Lee’s will was filed in a distant county, so he could hide the ownership of his slave, Nancy, and her 4 boys. Interesting that he only kept the boys... what happened to the girls.... Of course fathering children on his slaves was honorable. Of course selling slaves was honorable. Of course paying debts was honorable. Of course pursuing runaway slaves was honorable. So everything Lee did was very precisely honorable. As are you, my dear sir.


102 posted on 04/02/2011 3:23:53 PM PDT by donmeaker ("Get off my lawn." Clint Eastwood, Green Ford Torino)
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To: central_va

Rather odd that south Carolina wanted to end states’ right to forbid slavery within their own boundary, and wanted to coopt the federal government to enforce their domestic institutions within the boundary of another state. Yes, you said it right, the Slavers wanted the federal government to be their servant, to coerce the other states. When it looked like that would not happen, they fired on US soldiers performing their duty.


103 posted on 04/02/2011 3:29:07 PM PDT by donmeaker ("Get off my lawn." Clint Eastwood, Green Ford Torino)
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To: aruanan

Not despicable. Not untrue. Just an illustration how differently we see honor now, thanks to the abolition movement. Raping slaves was well within the rights of slave owners or even employees. Selling female slaves to serve in brothels was common, and the prices paid were very high if they were mostly white. Lee had to pay off his father in law’s debts, and had to free the slaves named in his father in law’s will. And he did it. Where did the money come from? From working slaves before they were given their freedom. From selling slaves that were not named in his father in law’s will, and getting a very good price, depite the glut on the market. Lee’s slave Nancy was given her freedom in Lee’s will, along with her 4 sons. He filed his will in a western county, to hide it from his neighbors. His daughters by Nancy are not mentioned in the will. They helped him supplement his army pay while he lived in Texas.


104 posted on 04/02/2011 3:45:12 PM PDT by donmeaker ("Get off my lawn." Clint Eastwood, Green Ford Torino)
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Secession Timeline
various sources

[Although very late in the war Lee wanted freedom offered to any of the slaves who would agree to fight for the Confederacy, practically no one was stupid enough to fall for that. In any case, Lee was definitely not fighting to end slavery, instead writing that black folks are better off in bondage than they were free in Africa, and regardless, slavery will be around until Providence decides, and who are we to second guess that? And the only reason the masters beat their slaves is because of the abolitionists.]

Robert E. Lee letter -- "...There are few, I believe, in this enlightened age, who will not acknowledge that slavery as an institution is a moral and political evil. It is idle to expatiate on its disadvantages. I think it is a greater evil to the white than to the colored race. While my feelings are strongly enlisted in behalf of the latter, my sympathies are more deeply engaged for the former. The blacks are immeasurably better off here than in Africa, morally, physically, and socially. The painful discipline they are undergoing is necessary for their further instruction as a race, and will prepare them, I hope, for better things. How long their servitude may be necessary is known and ordered by a merciful Providence. Their emancipation will sooner result from the mild and melting influences of Christianity than from the storm and tempest of fiery controversy. This influence, though slow, is sure. The doctrines and miracles of our Saviour have required nearly two thousand years to convert but a small portion of the human race, and even among Christian nations what gross errors still exist! While we see the course of the final abolition of human slavery is still onward, and give it the aid of our prayers, let us leave the progress as well as the results in the hands of Him who, chooses to work by slow influences, and with whom a thousand years are but as a single day. Although the abolitionist must know this, must know that he has neither the right not the power of operating, except by moral means; that to benefit the slave he must not excite angry feelings in the master..."
December 27, 1856

Platform of the Alabama Democracy -- the first Dixiecrats wanted to be able to expand slavery into the territories. It was precisely the issue of slavery that drove secession -- and talk about "sovereignty" pertained to restrictions on slavery's expansion into the territories. January 1860

Abraham Lincoln nominated by Republican Party May 18, 1860

Abraham Lincoln elected November 6, 1860

Robert Toombs, Speech to the Georgia Legislature -- "...In 1790 we had less than eight hundred thousand slaves. Under our mild and humane administration of the system they have increased above four millions. The country has expanded to meet this growing want, and Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri, have received this increasing tide of African labor; before the end of this century, at precisely the same rate of increase, the Africans among us in a subordinate condition will amount to eleven millions of persons. What shall be done with them? We must expand or perish. We are constrained by an inexorable necessity to accept expansion or extermination. Those who tell you that the territorial question is an abstraction, that you can never colonize another territory without the African slavetrade, are both deaf and blind to the history of the last sixty years. All just reasoning, all past history, condemn the fallacy. The North understand it better - they have told us for twenty years that their object was to pen up slavery within its present limits - surround it with a border of free States, and like the scorpion surrounded with fire, they will make it sting itself to death." November 13, 1860

Alexander H. Stephens -- "...The first question that presents itself is, shall the people of Georgia secede from the Union in consequence of the election of Mr. Lincoln to the Presidency of the United States? My countrymen, I tell you frankly, candidly, and earnestly, that I do not think that they ought. In my judgment, the election of no man, constitutionally chosen to that high office, is sufficient cause to justify any State to separate from the Union. It ought to stand by and aid still in maintaining the Constitution of the country. To make a point of resistance to the Government, to withdraw from it because any man has been elected, would put us in the wrong. We are pledged to maintain the Constitution." November 14, 1860

South Carolina December 20, 1860

Mississippi January 9, 1861

Florida January 10, 1861

Alabama January 11, 1861

Georgia January 19, 1861

Louisiana January 26, 1861

Texas February 23, 1861

Abraham Lincoln sworn in as
President of the United States
March 4, 1861

Arizona territory March 16, 1861

CSA Vice President Alexander H. Stephens, Cornerstone speech -- "...last, not least. The new constitution has put at rest, forever, all the agitating questions relating to our peculiar institution -- African slavery as it exists amongst us -- the proper status of the negro in our form of civilization. This was the immediate cause of the late rupture and present revolution. Jefferson in his forecast, had anticipated this, as the 'rock upon which the old Union would split.' He was right. What was conjecture with him, is now a realized fact." March 21, 1861

Virginia adopted April 17,1861
ratified by voters May 23, 1861

Arkansas May 6, 1861

North Carolina May 20, 1861

Tennessee adopted May 6, 1861
ratified June 8, 1861

West Virginia declares for the Union June 19, 1861

Missouri October 31, 1861

"Convention of the People of Kentucky" November 20, 1861

http://members.aol.com/jfepperson/ordnces.html

[Alabama] "...Whereas, the election of Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin to the offices of president and vice-president of the United States of America, by a sectional party, avowedly hostile to the domestic institutions and to the peace and security of the people of the State of Alabama, preceded by many and dangerous infractions of the constitution of the United States by many of the States and people of the Northern section, is a political wrong of so insulting and manacing a character as to justify the people of the State of Alabama in the adoption of prompt and decided measures for their future peace and security... And as it is the desire and purpose of the people of Alabama to meet the slaveholding States of the South, who may approve such purpose, in order to frame a provisional as well as permanent Government upon the principles of the Constitution of the United States, Be it resolved by the people of Alabama in Convention assembled, That the people of the States of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri, be and are hereby invited to meet the people of the State of Alabama, by their Delegates, in Convention, on the 4th day of February, A.D., 1861, at the city of Montgomery, in the State of Alabama, for the purpose of consulting with each other as to the most effectual mode of securing concerted and harmonious action in whatever measures may be deemed most desirable for our common peace and security." [Jan 11, 1861]

[Texas] "...The recent developments in Federal affairs make it evident that the power of the Federal Government is sought to be made a weapon with which to strike down the interests and property of the people of Texas, and her sister slave-holding States, instead of permitting it to be, as was intended, our shield against outrage and aggression..." [Feb 1, 1861]

[Virginia] "...the Federal Government having perverted said powers not only to the injury of the people of Virginia, but to the oppression of the Southern slave-holding States..." [Feb 23, 1861]

http://www.csawardept.com/documents/secession/AZ/index.html

[Arizona Territory] "...a sectional party of the North has disregarded the Constitution of the United States, violated the rights of the Southern States, and heaped wrongs and indignities upon their people... That we will not recognize the present Black Republican Administration, and that we will resist any officers appointed to this Territory by said Administration with whatever means in our power." [16 March 1861 -- Abraham Lincoln was sworn in as President of the United States on March 4, 1861. The pretext for Arizona's secession was interruption of U.S. postal service.]

105 posted on 04/02/2011 3:48:09 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
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To: jmacusa
I'm not happy about the gun laws here but where in America can you legally buy a gun without paper work? And your Confederate utopia would allow guns for all no problem?

You dodged the primary issue Obammasucker. I am saying that NJ has the some of the most aggressive laws against the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution; and I nowhere said that the Confederacy would have been better or worse. I am saying right now that NJ is a socialist hellhole with respect to gun rights. NJ also has the highest property taxes in the nation. NJ isn't anywhere right with respect to gun rights in the US Constitution or the Confederate Constitution for that matter.

106 posted on 04/02/2011 4:33:15 PM PDT by vetvetdoug
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To: donmeaker; central_va; southernsunshine; stainlessbanner; GenXteacher; Darnright
“Would this be the RE Lee who impregnated his and his father in law’s female slaves so he could profitably sell the female children to brothels? That fellow?”

Lee’s will was filed in a distant county, so he could hide the ownership of his slave, Nancy, and her 4 boys. Interesting that he only kept the boys... what happened to the girls....


You are going to have to do better than this to prove your accusations of Robert E Lee, steady supplier of Black Brothel Gentleman Clubs throughout.

Sure doesn't sound like the author of the following letter written to his wife.


Letter to his wife on slavery (selections; December 27, 1856)
by Robert E. Lee

The steamer also brought the President's message to Cong; & the reports of the various heads of Depts; the proceedings of Cong: &c &c. So that we are now assured, that the Govt: is in operation, & the Union in existence, not that we had any fears to the Contrary, but it is Satisfactory always to have facts to go on. They restrain Supposition & Conjecture, Confirm faith, & bring Contentment: I was much pleased with the President's message & the report of the Secy of War, the only two documents that have reached us entire. Of the others synopsis [sic] have only arrived. The views of the Pres: of the Systematic & progressive efforts of certain people of the North, to interfere with & change the domestic institutions of the South, are truthfully & faithfully expressed. The Consequences of their plans & purposes are also clearly set forth, & they must also be aware, that their object is both unlawful & entirely foreign to them & their duty; for which they are irresponsible & unaccountable; & Can only be accomplished by them through the agency of a Civil & Servile war. In this enlightened age, there are few I believe, but what will acknowledge, that slavery as an institution, is a moral & political evil in any Country. It is useless to expatiate on its disadvantages. I think it however a greater evil to the white man than to the black race, & while my feelings are strongly enlisted in behalf of the latter, my sympathies are more strong for the former. The blacks are immeasurably better off here than in Africa, morally, socially & physically. The painful discipline they are undergoing, is necessary for their instruction as a race, & I hope will prepare & lead them to better things. How long their subjugation may be necessary is known & ordered by a wise Merciful Providence. Their emancipation will sooner result from the mild & melting influence of Christianity, than the storms & tempests of fiery Controversy. This influence though slow, is sure. The doctrines & miracles of our Saviour have required nearly two thousand years, to Convert but a small part of the human race, & even among Christian nations, what gross errors still exist! While we see the Course of the final abolition of human Slavery is onward, & we give it the aid of our prayers & all justifiable means in our power, we must leave the progress as well as the result in his hands who sees the end; who Chooses to work by slow influences; & with whom two thousand years are but as a Single day. Although the Abolitionist must know this, & must See that he has neither the right or power of operating except by moral means & suasion, & if he means well to the slave, he must not Create angry feelings in the Master; that although he may not approve the mode which it pleases Providence to accomplish its purposes, the result will nevertheless be the same; that the reasons he gives for interference in what he has no Concern, holds good for every kind of interference with our neighbors when we disapprove their Conduct; Still I fear he will persevere in his evil Course. Is it not strange that the descendants of those pilgrim fathers who Crossed the Atlantic to preserve their own freedom of opinion, have always proved themselves intolerant of the Spiritual liberty of others?



107 posted on 04/02/2011 4:56:55 PM PDT by mstar (Immediate State Action)
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To: central_va

You’re particularly audacious today cva ;-) You spew your seditious crap and then complain about others being nasty?!


108 posted on 04/02/2011 5:07:26 PM PDT by rockrr ("Remember PATCO!")
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To: mstar

I see he didn’t favor the hoops that he had to jump through to pay his father in law’s debts, free the slaves, and leave the land to his grandchildren. He was a bit grumpy about the burdens it put on the White Race... He was aware that his daughters after being sold to the brothels would pay for his father in law’s poor management and the low productivity of slave plantations.


109 posted on 04/02/2011 5:19:17 PM PDT by donmeaker ("Get off my lawn." Clint Eastwood, Green Ford Torino)
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To: jmacusa
And I don’t need anyone’s ‘’education’’ thank you.

If you revisit my statement to you, you will see it isn't an education I'm suggesting.

110 posted on 04/02/2011 5:20:21 PM PDT by southernsunshine
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To: donmeaker
I see he didn’t favor the hoops that he had to jump through to pay his father in law’s debts, free the slaves, and leave the land to his grandchildren. He was a bit grumpy about the burdens it put on the White Race... He was aware that his daughters after being sold to the brothels would pay for his father in law’s poor management and the low productivity of slave plantations

and your sources for these amazing cutting edge historical facts are. . .


111 posted on 04/02/2011 5:30:15 PM PDT by mstar (Immediate State Action)
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To: donmeaker; mstar; central_va
Just an illustration how differently we see honor now, thanks to the abolition movement.

Would you mind sharing what you know of the abolitionists? Do you believe that bond labor (indentured servitude) is a form of slavery?

He was aware that his daughters after being sold to the brothels would pay for his father in law’s poor management and the low productivity of slave plantations.

This appears to be your personal theory and should be noted as such. I notice you haven't chosen to share any theories regarding US Major Robert Anderson's slaves.

112 posted on 04/02/2011 5:31:11 PM PDT by southernsunshine
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To: rockrr
You spew your seditious crap and then complain about others being nasty?!

If your definition of sedition includes defending the republic of our founders then I appear guilty.

113 posted on 04/02/2011 5:35:07 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed, and I do not give a damn.)
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To: vetvetdoug; jmacusa

>Can you carry a pistol in your car without registration? Can you have 100 rifles that aren’t registered in your house and carry them to a shoot? <

Heck, doc. He can’t even pump his own gasoline in Joisey, can you, Snooki?


114 posted on 04/02/2011 5:36:46 PM PDT by Darnright (There can never be a complete confidence in a power which is excessive. - Tacitus)
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To: mstar

What you are experiencing is what passes for knowledge at universities that special in appeasing a certain race.


115 posted on 04/02/2011 5:37:17 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed, and I do not give a damn.)
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To: mstar

special = specializes


116 posted on 04/02/2011 5:39:03 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed, and I do not give a damn.)
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To: donmeaker

and quotes from Virgala Hazzard's abolitionist speeches in "North and South" don't count. . .


117 posted on 04/02/2011 5:41:39 PM PDT by mstar (Immediate State Action)
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To: central_va
Sedition: (sĭ-dĭsh'ən)

n. (law) an illegal action inciting resistance to lawful authority and tending to cause the disruption or overthrow of the government.

Nope. Nothing there about defending anything - which of course you don't do at any rate. Your rants have been consistent - you hate the Republic and long for its demise.

118 posted on 04/02/2011 5:48:16 PM PDT by rockrr ("Remember PATCO!")
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To: central_va; southernsunshine
and folks wonder why this upcoming shallow generation would admire someone like Lady Gaga. Guess compared to the lies pumped into them as “higher” education, Gaga’s honesty, or lack of, is at least sorta interesting. . .
119 posted on 04/02/2011 5:51:05 PM PDT by mstar (Immediate State Action)
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To: central_va
I'd put one more advantage to the Union: they had VASTLY better industrial capacity. The Union states could way out-produce the Confederate states when it came to armaments, and the the Union's amazing United States Military Railroad meant the Union could move a lot more troops, arms and other supplies to the front lines faster than the Confederates could.
120 posted on 04/02/2011 6:01:26 PM PDT by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's economic cure)
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