Working with this limited tablet I’ll have to take smaller bite-sized pieces at a time.
enumerated: ** “Secession was the South’s only remaining peaceful response to the economic tyranny the North imposed on the southern states at every turn.” **
Total Lost Cause myth.
In fact, from Day One of our republic in 1788, Southern Democrats dominated Federal government, controlling both houses of Congress, the Presidency and Supreme Court almost continuously until the end of 1860.
So, whatever the Slave Power wanted, it got, whatever seriously opposed to didn’t happen.
The **only** thing new in November 1860 was the election of “Honest Old Ape” and his Black Republicans.
They scared the be*esus out of Deep South Fire Eaters driving them to immediately declare secessions before Lincoln even took office.
enumerated: ** “So the North used legislation to coerce the south through tariffs, price controls and other political mechanisms.” **
Total nonsense, since Southern Democrats effectively controlled Congress and set tariffs where they wanted them.
That’s why, in 1860 US tariffs were low not just by world standards but also by historical US standards.
Yes, Republican wanted higher protective tariffs, to “make America great again,” but Southern Democrats effectively blocked that until the day they seceded and walked out of Congress.
Also, any tariffs protected ALL US manufacturers — North, South, East & West — not just “the North.
enumerated: ** “The northern states schemed to finance a transcontinental railway with the proceeds from tariffs on Southern exports.” **
Complete rubbish, since first there never were any tariffs on US exports, Southern or otherwise.
Second, about 1/3 of US railroads were then being built in the South.
The Northern transcontinental railroad was started long after secession and did not use US government moneys.
However, in 1854, Secretary of War Jefferson Davis helped negotiate the $10 million Gadsen Purchase from Mexico to be used for the Southern Transcontinental Railroad, completed in 1882.
Yea, I don’t know if I’ll be able to play today like I did yesterday. I’m blown away by the rank stupidity I saw on these boards yesterday - I really thought that FReepers were better educated than that.
And the klown speaking in glowing terms about how efficient the slavers were at their craft - disgusting and repellent.
But I did find one nugget among all the turds and that was a quote from John S. Mosby:
“While I think as badly of slavery as Horace Greeley did I am not ashamed that my family were slaveholders, it was our inheritance—neither am I ashamed that my ancestors were pirates and cattle thieves,” Mosby wrote to Chapman in 1907. “People must be judged by the standard of their own age.”
This is what I believe to be an essential approach to dealing with past, present, and future - Recognizing errors, taking responsibility, placing things in their proper perspective, and moving forward.