...And it Begins...

[SouthernByGrace]

Today is the Sesquicentennial (150 years) of the beginning of the War of Northern Aggression. One hundred fifty years ago today, the state of South Carolina rightfully and legally seceded from the United States of America, as taught to them by that same government. It was THE event that became the stepping stone to the "American Civil War."

Can you imagine the emotion, the feelings that went into such a thing? To pull away from the relative safety and security of your home country, to begin your own form of government, one that meets your needs much better than the previous one did, is truly a remarkable endeavor, and an undertaking that took incredible courage and strength to go through. It truly was the Second American Revolution.

What are your thoughts on this? Share any personal stories you may have, any special documents you may have come across, etc.


SouthernByGrace

DEO VINDICE 

[Gary G]

It was for freedom and liberty! Not a new form of government, but the old one established by the founding fathers (with the exception of Hamilton). The confederate Constitution was like the original except with a few of the weak, and abused, clauses strengthened. Lincoln was a Whig and a idolater of Henry Clay who wanted "internal improvements" or, as we know it, "corporate welfare". Clay was a Hamiltonian often calling for a strong overreaching merchantilistic government. Jeffersonians knew that would lead to the loss of liberty and every president before Lincoln had vetoed such robbery of the people. Lincoln had stated that he would not. The southerners, who were Jeffersonians at heart, feared the present government that would be ruled by the long time Whig organizer, Lincoln. Their effort was for freedom in the face of big government tyranny. Jefferson believed that the greatest threat to liberty would come not from foreign governments, but from our own government. The southerners tried to change things back to a better day, but to our loss, nothing has changed. It was safety and security that they wanted to preserve, but the big thumb is now upon us since.

[Ga.windbreak]

As one who is Southern right down to the marrow of his bones I am both excited and saddened by the maneuver of SC and the other 5 States who joined this second coming.

The more I study this the more I come to believe that we as a people were pushed/drawn into this with talk of fire and bremstone and not the truth of what was really going on. Jeff Davis knew what would happen and said so to his wife in private, yet he did not use that same voice to sway the public about the true reasons for secession.

Nor did Lincoln truly want to keep the Union from splitting up as much as he wanted the power of being President thus selling his soul, and our freedom, to the money/business men in the North who were jealous of the wealth they saw in the South and the fact that they now had the power in congress to take it from us thru taxation illegally.

But most of all, if true liberty was the golden flame, that all swore was their reason to trash the very Constitution they all swore to uphold they were all One Eyed Jacks imvho on both sides! There HAD TO BE COMPROMISE as in all unions that survive and flourish.

No I'm not denouncing the right of the South to threaten to leave nor am I saying Lincoln had the right to draw the sword of war. What I am saying is that both sides did not live up to their obligations to the oaths they swore thus we as a nation suffered War and rape the likes of which were not seen before or since. We are the product of that mistake.

This in no way takes away from the Southern fighting man and his/her stand against invasion, when the wolf come to steal the chickens in the dead of night or the cold light of day One clearly has the right, nay the responsibility if they are free and men, to protect that which they have worked to achieve!

To them all honor and respect goes be they black or white young or old man or woman. Of those lying in unmarked graves or called traitor by the other side I say Well Done, you true and faithfull servent of our Constitution , our way of life, and all of those future generations that have followed!

[Ga.windbreak]

I wanted to come back and add three quotes I feel that have merit on this subject:

Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country. – Goering

A wise man does not try to hurry history. Many wars have been avoided by patience, and many have been precipitated by reckless haste." Adlai Stevenson

We had no true wise men in power in the halls of Congress in 1861, only pea brains. Thus we still suffer today and the pea brains are still in control!

The world has achieved brilliance without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants." Gen. Omar Bradley

I agree we have truly lost our moral compass as a Nation.

[subdjoe]

A wise man does not try to hurry history. Many wars have been avoided by patience, and many have been precipitated by reckless haste." Adlai Stevenson

We had no true wise men in power in the halls of Congress in 1861, only pea brains. Thus we still suffer today and the pea brains are still in control!

Yep, nothing has changed in 150 years in that respect.

[BUGEYE]

what would have happened if the south had shipped ALL their cotton to europe for a couple of years?
was it tried?  if so, what was the northern response?

[subdjoe]

what would have happened if the south had shipped ALL their cotton to europe for a couple of years?
was it tried?  if so, what was the northern response?

Were there buyers for all of it?  If the market had been there, I'm sure it would have sold there.

[Gary G]

what would have happened if the south had shipped ALL their cotton to europe for a couple of years?
was it tried?  if so, what was the northern response?

Most was exported to Europe already. Some returned in finished goods. Herein lies the problem. With the Morill tariff, Europe imposed retaliatory tariffs. This cut into the profits for the southern exports. Then when the finished goods returned, they faced a 47% tariff, making goods cost more for the people. The money went to Washington. In the industrialized north, the  domestic  production of goods sold at a handsome profit because of the protective tariff imposed on imports. The north was getting wealthy at the expense of the south. Agricultural machinery was bought from nothern factories at 46% jacked up prices. This is a main reason for seceding. Of course, the north could not allow this because when the south went free trade, it would have been the end of the northern wealth creation and end to the political party of Lincoln.

[BUGEYE]

Given the political climate of the last few years, if the new republicans don't clean up the mess in D.C., will there be rumors of civil war?  after all, the whole country is being oppressed like the south was then.

[Gary G]

Given the political climate of the last few years, if the new republicans don't clean up the mess in D.C., will there be rumors of civil war?  after all, the whole country is being oppressed like the south was then.

The republicans won't clean it up. They are a part of the problem. While the Democrats espouse welfare, the Republicans espouse a Hamiltonian empire. They both relish corporate welfare and spending. Government and debt has expanded which ever party has been in power. Until after Jackson, we did not have a two party system.

[Ga.windbreak]

what would have happened if the south had shipped ALL their cotton to europe for a couple of years?
was it tried?  if so, what was the northern response?

Europe and England had been stocking extra Cotton since about 1850 and was one of the main reasons they were able to resist recognizing the Southern States as a new nation. It was also another reason the Northern Textile people wanted war for they made money. An interesting side story is of the poor quality of the shoes supplied to the Federal troops by these same business men as the price of European goods was out of sight! Also one of the lesser known stories is of the movement of all captured Southern Cotton. It was not sold off by the Army who captured it but was "Given" to those Northern businesses so they would be able to turn out goods and services.