tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4534354996846146951.post1933411563829045708..comments2024-03-28T20:16:48.497-04:00Comments on PIECES OF OUR PAST: THE CIVIL WAR AT 150Scott B. Thompson, Sr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05269488889632912020noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4534354996846146951.post-70561622996198752832011-02-10T19:39:00.039-05:002011-02-10T19:39:00.039-05:00I hope you include at least two statements from th...I hope you include at least two statements from the Civil War leaders. <br /><br />If there were but two direct quotes in our history books about the Civil War, one should be the Southern Ultimatums, issued in March of 1861.<br /><br />The Ultimatums by Southern leaders were reported in newspapers North and South. Southern newspapers announced the Five Ultimatums as "THE TRUE ISSUE" (Richmond Enquirer, March 21, 1861)<br /><br />All five of the Ultimatums were about the spread of slavery into the territories, against the will of the people and emerging states there. All five.<br /><br />The first Ultimatum was that slavery MUST be spread in the territories, by (absurdly) the US Congress. Congress must press slavery into the territories, and the state legislaturs must "accept and respect" slavery.<br /><br />Kansas, of course, had just fought a bloody war to keep slavery out. The people of Kansas had voted 98% to 2% to keep slavery out forever.<br /><br />So it took a special kind of chutspuh for Southern leaders to issue ultimatums that these people MUST accpet and respect slavery.<br /><br />Lincoln, of course, could not, and would not obey the Ultimatums. Two weeks later, after their Ultimatums were not obeyed -- the South attacked.<br /><br />The other four Ultimatums were as odd. No state could pass it's own laws, about slavery or escaped slaves, for example. A complete repudiation of any pretense of state's rights.<br /><br />Spread slavery or war, was the essense of the Southern Ultimatums. Newspapers in the South cheered the Ultimatums.<br /><br />Confederate leader Toombs, who nearly became president -- shouted "EXPAND SLAVERY OR PERISH"<br /><br />On the other end of the spectrum, you have Linclon, meeting at Gettysburg. <br /><br />--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth." <br /><br />It is fitting these two vastly different sentiments are laid side by side. The South's demands at the start of the war, full of braggado, demanding one thing -- the spread of slavery.<br /><br /><br />Then Llincoln, praying for a country that would endure for the people and by the people.<br /><br />It's no accident that Southern history has never dared quote -- much less emphasize -- their own Southern Ultimatums. It is impossible to square the circle there, to explain away five ulatimatums to spread slavery, and then pretend the Civil War was not about slavery.<br /><br />As Varina Davis would later say, the right side won the war.<br /><br />Now, it's time we were honest and candid about what went on before the war -including the Southern Ultimatums. Any discussion of the Civil War without directly showing the Southern ULtimatums, is distortion and nothing but propaganda. <br /><br />Time to change that.Seekerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10206503506011763393noreply@blogger.com