Re: Conservative Christian writer’s research shows South did too fight for slavery
 
From: georgiaflagger@joimail.com
To: bud@budkennedy.com
 
Dear Mr. Kennedy,
 
Re: South did too fight for slavery,
http://www.star-telegram.com/news/columnists/bud_kennedy/story/1163311.html
 
Sir, was slavery AN issue? Yes, one issue on a long list of grievances. Not "THE" issue.
Only 4 of the 13 states used slavery as an issue in their Ordinance of Secession. Secession is NOT war.
Most idiots confuse the 2. The balance of 9 DID NOT.
 
Heck, 4 states only joined the Confederate States AFTER Lincoln made the illegal call for troops to invade.
Certainly you should be aware of these facts…
 
I am not too sure why the glowing coverage of this republican David Barton guy.
He seems to be a leftist nutcase with a severe biased agenda. Julian Bond and Al Sharpton must be proud.
 
I’ll just refute 2 of his faulty points.
 
#1) "Barton concludes: "The South’s desire to preserve slavery was indisputably the driving reason for the formation of the Confederacy."
 
During Lincoln’s 1st Inaugural Speech, on March 4th, 1861, he stated "I understand a proposed amendment to the Constitution—which amendment, however, I have not seen, has passed Congress, to the effect that the federal government, shall never interfere with the domestic institutions of the States, including that of persons held to service. To avoid misconstruction of what I have said, I depart from my purpose not to speak of particular amendments, so far as to say that, holding such a provision to now be implied constitutional law, I have no objection to its being made express, and irrevocable"
 
The Amendment to which he refers is the CORWIN AMENDMENT. Ironically it was ratified in Illinois, among a few other states.
 
It read as follows: No amendment shall be made to the Constitution which will authorize or give to Congress the power to abolish or interfere, within any State, with the domestic institutions thereof, including that of persons held to labor or service by the laws of said State. Certainly had the South desired to simply settle any slavery issue, they would stay in the Union and ratify the Corwin Amendment for themselves. Unfortunately, slavery was already a Constitutional right and other issues were more pressing.
 
 What was the reason for the war anyway? The United States Congress told us on July 25th, 1861:
"Resolved, That the present deplorable civil war has been forced upon the country by the disunionists of the southern States, now in revolt against the Constitutional government, and in arms around the capital; that in this national emergency, Congress, banishing all feelings of mere passion or resentment, will recollect only its duty to the whole country; that this war is not prosecuted upon our part in any spirit of oppression, nor for any purpose of conquest or subjugation, nor purpose of overthrowing or interfering with the rights or established institutions of these States, but to defend and maintain the supremacy of the Constitution and all laws made in pursuance thereof, and to preserve the Union with all the dignity, equality, and rights of the several States unimpaired; that as soon as these objects are accomplished the war ought to cease,"
 
Sorry Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Barton, slavery was not the main single burning issue you claim.
 
#2) Barton quotes Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens, a former Democrat: "Our new government is founded upon the great truth that the Negro is not equal to the white man."
 
I note neither of you quote the former Republican President Abe Lincoln when he said the following:
 "I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in anyway the social and political equality of the white and black races – that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race. I say upon this occasion I do not perceive that because the white man is to have the superior position the negro should be denied everything.”
 
Again, sorry Mr. Kennedy. Seems to me that this Barton guy is simply a panderer for black voters. Selling snake oil for a few votes at the expense of lies and feel good talk helps no one. We all deserve far better than this.
 
Thanks & God Bless
Billy Bearden
 
P.S.
 
As for Don Frazier of McMurry University who said there’s a simple way to prove what caused the war.
 
Late in the war, when the Confederates were short on troops, Gen. Pat Cleburne and others wanted to free slaves to fight. "The Confederate leadership squashed the idea," Frazier wrote by e-mail. "In short, they would rather lose the war than free their slaves."
 
Well, the Confederate Congress DID in fact pass a law and raise black troops. But then blacks were already serving in the CS Army anyway.
 
Senate Bill, No. 190.
A Bill to Provide for Raising Two Hundred Thousand Negro Troops
1         SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America
2 do enact, That the President of the Confederate States be
3 and he is hereby authorized to receive into the military service,
4 any number of Negro troops not to exceed two hundred thousand.
 
1         SEC. 2. That the President be and he is authorized, to assign
2 officers already appointed, or make appointments of officers, to
3 raise and command said troops; and the same, when raised,
4 shall be organized as provided under existing laws.
 
Mr Kennedy, you have given 15 minutes of fame to a couple of idiots. Perhaps you need to reconsider exactly who you associate with, as it also makes you look less than credible. Hopefully you can do better and at the very least print some follow-up to set the record straight.
 
BB