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1863 book on the Civil War - history lesson
Posted on: August 17, 2017 at 01:42:10 CT
TigerMatt STL
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"The Great Rebellion - A History of the Civil War in the United States" - page 10,11
This was written by JT Headley, a northerner who also served as Secretary of State for New York.
Ours (civil war) is of a mixed character, and hence in some respects unlike all others that have preceded it; but like all Civil Wars in republics, it sprung from a faction who sought only political power. Those make a great mistake who suppose it grew out of a desire merely to perpetuate slavery. Slavery was used as a means to an end - a bugbear to frighten the timid into obedience, and a rallying cry for the ignorant, deluded masses. The accursed lust for power lay at the bottom of it.
The entire North, including the Republican party, had repeatedly declared, in the most emphatic manner, that it had no intention to interfere with slavery in the states where it existed; for they had no right to do so under the Constitution. It's perpetuity was therefore conceded, until the states themselves should get rid of it. Hence, the southern conspirators had no fear on that point, but they knew they could not carry the people with them unless they convinced them that slavery was to be assailed in their very homes, to be followed by a servile insurrection. They desired, of course, to extend slavery, because in that way alone they could extend their power. The perpetuity of slavery was a necessary consequence of this; because the power they sought to obtain was founded on it - it was the chief cornerstone. Here is where the mistake is made in getting at the true cause of the rebellion.
The whole question may be stated thus: Southern politicians saw in the rapid increase of free states, both in number and in population, and the deep hostility to the admission of any more slave states, that the power they had so long wielded in the Government would be broken. The only course left them was to set up an independent government. Though weak at first, slave states could be added, as circumstances should determine. To effect their purpose they would seize on the tariff or slavery, or any thing that would unite the South. Calhoun tried the former and failed, they, the latter and succeeded. Thus it will be seen that the perpetuity and extension of slavery is a necessary consequence of the present rebellion, if successful; not it's first cause, - just as free trade would have followed the attempt of Calhoun to take the South out of the Union, had it succeeded.
https://archive.org/stream/headleyrebel00headrich#page/n11/mode/1up
So, please tell me again, the Civil War was all about slavery.
This was written by JT Headley, a northerner who also served as Secretary of State for New York.
Ours (civil war) is of a mixed character, and hence in some respects unlike all others that have preceded it; but like all Civil Wars in republics, it sprung from a faction who sought only political power. Those make a great mistake who suppose it grew out of a desire merely to perpetuate slavery. Slavery was used as a means to an end - a bugbear to frighten the timid into obedience, and a rallying cry for the ignorant, deluded masses. The accursed lust for power lay at the bottom of it.
The entire North, including the Republican party, had repeatedly declared, in the most emphatic manner, that it had no intention to interfere with slavery in the states where it existed; for they had no right to do so under the Constitution. It's perpetuity was therefore conceded, until the states themselves should get rid of it. Hence, the southern conspirators had no fear on that point, but they knew they could not carry the people with them unless they convinced them that slavery was to be assailed in their very homes, to be followed by a servile insurrection. They desired, of course, to extend slavery, because in that way alone they could extend their power. The perpetuity of slavery was a necessary consequence of this; because the power they sought to obtain was founded on it - it was the chief cornerstone. Here is where the mistake is made in getting at the true cause of the rebellion.
The whole question may be stated thus: Southern politicians saw in the rapid increase of free states, both in number and in population, and the deep hostility to the admission of any more slave states, that the power they had so long wielded in the Government would be broken. The only course left them was to set up an independent government. Though weak at first, slave states could be added, as circumstances should determine. To effect their purpose they would seize on the tariff or slavery, or any thing that would unite the South. Calhoun tried the former and failed, they, the latter and succeeded. Thus it will be seen that the perpetuity and extension of slavery is a necessary consequence of the present rebellion, if successful; not it's first cause, - just as free trade would have followed the attempt of Calhoun to take the South out of the Union, had it succeeded.
https://archive.org/stream/headleyrebel00headrich#page/n11/mode/1up
So, please tell me again, the Civil War was all about slavery.
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1863 book on the Civil War - history lesson - TigerMatt STL - 8/17 01:42:10