Civil War History - Secession and PoliticsWas it Slavery, or was it States Rights? Perhaps it was the election of Lincoln? What were the real reasons for Southern Secession and what were the political issues in this time of war? Find your answers here in the Secession and Politics Disussion.
As to Taney and those who thought like him, I note that in the very first message of this thread we have the following, regarding the Story opinion in the Prigg case:
Chief Justice Taney seems to have been eager or happy to go along with this extension of Federal power when it benefits slave states.
Regards,
Tim
Taken together with Kentucky v. Dennison, it would seem that Justice Taney was willing to stretch Federal powers to protect slaveholders' interests, but unwilling to stretch them in the interest of rendition of fugitives from justice. Seems internally inconsistent.
Respectfully,
John Taylor
__________________ "In this Constitution, the citizens of the United States appear dispensing a part of their original power in what manner and what proportion they think fit. They never part with the whole; and they retain the right of recalling what they part with." James Wilson of Pennsylvania, October 28th, 1787
Taken together with Kentucky v. Dennison, it would seem that Justice Taney was willing to stretch Federal powers to protect slaveholders' interests, but unwilling to stretch them in the interest of rendition of fugitives from justice. Seems internally inconsistent.
While Justice Taney was undoubtedly an intelligent and informed man, he appears -- like many who put the interests of the slave-states ahead of the national Union -- to have been inconsistent. This is one of the reasons the "states' rights" issue as a basis for secession falls apart: those who waved that bloody flag the most were among those using their own knives to wound the beast.
Using the US Census of both 1850 and 1860, the bottom chart lists the number of slaves in a state and the number of escaped slaves returned by the Fugitive Slave Laws for each period.
I also find it interesting that the census statistics of military age white males of each state is also listed.
Did the writer of this article know something about the trouble to come, what it would be over and who would pay the heaviest price?
Sincerely,
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
Forgive me, I am such a dinosaur when it comes to tech & computer short hand.
No, I think Mike and Ami, who run the board, have a few devoted Civil War specific links listed, but I don't think anyone has made an exhaustive list that our membership here would require, due to the vast and numerous subjects and areas of history we talk about. It would be pretty impossible to do so.
However, you will see that most of our members, when they discuss various topics, usually include links and source documents to provide evidence to their stated views. This is the fun part for most of us, as they uncover previously unkown sources for the rest of us to enjoy.
Hence, my thanks to you for your recent contribution above.
Sincerely,
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
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