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.
He gave a talk last year at the University of Richmond. I sissied out and went back to Williamsburg because of the rain (likelihood of finding the lecture hall on a huge campus was also a discouraging factor). Well, since then, he's been interviewed on World Talk Radio by Dr. Gerald Prokopowicz of University of East Carolina. Listen for free by clicking on the link: http://www.worldtalkradio.com/archives.asp?sid=150
He gave a talk last year at the University of Richmond. I sissied out and went back to Williamsburg because of the rain (likelihood of finding the lecture hall on a huge campus was also a discouraging factor). Well, since then, he's been interviewed on World Talk Radio by Dr. Gerald Prokopowicz of University of East Carolina. Listen for free by clicking on the link: http://www.worldtalkradio.com/archives.asp?sid=150
That was a pretty good interview. I recommend that site (Civil War Talk Radio). It gets a little tedious when, almost every show, Dr. Prokopowicz has to remind the audience that he is an alum of Michigan and Harvard, but generally, he gets interesting guests, and has good conversations with them.
__________________ "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
Getting slaves to join the Confederate army, and obtain their freedom, was overridden by the fact the slave was property, owned and guaranteed by the Confederate Constitution. Not even General Robert E. Lee, nor the Confederate Congress could violate the right to ownership in slaves guaranteed by their Constitution.
Additionally, slave owners were generally unhappy with the previous impressment of slaves to do work that aided the Confederacy, such as the building of defensive trenches.
By the time the Confederate leadership thought of the idea of using slaves as soldiers, the Civil War was lost. By this time, the Confederate government did not have the funds to purchase many slaves from their slaveholders.
Getting slaves to join the Confederate army, and obtain their freedom, was overridden by the fact the slave was property, owned and guaranteed by the Confederate Constitution. Not even General Robert E. Lee, nor the Confederate Congress could violate the right to ownership in slaves guaranteed by their Constitution.
The Confederate War Dept. issued instructions which stated that slaves would not be accepted unless given their freedom.
The Confederate War Dept. issued instructions which stated that slaves would not be accepted unless given their freedom.
The point is that it was completely up to the owner. If the owner were willing to free his slave and enlist him, then he could do so. The big complaint was that most owners were far more willing to allow their sons to enlist to be shot at than to risk losing their slaves.
As Levine shows, this was not a plan to free slaves. It was a plan that would allow some slaves to be freed in order to try to keep the rest in bondage.
As Levine shows, this was not a plan to free slaves. It was a plan that would allow some slaves to be freed in order to try to keep the rest in bondage.
Regards,
Cash
It was a plan of partial emancipation.
No one knows what would have followed-
* Lee, 11 January 1865- "...to accompany the measure [of using black troops] with a well-digested plan of gradual and general emancipation..."
* Duncan Kenner mission initiated by Jefferson Davis.
Have you read Mr. Levine's book on the matter? There are some very interesting pages on how slaves, both those that might have served in the armed forces and those kept in slavery, would have been treated if the South had won it's independence.
Hint: It doesn't look good for either group.
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
Have you read Mr. Levine's book on the matter? There are some very interesting pages on how slaves, both those that might have served in the armed forces and those kept in slavery, would have been treated if the South had won it's independence.
Hint: It doesn't look good for either group.
Sincerely,
Unionblue
I don't consider Mr. Levine's (Bruce. Who's Jeff?) book as a balanced view on the matter.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Battalion * Lee, 11 January 1865- "...to accompany the measure [of using black troops] with a well-digested plan of gradual and general emancipation..."
* Duncan Kenner mission initiated by Jefferson Davis.
"Lee had no power in this at all. He wasn't a member of congress, nor was he the president.
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Jeff Levine on Confederate Emancipation 
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