Were Confederate Generals Traitors?

[CMWinkler]

Were Confederate Generals Traitors?

By Walter E. Williams | June 27, 2017 | 8:37 AM EDT



Expired Image Removed
At the 150th anniversary of the Civil War's Battle of Chancellorsville, a Confederate re-enactor issues orders to troops to get them into position during the re-enactment of Maj. Gen. Stonewall Jackson's flank attack against the Union XI Corps. (DOD Photo/Sgt. 1st Class Raymond J. Piper, Soldiers Live)
My "Rewriting American History" column of a fortnight ago, about the dismantling of Confederate monuments, generated considerable mail.

Some argued there should not be statues honoring traitors such as Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson and Jefferson Davis, who fought against the Union. Victors of wars get to write the history, and the history they write often does not reflect the facts. Let's look at some of the facts and ask: Did the South have a right to secede from the Union? If it did, we can't label Confederate generals as traitors.

More: http://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/walter-e-williams/were-confederate-generals-traitors#disqus_thread

 

[atlantis]

Not true.

Because unilateral secession was not a legal action, they all remained citizens of the United States and owed allegiance to the United States. Any person who owes allegiance to the United States and levies war against the United States commits treason against the United States.

They were never charged with treason, not even rebellion.

 

[cash]

They were never charged with treason, not even rebellion.

Also not true. Robert E. Lee, James Longstreet, and Joseph Johnston, among others, were all charged with treason.

 

[atlantis]

Also not true. Robert E. Lee, James Longstreet, and Joseph Johnston, among others, were all charged with treason.

Should they have been tried, convicted, executed?

 

[cash]

Should they have been tried, convicted, executed?

It doesn't matter whether they should or shouldn't have. They were pardoned.

 

[wausaubob]

Should they have been tried, convicted, executed?

No. The war itself was punishment enough for treason.

 

[Stuey]

Not true.

Because unilateral secession was not a legal action, they all remained citizens of the United States and owed allegiance to the United States. Any person who owes allegiance to the United States and levies war against the United States commits treason against the United States.

So are you saying, if each individual state which joined the Confederacy would have petitioned the Congress separately and was granted permission to secede, the states then could have seceded with no problems or war?

 

[Will Carry]

The original post asked a very simple question. The answer should be "YES" or it should be "NO".

I say NO.

 

[Schwallanscher]

So are you saying, if each individual state which joined the Confederacy would have petitioned the Congress separately and was granted permission to secede, the states then could have seceded with no problems or war?

in theory - it would never have happened, though. the us* would never accept a state on equal footing on the north-american continent. as the only republic they stood milehigh above their neigbours

• mexico - an empire
• canada - a british imperial colony
• cuba - a spanish colony
• 'the indians' - savages

with an equal peer on 'their' continent manifest destiny is a lot harder to proclaim. that's probably the reason why nobody fathomed somebody who wants to get out of 'paradise' in the first place. a confederacy that can claim the same position as the us is a bigger thread than all the redcoats queen victoria could muster.

i procclaim that a personal opinion so no sources are needed or given. i also won't claim sources from anybody who calls me nuts for that opinion

edit: * that's the pre civil war us, of course

 

[Stuey]

in theory - it would never have happened, though. the us would never accept a state on equal footing on the north-american continent. as the only republic they stood milehigh above their neigbours

I have my doubts as well if permission to secede would have ever been given by the US Congress, to any of the states that formed the Confederacy. And I doubt it would be given to California now for that matter. But I think it is an interesting theory from Cash and am interested in hearing more of his thoughts on the matter if he wishes to give them.

 

[DR_Hanna]

Yes. By every definition of the word, every single Confederate was a traitor, from Jeff Davis down to Sam Watkins. What difference does it make?

 

[Bee]

• mexico - an empire

• canada - a british imperial colony

• cuba - a spanish colony

• 'the indians' - savages

Better watch yer back, big boy: I am purdy good with the bow

Thanks for the first laugh of the day

 

[Schwallanscher]

Better watch yer back, big boy: I am purdy good with the bow

Thanks for the first laugh of the day

actually i was thinking a lot about that line, but that's the way they saw it

 

[cash]

So are you saying, if each individual state which joined the Confederacy would have petitioned the Congress separately and was granted permission to secede, the states then could have seceded with no problems or war?

Yep.

 

[wausaubob]

in theory - it would never have happened, though. the us* would never accept a state on equal footing on the north-american continent. as the only republic they stood milehigh above their neigbours

• mexico - an empire
• canada - a british imperial colony
• cuba - a spanish colony
• 'the indians' - savages

with an equal peer on 'their' continent manifest destiny is a lot harder to proclaim. that's probably the reason why nobody fathomed somebody who wants to get out of 'paradise' in the first place. a confederacy that can claim the same position as the us is a bigger thread than all the redcoats queen victoria could muster.

i procclaim that a personal opinion so no sources are needed or given. i also won't claim sources from anybody who calls me nuts for that opinion

edit: * that's the pre civil war us, of course

Regardless of your view, the British backed away from Canada while the Civil War was still going on, the French abandoned Maximillan in Mexico starting in January of 1866, the Russians sold Alaska to the United States in 1867, and the indigenous peoples gave up, in piecemeal fashion, by 1888.
Essentially the people who had to deal with United States were of the opinion that the United States was determined to be the dominant political entity in North America. The relevant people acted consistent with your view.

 

[Stuey]

Yep.

Do you think the US Congress would have granted the permission to secede to any or all of the states prior to the Civil War? Do you think they would give it to California now?

 

[cash]

Do you think the US Congress would have granted the permission to secede to any or all of the states prior to the Civil War? Do you think they would give it to California now?

We'll never know about prior to the Civil War.

I don't think California will ask.

 

[John S. Carter]

were Civil War generals traitors. I believe they were if they were in the United States Army at the time and left to join the Confederacy..

If they were traitors why did the victorious Union bring these men to military trials? Then if they were traitors why did Grant not take action against Lee and his command at the surrender?Why was Davis or any of his cabinet ,those who where still in the country,ever brought to trail,surely his and Lee's trail would have been the story of the decade? In the aftermath of Lincoln's assassination surely the radicals in Congress would have been on edge to finally achieving their ultimate revenge on the slave masters who brought on this was.Was there ever a Supreme Court decision on what action determines what treason is ? Lee and other officials lost their citizenship for their actions . Did the regular solider loss his ?

 

[Jimklag]

If they were traitors why did the victorious Union bring these men to military trials? Then if they were traitors why did Grant not take action against Lee and his command at the surrender?Why was Davis or any of his cabinet ,those who where still in the country,ever brought to trail,surely his and Lee's trail would have been the story of the decade? In the aftermath of Lincoln's assassination surely the radicals in Congress would have been on edge to finally achieving their ultimate revenge on the slave masters who brought on this was.Was there ever a Supreme Court decision on what action determines what treason is ? Lee and other officials lost their citizenship for their actions . Did the regular solider loss his ?

Your question has neen answered multiple times in previous posts, including mine. Lincoln made the polical decision not to have treason trials and, then in 1868, Andrew Johnson issued a blanket Presidential Pardon for all traitors.

 

[Jimklag]

If they were traitors why did the victorious Union bring these men to military trials? Then if they were traitors why did Grant not take action against Lee and his command at the surrender?Why was Davis or any of his cabinet ,those who where still in the country,ever brought to trail,surely his and Lee's trail would have been the story of the decade? In the aftermath of Lincoln's assassination surely the radicals in Congress would have been on edge to finally achieving their ultimate revenge on the slave masters who brought on this was.Was there ever a Supreme Court decision on what action determines what treason is ? Lee and other officials lost their citizenship for their actions . Did the regular solider loss his ?

See my post #32 above.

 

[cash]

If they were traitors why did the victorious Union bring these men to military trials? Then if they were traitors why did Grant not take action against Lee and his command at the surrender?Why was Davis or any of his cabinet ,those who where still in the country,ever brought to trail,surely his and Lee's trail would have been the story of the decade? In the aftermath of Lincoln's assassination surely the radicals in Congress would have been on edge to finally achieving their ultimate revenge on the slave masters who brought on this was.Was there ever a Supreme Court decision on what action determines what treason is ? Lee and other officials lost their citizenship for their actions . Did the regular solider loss his ?

Learn your history and you'll find out. Also learn what a pardon is.

Davis was brought to trial. His lawyers argued that since he was punished by the 14th Amendment it was double jeopardy, agreed to by the presiding judge, Chief Justice Chase, and so he was granted bail. Then he was pardoned by President Andrew Johnson like all the rest of the confederates.