Dubunking So-Called Myths

Dubunking So-Called Myths
January 13, 2011
From: "Jamey Creel"

To :emack@tallahassee.com, letters@tallahassee.com
Cc: bcotterell@tallahassee.com

Please find below response to false accusations made by Ensley in last Sunday's paper. The Tallahassee Democrat typically prints 3 or more to 1 articles Against Confederacy/ South but never seems to print the rest of the story. Please accept this as a partial list of what actually did occur rather that the politically confused portion. Thank for you time.

Letter to editor/"my view"
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Study ALL Causes of the War Between the States

Continuing the anti-Confederate rhetoric of Chuck Hobbs December 20, January 9 Ensley “opinion” must be nice ignoring much history to “justify” view then claim “we” are revisionists? Was slavery an issue? Yes, but not “the”.

It was ok when New England States threatened to secede in 1814, but not when the South did. Looking at some facts; The State of South Carolina made Declaration of the IMMEDIATE Causes for secession. One must skip FIFTEEN paragraphs in document before slavery issue is addressed. Florida didn’t mention in actual secession document. Georgia outlined ALL issues including slavery, unfair federal bounties and tariffs given to north.

Georgia says: “The material prosperity of the North was greatly dependent on the Federal Government; that of the South not at all. In the first years of the Republic the navigating, commercial, and manufacturing interests of the North began to seek profit and aggrandizement at the expense of the agricultural interests.” Let the South go was the cry until the Confederacy open free-trade ports circumventing US tariffs. Only then does Lincoln worry about government funding.

Virginia in early April Voted NOT to secede, changing after Lincolns troop call to invade Sister Southern States. Then US colonel Robert E Lee of VA was asked to lead US army. Lee would free all his slaves prior to 1859 and his wife’s in 1863. US general Grants slaves would have to wait after 1865 13th amendment took effect! CS general Nathan Forrest, many attack, slaves were freed in 1863. He testified to US Congress those riding with him “there were no better Confederates”! Nelson Winbush, a slave descendant, lives in Florida and is a Sons of Confederate Veterans member.

Texas mentions illegal aliens in 1861. So we have taxation, illegal aliens, unConstitutional actions, illegal taxation, etc. Sound familiar?

I found my grandmothers 1930’s Florida State College for Women history text. “A History of the People of the United States” first published in 1900. On page 320 we read “the Confederate Constitution was similar in most respect to Federal Constitution.” What were differences? “Powers which the Federal government had assumed, but which states’ rights people had ALWAYS objected, such as internal improvements, protective tariffs and bounties, were FORBIDDEN.“ A 1904 NYT review, “A Southern School History,” of text praises it for accuracy, incorporating 1880’s Official Records of the War of Rebellion, by US government.

Presidential term was limited to 6 years – no reelection. You run ONCE, get the job, do the job and stop perpetually “running” for office as today. President had line-item veto power. The budget required 2/3 approval of BOTH House and Senate. States had Right to challenge position of federal judges. States had power allowing minimum 3 States RIGHT to initiate a Constitution Convention. Unlike US, to protect northern shipping, Confederates outright banned slave importation. The post office had to fund itself. The Preamble added “…each State acting in its Sovereign and independent character…invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God…”

So, MOST issues in the Confederate Constitution deal with State Rights – not slavery.

What did Lincolns inaugural address say? It was not freeing slaves. He said, “he would hold, occupy, and possess the property and places belonging to the government…to collect the duties and imports.” Why is this important? In March 1861 one of first things passed was the Morrill Tariff, which had been introduced in 1859. Tariff was raised from 20% to nearly 50%, paid mainly by the South according to economist such as Walter E Williams of George Mason University. High tariffs lasted till 1913. The north had complained over 30 years of low tariffs. During the Panic of 1857 the north suffered the greatest and blamed the South. Upward of 5,000 northern businesses went under.

Lincolns view of blacks? "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.” The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln by Roy P. Basler, Volume III (9- 18-1858). He apparently felt same way about natives as he had 38 hung at one time in 1863! US generals Sherman and Sheridan would do much worse after 1865 as they had done to the South during war.

Lincoln and slavery? Supporting Corwin amendment (the original 13th passed by several northern States) Lincoln hand wrote letters sent to all Southern States. Corwin was to PERPETUALLY KEEP slavery. An original was found in 2007 addressed to 1861 Florida governor Perry!

What did Lincoln want done with blacks? He supported Colonization Society sending them to Liberia. War was all but over in March 1865, Congress was still debating funding to ship blacks to Africa (Congressional Record). This was during time US Congress was debating starving Confederates held in US prisons.

During "Great Awakening" of 1857/8 religious revivals swept the north. "Our First Century" history text never mentions slavery nor abolition. Note, first black churches were started in the South.

We complain of Bush detaining 600 prisoners in Cuba. Lincoln illegally suspended Habeas Corpus and jailed 13,000 AMERICAN CITIZENS! Many were northern elected officials and newspapermen who spoke against him. Or, the 500 women and children his army shipped north from Georgia in cattle cars.

It’s interesting some changes in Confederate Constitution are still issues today. Many problems were Hamilton’s idea of centralized government in 1776! The only “slavery” issue then and now is the total enslavement of us all by federal government taxation and mandates seemingly to support those who steal thru and suckle off federal government using threat of force and circumventing Constitution. Color matters not, so leave off race baiting.

Sunday 10th cartoon was revisionist. It was not under the Confederate Battle Flag causing the 3/5 blacks count. That was under US Flag because of northern States refusal to recognize blacks as whole persons to protect their Congressional power!

In 1866 Lee wrote to Lord Action, He believed State Rights were the only way to keep federal gov’t in check and “… whereas the consolidation of the states into one vast republic sure to be aggressive abroad and despotic at home, will be the certain precursor of that ruin which has overwhelmed all those that have preceded it.” Prophecy?

I am showing the rest trying to show there is more to history than typically taught in federal government controlled schools. Only if we understand each “side” will we continue what our Southern and northern ancestors did when they came home and took up peaceful pursuits. Or, when they met former adversaries at 1913 Gettysburg reunion and shook hands. Otherwise the chasms will continue that are being created by those like Ensley, Hobbs, White, Pitts, etc who only show partial information. Interesting when black Southerners appeared at Gettysburg, they had not been provided for and stayed with their Southern compatriots! Stop the race baiting and separating and learn all history.

Jamey B Creel, Chairman of the “Convention of the People”
--Vote of Secession event held in Tallahasee. http://www.floridasecessionreenactment.org/
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Dubunking So-Called Myths