Distortions of truth and history: Lee, a better friend of slaves than Lincoln

[David Floyd]

Lincoln was certainly more friendly to the abolitionist cause than some Neo-Confederates would paint him to be.

Lincoln was far more concerned with preserving the Union than anything else, even slavery.

So basically, he was more interested in maintaining a country than addressing the violation of civil liberties. Not that the CSA was better in that regard, of course, but it doesn't paint a good picture of Lincoln.

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by jimmytrick
This thread has its roots in another in which some **** labeled the South as evil.

"Two wrongs don't..."

So basically, he was more interested in maintaining a country than addressing the violation of civil liberties. Not that the CSA was better in that regard, of course, but it doesn't paint a good picture of Lincoln.

That's a interesting idea. The South felt no qualms about violating the Civil Liberties of Free Blacks in the North (under the Fugitive Slave Act, which they rammed down the throat of Congress), but but biatched and moaned when they were expected to follow Federal Laws.

[David Floyd]

That's a interesting idea. The South felt no qualms about violating the Civil Liberties of Free Blacks in the North (under the Fugitive Slave Act, which they rammed down the throat of Congress), but but biatched and moaned when they were expected to follow Federal Laws.

Indeed, and I'm not going to defend the slavery policies of the CSA any more than I'll defend Lincoln. That doesn't mean I don't agree with the concept of secession - I do, I just feel both sides were morally in the wrong on the issue of slavery. The CSA was wrong for having it, and Lincoln was wrong for putting the Union ahead of individual liberty.

[Capt Dizle]

for those George Bush bashers, what about the antics of King Abe? Who was not of the evil South I might add.

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Lincoln now took decisive measures to win the war. No American president had ever faced such a crisis, and Lincoln had to find for himself the necessary powers by which he could pursue the war and uphold his oath to "preserve, protect and defend" the Constitution of the United States. Recognizing the problem, Lincoln said, "It became necessary for me to choose whether, using only the existing means, agencies, and processes which Congress had provided, I should let the Government fall at once into ruin or whether, availing myself of the broader powers conferred by the Constitution in cases of insurrection, I would make an effort to save it." Lincoln found the necessary powers in the constitutional clause making him "Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several states." He told some visitors to the White House, "As commander in chief in time of war, I suppose I have a right to take any measure which may subdue the enemy."

Using this power, Lincoln took a number of vital steps before Congress convened. Besides summoning the militia, he ordered a blockade of the Confederacy's ports, expanded the regular army beyond its legal limit, directed government expenditures in advance of congressional appropriations, and suspended the legal right of habeas corpus. The suspension of this constitutional guarantee, by which a person could not be imprisoned indefinitely without being charged with some specific crime, aroused much opposition throughout the country. Although Lincoln himself made no concentrated effort to suppress political opposition, which at times was extremely vocal, the repeal of habeas corpus enabled overzealous civil and military authorities to imprison thousands of people who were vocal in their opposition to the war against the South.

During the war, in the case Ex parte Merryman, Chief Justice Taney ordered Lincoln to grant a writ of habeas corpus to a Southern agitator who had been arbitrarily jailed by military authorities in Maryland. Lincoln ignored the order. After the war, in the case Ex parte Milligan, in an opinion written by David Davis, the Supreme Court ruled that a president could not suspend habeas corpus without the consent of Congress.

[SlowwHand]

Thought I'd look in. You found MrFun. Staunch Lincoln supporter.

[Capt Dizle]

Another forgotten fact of history is how Europeans flocked to the North during the war. So we can blame them for the South's defeat.

It is also not widely known how Lincoln raped native Americans to fuel his war effort.

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The Civil War stimulated industry and agriculture in the North and West. The Union grew at a rapid rate. Between 1861 and 1865, 800,000 Europeans immigrated to the North, and 300,000 emigrants traveled west to settle in California and Oregon. To promote settlement, Lincoln signed three important acts in 1862. The Homestead Act offered settlers 65 hectares (160 acres) of Western land each (see Homestead Laws). The settler had only to reside on and use the land for five years and pay a nominal fee to the government. The Morrill Act gave the states free land to establish agricultural and mechanical colleges. The Pacific Railway Act incorporated the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads for the construction of a transcontinental railroad.

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After the war Grant sent a lot of his unemployed officers to ethnically cleanse the land.

[Ethelred]

Originally posted by David Floyd
Wow, I actually agree with BOTH jimmytrick AND slowwhand in the SAME thread

Since when have you Texans had a problem pretending that Lincoln was Evil and Robert E. Lee didn't betray his country?

[David Floyd]

Yeah, but since when have I ever agreed with jimmytrick and slowwhand on anything?

[David Floyd]

And by the way, family is far more important than country.

[SlowwHand]

Originally posted by Ethelred


Since when have you Texans had a problem pretending that Lincoln was Evil and Robert E. Lee didn't betray his country?

It's not a matter of pretending, it's a thorough understanding after study, Limpd1ck.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Yeah Lee was always against slavery. He simply couldn't bear to invade his home. To most (if not all) Americans Lee is considered an honorable man.

[Ethelred]

Originally posted by David Floyd
And by the way, family is far more important than country.

Your family can't keep you from being enslaved by a foreign power.

Certainly his family was important. However I am pretty sure that his stated reasons were mostly regarding loyality to Virginia. He did loose Arlington after all so he did a lot of damage to his family by picking the side that lost.

[Ethelred]

Originally posted by SlowwHand



It's not a matter of pretending, it's a thorough understanding after study, Limpd1ck.

I see, you get an erection when you think about Texas. Perhaps that could explain your rant.

It is pretending. Lincoln was not evil. Lee's did betray the US which was his country.

[SlowwHand]

Way to rock and fire, Imran.
The Big E is somehow under the deranged state of mind that the South was rich, and all families had slaves all over the place.

[Capt Dizle]

If Lee betrayed his country so did Washington, Franklin, Jefferson and Mel Gibson.