Thursday, February 12, 2009

War of Northern Aggression


The War of Northern Aggression - haven't heard that one in a while. For all you Yankees, that is the Civil War. You know, the one you thought was fought over slavery.

Seems like some in the leadership of the Republican Party in the State of Missouri are having a hard time with dealing with that whole Abraham Lincoln, free the slaves, thing. The KC Star's Jason Noble had the following article:

JEFFERSON CITY | An unexpected turn of phrase on Tuesday upended a debate over abortion in the Missouri House.

While attempting to criticize the extent of federal authority exercised in the Freedom of Choice Act suggested by some Congressional Democrats, Rep. Bryan Stevenson, a Webb City Republican, referred to the Civil War as the “War of Northern Aggression.”

“What we are dealing with today is the greatest power grab by the federal government since the War of Northern Aggression,” Stevenson said.

The statement drew an audible gasp from the chamber. Rep. Don Calloway, a St. Louis Democrat who is African-American, demanded an apology.

Stevenson immediately retracted his statement, assuring he meant no ill will toward anyone and raising his own Cherokee Indian heritage as proof of his sensitivity to slavery.

“I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for any offense that my earlier comment made,” he said.


Ya, ya, he's sorry. How does a reference to revisionist history accidentally make it into the vocabulary of a state legislator when debating abortion? Maybe, because some one's real colors are showing.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bough, if you think the civil war was fought over slavery then I guess you really don't know your history.

"My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it..."

AJ said...

The reasons why the Civil War was fought are many and often contradictory, but something many academics agree on is the fact that there was enormous economic tension between the rural economies of the South versus the industrialized North. You can read more about it in The Origins of Democracy and Dictatorship: Lord and Peasant in the Making of the Modern World by Barrington Moore, Jr.

Then pick up a copy of Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations and read about how the commerce of the towns is equally beneficial to the economies of the country as the economies of the country are to the commerce of the towns. Industrialists versus the farmers, man, it's a tale as old as capitalism.

AJ said...

P.S. -- Linked here after Googling the term "War of Northern Aggression" after reading this article's comments.

Anonymous said...

Texas Declaration of Causes of Secession February 2 1861

"We hold as undeniable truths...the African race is inferior - that the servitude of the African race is the revealed will of the Almighty Creator,

"[the North has] proclaimed the debasing doctrine of the equality of all men, --a doctrine in violation of Divine Law.


Mississippi Declaration of Secession:January 1861

Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery-- the greatest material interest of the world.

These products that slaves produce are peculiar to our climate and none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun. These products have become necessities of the world. So a blow at slavery is a blow at civilization.



South Carolina Declaration of Secession Jan 1861

We affirm the action Northern States have attempted to decide on the propriety of our domestic institution (slavery). The Northern states have denounced as sinful the institution of slavery; they have permitted societies to encourage our slaves to leave

Georgia Declaration of Secession

For the last ten years we have had serious causes of complaint with reference to the subject of African slavery.

Florida Declaration of Causes

Northern State's books have been published and circulated amongst us which is to excite insurrection by slaves

A President has recently been elected (Lincoln), an obscure and illiterate who often proclaims that no more slave States shall be admitted into the union. If no more states are admitted, then the present slaves from their rapid increase in birth will become worthless to their owners. Nothing is more certain than this --and at no distant day.

[stopping slavery from expanding] is in so many words saying we will not burn you at the stake but we will torture you to death by a slow fire. It is saying we will not confiscate your property and consign you to a residence and equality with the african, but that destiny certainly awaits your children.



Georgia Declaration of Secession

The people of Georgia ..

For the last ten years we have had numerous and serious causes of complaint with reference to the subject of African slavery.


Alexander H. Stephens, March 21, 1861

Regarding our new Confederate Constitution. It has put at rest, forever, all the agitating questions relating to our peculiar institution. African slavery as it exists amongst us the proper status of the negro in our form of civilization.

Slavery was the immediate cause of present revolution. ...

Our new Confederacy is founded upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its corner- stone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth.

The Confederacy is the first government ever instituted upon the principles in strict conformity to nature, and the ordination of Almighty God. . Many governments have been founded upon the principle of the subordination and serfdom of certain classes of the same race; such were and are in violation of the laws of nature. Our system commits no such violation of nature's laws. With us, all of the white race, however high or low, rich or poor, are equal in the eye of the law.

Not so with the negro. Subordination is his place. He, by nature, or by the curse against Canaan, is designed for slavery. The negro is the substratum of our society. And by experience we know that it is best for the inferior negro race, that it should be so.

Slavery is conformity with the ordinance of the Almighty Creator. It is not for us to inquire into the wisdom of His Holy ordinances.

Our confederacy is founded upon principles in strict conformity with these laws of Almighty God.

Anonymous said...

Hey, yall southern deomcrats ought to delete yo spam.