The Civil War, or The War Between the States, when I was a kid, or the War of Northern Aggression in much of the south (and still is, at least in parts of LA), is a bit more complex than just saying it was fought over slavery.
Lincoln was, naturally, against slavery, but in favor of abolishing it by law, rather than force. His main objective, however, was the preservation of the union. Following is an excerpt from his famous letter to Horace Greeley:
“I would save the Union. I would save it the shortest way under the Constitution. The sooner the national authority can be restored; the nearer the Union will be ‘the Union as it was.’ If there be those who would not save the Union, unless they could at the same time save slavery, I do not agree with them. If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time destroy slavery, I do not agree with them. 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; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that.”
Lincoln had already drafted the Emancipation Proclamation, but hadn’t an opportune time yet to release it. The Greeley letter was written some four weeks before the Battle of Antietam / Sharpsburg, which was both the bloodiest single day in American history and enough of a victory for Lincoln to publish the Proclamation.
I further believe war could have been avoided, and slavery would have waned away, dying out under mounting social and international pressure. But that’s another issue for another day.
On THAT War I recall Shelby Foote saying (I paraphrase) "Before the war people said the United STATES Of America, after the war The UNITED States Of America."
There was a debate between Alexander Alexander Hamilton & Thomas Jefferson, as to what kind of country this would be, two different visions. Hamilton wanted a country with a strong central government and manufacturing, Jefferson, a weak central government and an agrarian. Hamilton Won. Yes it was about Slavery, but also more.
Dear Spencer, Probing the depths of Reality, Heroism, Despair, and Truth, you emerge, arm upraised, holding a New Memorial of stunning and dazzling Beauty and Truth. You pierce the heart with the tremendous triumph of Mercy.
“No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
So incredibly written. Thank you!
Thank you for your beautiful and timely message. I sometimes feel that you are divinely inspired. This is one of those times.
Forgiveness is one of Jesus' last statements at the Cross.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” ~ Luke 23:34
The Civil War, or The War Between the States, when I was a kid, or the War of Northern Aggression in much of the south (and still is, at least in parts of LA), is a bit more complex than just saying it was fought over slavery.
Lincoln was, naturally, against slavery, but in favor of abolishing it by law, rather than force. His main objective, however, was the preservation of the union. Following is an excerpt from his famous letter to Horace Greeley:
“I would save the Union. I would save it the shortest way under the Constitution. The sooner the national authority can be restored; the nearer the Union will be ‘the Union as it was.’ If there be those who would not save the Union, unless they could at the same time save slavery, I do not agree with them. If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time destroy slavery, I do not agree with them. 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; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that.”
Lincoln had already drafted the Emancipation Proclamation, but hadn’t an opportune time yet to release it. The Greeley letter was written some four weeks before the Battle of Antietam / Sharpsburg, which was both the bloodiest single day in American history and enough of a victory for Lincoln to publish the Proclamation.
I further believe war could have been avoided, and slavery would have waned away, dying out under mounting social and international pressure. But that’s another issue for another day.
I wasn't expecting to cry this morning. Beautiful work.
Beautifully said. Thank you, Spencer
On THAT War I recall Shelby Foote saying (I paraphrase) "Before the war people said the United STATES Of America, after the war The UNITED States Of America."
There was a debate between Alexander Alexander Hamilton & Thomas Jefferson, as to what kind of country this would be, two different visions. Hamilton wanted a country with a strong central government and manufacturing, Jefferson, a weak central government and an agrarian. Hamilton Won. Yes it was about Slavery, but also more.
Dear Spencer, Probing the depths of Reality, Heroism, Despair, and Truth, you emerge, arm upraised, holding a New Memorial of stunning and dazzling Beauty and Truth. You pierce the heart with the tremendous triumph of Mercy.
Katherine McPhail
“No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6:8 NLT
This deserves publication in a "great essays" collection and made me a subscriber. How proud you must be of your son.
This is so beautifully written, thank you.
Stunning.
Amen.