Don't Forget Johnny Reb

by SCOTT McKEOWN

Now fast-forward almost 100 years and be sure to adjust your mind set. Often those without any scholarly approach toward history will pass judgment on a group using contemporary moral standards. If you are a middle class Southerner you probably own a slave or two. This slave undoubtedly helps with all manner of tasks on your family farm. To look on as an impartial observer, these servants would, with rare exceptions, look like additional family members. They were cared for, fed, and nurtured in the same manner as children. This is not taught in elementary history books, details like this are lost to history. Does this mean that these kind of treatment made it right? Does this mean that these involuntary servants wouldn't rather try their own hand at farm ownership? Of course not.

But, let us digress for a moment a look at the sixteen year old son of this hypothetical farm owner. He has the farm and the slaves to look forward to. This way of life is all he has known. A relatively small group of Northern radicals are only butting their noses into a way of life of which they know nothing. The large plantation family shares the same feelings. The difference being that they are more educated and tend to take on a leadership role in politics at all levels.

Now consider that four States that would remain loyal to the Union still endorsed the institution. Consider that slavery was in fact that "peculiar institution," in which some blacks held other blacks in slavery; some Native Americans held blacks; and some blacks held Native Americans in bondage. Surely the numbers of these slave holders were not sufficient to be considered a general trend. But what this does show is the mind set of a slave holder. At the time slaves were prestigious property and nothing more.

These slave holders, and most other Americans, had grown used to the institution. Slavery had become a staple of the American economy; although more so in the South since the North had found slavery to be unprofitable since the advent of industrialization. Slavery failed to be an asset to Northern capitalists. The result being a ability and a willingness to condemn the Southern brand of capitalist on moral grounds. The South, resenting this sentiment, grew more and more distrustful of abolitionists just as the Federal government became increasingly filled with them. What seemed to be a trade issue threatened the economic viability of the South.

In its mind, the soon to be formed Confederacy was forced to secede with the election of Abraham Lincoln. Even if the reasons for secession were wrong, The Southern states had the Constitutional Right to do so. Remember the Tenth Amendment. James Buchanan--President when the first States seceded--refused to act when he heard of the news. He claimed that although he abhorred the idea of withdrawal from the Union, he knew that it was a guaranteed Constitutional Right.

When the expected hostilities broke out Southerners were fighting for the right of States to legislate as they pleased. Slavery started the war, but the States' Rights issue sustained it. None other than Abraham Lincoln said that he would rather the United States remain in tact, even if that nation would exist "Half Slave, Half Free." Major Confederate politicians, including Alexander Hamilton Stephens, vice-president of the C.S.A., toyed with the idea of abolition in the South as early as 1862. During the Hampton Roads Conference these two leaders squabbled over these very concerns. Abe Lincoln offered continuation of the institution so long as the rebel States would rejoin the Union. Conversely, Alexander Stephens offered abolition as a condition of continued Southern independence. Can Lincoln be held equally responsible for five years of bloody war? Maybe, but pointing fingers is not the issue.

Slavery is a sad affair in our glorious history. Southerners at the time took as a matter of fact that Slavery was a guaranteed right. On the point they were wrong. But no matter how horrible a practice might be, the States' have the right to legislate within their own borders unless the Federal Government has already established jurisdiction.

To condemn the entire Confederacy, including those who fought and even politicked for it, is also wrong. Today's thinkers, students, and citizens need to remember the wrongs of history. We must also respect our ancestors--Johnny Reb and Billy Yank alike. We must honor the memories of those Blues and Grays who have defined us as a nation more than any other group.

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ru insane? i mean talk about a rant, geez walk up and smell the 20th century

Name: Scott Cloud
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This is a well thought out essay (for a most part). I am not sure I would agree with you on some points though. One particular aspect that I am at odd with you is your endorsment to "honor the memories of those Blues and Grays". Those grays activly tried to destroy the country I love. They fought, suffered, and died for a cause- which is commendable. But what is not commendable was the cause they died for was trying to break up the United States of America. You know a lot of German soldiers died defending Germany in the 40's. Would you argue that is alright for German's to honor their collective memories, even though some of these soldier's main duty was to kill and burn little innocent children? Where do we draw the line? I am not not trying to pick a fight- just understand your thinking clearer.