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John, some in the South are die- hards, some not. I have been in seminars with people from the South who insist upon their perspective, and what is most interesting to me is that they are loathe to admit what is obviously true: That if it weren't for the issue of slavery, the Civil War would never have occurred. Secession was consequent upon Lincoln's election, for no other reason than that the Republicans took a moderate abolitionist stance. They all want to emphasize the other causes of friction, such as tariff policy, but it is nonsense. Everyone knew that it was about the "Peculiar Institution", aka "Our Way of Life". Lincoln was correct that the sovereignty of the Federal Government derived from "the people of the United States", and was not merely a concession from the states. He was right that the defense of slavery was a lousy ground for dissolving the Union. And he did not fight until Fort Sumnter was fired upon. It was the choice of the Secessionists to go to war. Nevertheless, after the war, Lincoln intended to pursue conciliatory policies, and his successor did so, against the wishes of the Radical Republicans. The leaders of the Confederacy were not hung for treason, which would have been reasonable. I credit Lincoln with greatness for preserving the Union, and for attempting to heal the wounds of war. I think he was a hero also because he knew that he was likely to lose his life, and persisted in living it with some normality... |
