Bryan, I still think everybody is missing what I'm saying. Chalk it up to my poor skills of expressing my feelings.

I agree with what you said but again I state I was simply pointing out the morality of neglecting the needy. You wrote...

"It was a matter of legality, and had nothing to do with retribution."

I agree it was indeed a legal matter but I don't agree that retribution had nothing to do with it. My friend, and you are a valued friend, perhaps I have grown cynical in my old age but I just don't have that much faith in politicians. I don't believe reconstruction ended on a set date and feel its effects were felt hard well into the 20th century.

This post of mine started with the simple statement that it had to be somewhat of an insult, at least an afront to one's feelings toward his government to be burned out like so many of our CSA vets were and then know they were helping pay pensions for those who did it. I fail to see how they would have been happy about it. It appears I'm rubbing everybody the wrong way so I'll run the white flag up on this one. I do appreciate you being the type of poster who I can disagree with and it not affect our friendship.