Sam, My apologies for this being so long. I normally do not make long post. The only point I am trying to make is if Lincoln had wanted to he could have avoided a war. Now as blame is usually placed on the one in charge, well it would be Lincoln's war.
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"The right of secession? When had that been established?"
When had it been outlawed?
Why did they need re-supplying? They were getting supplies from the city. Source "Fighting for the Confederacy' Genl. A.P. Alexander, CSA. I will look up the exact and page if you desire
Why military ships, why not commerce vessels
Why the threats, the letters. Why not meet with the peace delegation and let them know of his intentions? They could have wired Jeff Davis. No sir Lincoln did not have peace in mind.
Lincoln administration. Right to take slaves into the new territories, right of new territories to chose slave or free, taxes, failure to enforce the fugitive slave acts. Sir you keep referring to that one address. Lincoln had made his threat; the South should be keeping an eye on him. If I told you I was gonna steal your car wouldn't you be leery of me being in your neighborhood, your city? What would you think if I appeared on you lawn armed?
The place to air disagreements was (and still is) the United States Congress. Lincoln pointed to the constitution, which protects the rights of individuals as well as states. If the South thought Lincoln designed to destroy slavery, he pointed to the U.S. Constitution, which protects the institution. If that wasn't enough, they could work within the constitution and pass an amendment specifically protecting slavery. If slavery was not the issue, then why did the South object so vehemently to Lincoln?
I would trust him either, he was like my moms sheets went in the direction the wind was blowing.
And still Lincoln had issued a warning (threat), why should anyone believe him? He made no efforts to meet with the Southern peace delegation, but he did make every effort to provoke a war.
Perhaps as I have pointed out earlier, slavery was not the issue, the invitation to return to the union was rejected. That being the case what you think was the major cause of the war. Taxes was certainly an issue, the new territories would be an issue. Greed on both sides appears to me to be the real issue.
Let's put the issue of slavery behind us. If we are to blindly believe everything Lincoln said then we should believe this ---
"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. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union. I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause."
So the beginning of the war had NOTHING to do with slavery. What were the other reasons? Why didn't Lincoln work by a peaceful means to save the Union?
I am sure you already know this but --
Washington---
I believe the Whiskey Rebellion was a different situation. Wasn't there quite a bit of attacks against Federal agents at that time? Didn't the South try to leave in peace? Remember the peace delegation? Also it is my understanding this was a violent general uprising not a separation of one section from another by peaceful means... Perhaps they should have formed their own government and sent a peace delegation?
Jackson--
Lets not talk about what "Ole Treaty Breaker" would do let’s see what he did do. I believe he made his threats like Lincoln but then was able to resolve the differences by a PEACEFUL means. Was Lincoln trying to be another Jackson and let it blow up in his face? Hummmmm?????
From http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Nullification.html
Nullification Proclamation
Andrew Jackson / drawn from life and engraved by J.B. Longacre.
[between 1815 and 1845(?)].
Prints and Photographs Division.
Reproduction Number:
LC-USZ62-117120
On December 10, 1832, President Andrew Jackson issued a proclamation to the people of South Carolina that disputed a states' right to nullify a federal law. Jackson's proclamation was written in response to an ordinance issued by a South Carolina convention that declared that the tariff acts of 1828 and 1832 "are unauthorized by the constitution of the United States, and violate the true meaning and intent thereof and are null, void, and no law, nor binding upon this State." Led by John C. Calhoun, Jackson's vice president at the time, the nullifiers felt that the tariff acts of 1828 and 1832 favored Northern-manufacturing interests at the expense of Southern farmers. After Jackson issued his proclamation, Congress passed the Force Act that authorized the use of military force against any state that resisted the tariff acts. In 1833, Henry Clay helped broker a compromise bill with Calhoun that slowly lowered tariffs over the next decade. The Compromise Tariff of 1833 was eventually accepted by South Carolina and ended the nullification crisis.
Note that Jackson sought PEACEFUL compromise. Was Lincoln trying to be another Jackson and the whole thing blow up in his face?