First this:
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“If the bill was needed in 1865, and clearly by then Lee and Davis were begging for passage, it was even mnore needed in 1863 when the subject was first brought up, and whennit might have done the mosty good. Had strong measures been taken then in 1863 it would have been more effective.
clearly they were offered a choice, exchange emancipation for securing independence and the choice they selected, even in the last months was no emancipation. “
Really I think there was still plenty of fight left in the CSDA armies in ‘63. History proves that .
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--- I said EVEN IN THE LAST MONTHS... so this comment about fight left in 63 means misses everything.... what I said iwas in 63 when the subject was first brought up about wanting slaves in large numbers to fight.. and the proposal was rejected... was perhaps when it would have been most effective to begin putting the plan into operation, not in the final days of 65.
Are you clear yet on that point?
Next this:
Do not twist my words. I have clearly said more than once here now that if the intended stated goal IN THE BEGINNING was for the South to achieve Independence, then at some point during the war the choice was made by the CSA leadership that maintaining slavery was more important. I have proved that point now over and over.
it is a simple concept, they even made a beer commercial about it. If you are about to fall offf a cliff and you can only save your beeer or your ma, which would you choose? Hiw about your beer or your dog? What about your beer or your girlfriend? When the guy has to stop and think it over the girl storm out. It is all about priorities.
If you are in a sinking boat and you have to lighten the load, you toss out the things you need least. If more has to be tossed you save the most valuable to the end. I think the concept is clear. The South sacrificed countless treasure, property, goods, and territory, they gave up the very flower of their white manhood. They even gave up their old men and younbg boys to the War machine..
But when the finest and most respected military mind on both sides, Robert E Lee, said to the CSA congress, I need armed slaves and I need them emancipated, and I need it all now., he was DENIED.
Now if Robert E Lee makes such an astonishing request of the CSA leaders, do you think he did not deem it important or urgent? Was it just some pasttime, some trivial pursuit? Or was it a real, vital, crucial thing Lee say as vitally important if there was to be any glimmer to keep the cause alive?
I quote from your very own post:
“The measure that ultimately was enacted, introduced by Representative Barksdale of Mississippi on February 10, 1865, the day after Benjamin’s speech, made no provision for emancipating slaves. It merely authorized the President to accept from the owners of slaves the services of such a number of able-bodied Negro men as he may deem expedient to perform military service in whatever capacity he may direct.... "
made no provision for emancipating slaves
made no provision for emancipating slaves
made no provision for emancipating slaves
made no provision for emancipating slaves
Can it be any clearer?
Lee was denied his final request. He saw it as urgent vital extraordinary. The leadership said No...
But if slaveholders will donate their slaves, we will authjorize accepting the donation.
At this same time, Davis, who had dithered over the issuefor months, even years, saying "no negroes needed", suddenly reversed course and pleaded to be allowed to BUY 40,000 slaves, -BUY- that is how badly he wanted them in a large number--- he would BUY them if he had to, just to get the large number of men he decided he now needed very badly ... he was denied by the CSA congress. .. not Virginia.. by Richmond.
So as the proverbiable boat is sinking and one by one things are lost in the order of their importance, the one thing remaining in the boat as it went down was slavery. The choice was made when they refused cleburne and all the other military men who had made the request. It was even made and denied in the last month. Lee himself was denied what he asked the congress for, and expressed HIS DISAPPOINTMENT, according to your own post. The congress was the leadership representing every state in the CSA and the tepid, half-measure, "disappointing" legislation they barely approved even then only passed by a few votes.
Lee wanted to secure Independence and he asked for the "bread" he saw was desperately needed to keep that hope alive. He would not have asked for emancipation and the arming of large numbers of of slaves if he did not believe it was extremely vitally imporatant to achieve Independence He was handed a stone. And the "bread" he was asking for was everywhere, the most common "commodity" in the South.
It cannot be made any clearer than that.