The Civil War News & Views Open Discussion Forum

CHM 2019 -- Slavery as an Issue

Lincoln has now taken office. Anderson is still in Fort Sumter. There are many facts that surround this issue but I will only address one that is the "starving man argument", it is a lie.

We know that Lincoln sent his invasion fleet to Charleston but it was not for the purpose of freeing any slaves. We also know that Lincoln declared a blockade of Southern ports. This was an act of war in itself. So was this for the purpose of freeing the slaves? let us take a look at what Lincoln said---

War of the Rebellion: Serial 122 Page 0122 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas, for the reasons assigned in my proclamation if the 19th instant, a blockade of the ports of the States of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas was ordered to be established;
And whereas since that date public property of the United States has been seized, the collection of the revenue obstructed, and duly commissioned officers of the United States while engaged in executing the orders of their superiors have been arrested and held in custody as prisoners, or have been impeded in the discharge of their official duties without due legal process by persons claiming to act under authorities of the States of Virginia and North Carolina:

An efficient blockade of the ports of those States will also be established.
It witness whereof I have hereupon set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington this twenty-seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-fifth.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

So we see this action was for the purpose of collecting revenue. Nothing about slaves.
In July of 1861 Lincoln made a speech for the preservation of the Union. Was this about freeing the slaves? Nope, sorry.

This is a speech by A. Lincoln. I have edited it for length. Source is posted so that you may read the entire speech if you desire.

War of the Rebellion: Serial 122 Page 0311 UNION AUTHORITIES.

FELLOW-CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

At the beginning of the present Presidential term, four months ago, the functions of the Federal Government were found to be generally suspended within the several States of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida, excepting only those of the Post-Office Department.

Page 312
In accordance with this purpose an ordinance had been adopted in each of these States declaring the States, respectively, to be separated from the National Union. A formula for instituting a combined government of these States had been promulgated, and this illegal organization, in the character of Confederate States, was already invoking recognition, aid, and intervention from foreign powers. ————-
It sought only to hold the public places and property not already wrested from the Government and to collect the revenue, relying for the rest on time,

Page 319
Again, if one State may secede, so may another; and when all shall have seceded none is left to pay the debts. Is this quite just to creditors? Did we notify them of this sage view of ours when we borrowed their money? If we now recognize this doctrine by allowing the seceders to go in peace, it is difficult to see what we can do if others choose to go, or to extort terms upon which they will promise to remain.

Page 321
It was with the deepest regret that the Executive found the duty of employing the war power, in defense of the Government, forced upon him. (Yeah right, we have already proven that to be a lie.)

Page 322

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
JULY 4, 1861.

So we see Lincoln wanted to preserve the Union for the purpose of collecting revenue.
As we get into the second year of the Lincoln administration, he made another proclamation, did he mention the issue of slavery this at this time. Keep in mind we are now well past the start of the war.

War of the Rebellion: Serial 123 Page 0185 UNION AUTHORITIES.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
Whereas, in and by the second section of an act of Congress passed on the seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and sixty-two, entitled "An act for the collection of direct taxes in insurrectionary districts within the United States, and for other purposes," it is made the duty of the President to declare, on or before the first day of July then next following, by his proclamation in what States and parts of States insurrection exists:

Now, therefore, be it known that I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America, do hereby declare and proclaim that the States of South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, and the State of Virginia - except the following counties: Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Taylor, Pleasants, Tyler, Ritchie, Doddridge, Harrison, Wood, Jackson, Wirt, Roane, Calhoun, Gilmer, Barbour, Tucker, Lewis, Braxton, Upshur, Randolph, Mason, Putnam, Kanawha, Clay, Nicholas, Cabell, Wayne, Boone, Logan, Wyoming, Webster, Fayette, and Raleigh - are now in insurrection and rebellion, and by reason thereof the civil authority of the United States is obstructed, so that the provisions of the "Act to provide increased revenue from imports to pay the interest on the public debt, and for other purposes," approved August five, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, cannot be peaceably executed, and that the taxes legally chargeable upon real estate under the act last aforesaid lying within the States and parts of States as aforesaid, together with a penalty of fifty per centrum of said taxes, shall be a lien upon the tracts or lots of the same, severally charged, till paid.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington this first day of July, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-sixth.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

So now we have the words of two US presidents who state plainly that their purpose for going to war is the collection of revenue. The conflict had nothing to do with slavery, that fact cannot be argued. I have always said I had an open mind , so if any who want to promote the idea slaver was the cause of the war, please post your facts here.