Secession
« Previous EntriesCivil War in the News
Thursday, May 14th, 2009The war might have ended in 1865, but the battle over Civil War memory remains especially fierce. A number of news stories have recently appeared on my radar:
Groups at the University of Alabama disagree over “Old South” celebration
What is Confederate Memorial Day?
Op-Ed Offers Alternative to SCV Confederate History and Heritage Month Proposal
Wal-Mart is encroaching on the [...]
Ready to be President on “Day One”
Monday, March 17th, 2008Hillary Clinton often says she will be ready to be president on “day one.” No need for a “week of orientation” or any “on the job training.” No, if elected, she will “hit the ground running.”
The message is clear. She believes she has more experience than her Democratic rival, Barrack Obama. After all, while Barrack [...]
Countdown to Sumter–Part 2
Friday, December 14th, 2007Just after the War of 1812, the American military began building a series of forts on the Southern coast of the United States. The plans for Charleston, South Carolina were ambitious. Beginning in 1829, engineers imported 70,000 tons of New England granite to build up a sandbar in the middle of the harbor. They built [...]
Countdown to Sumter–Part 1
Tuesday, December 11th, 2007There were a number of very vocal Americans who were dissatisfied with the result of the Election of 1860. There were many threats, but nothing catastrophic had happened. No state had left the Union yet, but the Buchanan administration was worried. Early in November they sent an inspector to the center of secessionism, Charleston, South [...]
“Delay is Dangerous”
Monday, December 3rd, 2007Although the Election of 1860 was now over a month old, the voices of secession were still sounding off. The editor of the Charleston Mercury in South Carolina was just as impatient as ever to initiate the Revolution of 1860.
On this day in 1860, he published an editorial titled, “Delay,” which outlined the reasons why [...]
“These Political Fiends are Not Half Sick Yet”
Tuesday, November 20th, 2007The president-elect did not want to issue a public statement. What was left to say? He won a free and fair election. His speeches, as well as the Republican Party platform were already in circulation. If the secessionists were not willing to abide by the results of the election, they would hardly be willing to [...]
“I Am Not at Liberty to Shift My Ground”
Friday, November 16th, 2007The advice kept on coming. Well-meaning individuals wanted the president-elect to issue some sort of a statement to the South. The editor of the Missouri Republican begged Lincoln to gather some of his speeches together and have them published in the New York Tribune and the Chicago Tribune. He hoped the speeches would “put you [...]
“I Can Not But Tremble For You”
Wednesday, November 14th, 2007The president-elect was receiving dozens of letters everyday.
Some were threatening. “Permit me to address you from the verry center of secessionism & fire eating,” one began. The writer relayed a message from the citizens of Alabama: “They sweare that Mr Lincoln shall never be Enaugurated – as sure as He comes to Washington He will [...]
“You Were Last Night Hung in Effigy in This City”
Friday, November 9th, 2007The president-elect received an anonymous telegram from Pensacola, Florida:
Nov 8th
Pensacola Fla
You were last night hung in effigy in this city–
A Citizen
A reporter watched Lincoln read the telegram and asked him what he thought about it. Lincoln dismissed it, explaining that such feeling was “limited to a very small number, though very intense.”
A free and fair [...]
“The Tea Has Been Thrown Overboard”
Thursday, November 8th, 2007As the train made its way through South Carolina, Mary Boykin Chesnut’s traveling companion tapped her on the shoulder. “Lincoln’s elected,” she whispered.
“How do you know?”
“The man over there has a telegram.”
As word spread throughout the cabin, the “excitement was very great” and everyone began “talking at the same time.” One man stood up and [...]