Lincoln provoked the Civil War?  What then of those whose actions
proceeded Lincoln's:  Jefferson Davis, P.T.G. Beauregard, etc?
  I am not a hero worshipper of the man, but this analysis attached
seems 1.  narrow, 2. ignores comparative evidence from the
Confederacy (see Neely on habeas corpus in the CSA), and 3. ad
hominem ("he professed to be a Christian...")
  These indictments of Abraham Lincoln appear to me to be one of
the few cases where thinkers of unabashedly conservative
orientation blast a political actor for taking direct and decisive
action against a challenging force.  Why should the Confederates
have the consideration that no other combatants in American
history seem to have earned in this school of thought?  Please
explain to me why?

Date sent:              Thu, 06 Mar 2003 12:44:19 -0500 (EST)
From:                   [log in to unmask]
Subject:                Re: The Constitution, Lincoln and the Rebellion
To:                     [log in to unmask]
Send reply to:          Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
        <[log in to unmask]>

>         The best authority I know that is an indictment of Lincoln's
>         judgment
> in ignoring many Constitutional limitations to wage war without the
> consent of Congress or the people, to terminate habeas corpus and other
> civil rights without the consent of Congress, and to set off Emancipation,
> and all that it entailed, without the consent of Congress or any
> Constitutional or other statutory power can be found in the Sermon on the
> Mount, where the Lord taught: "Enter by the narrow gate (the Constitution,
> in this case); for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to
> destruction (presidential tyranny), and many are those who enter by it
> (Lincoln)."  He professed to be a Christian, but proved to fall well short
> of the teachings of Christ in his actions, as do we all I might add.  The
> difference is that his actions resulted in unnecessary death and
> destruction of a level never seen before or since in this country.
>
>        He had no significant political experience (6 years in a state
> legislature, 2 years in Congress) and yet had the audacity to provoke a
> war that dragged the entire country down to its lowest point in our
> history.  I would say no matter what spin historians put on Lincoln, his
> record is one right on a level with Billy Bob, US Grant, and perhaps a
> couple others.  He could write a mean speech, but great leadership and
> great speech making are not necessarily related.
>
> JDS
>
>
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Harold S. Forsythe
Assistant Professor History
Director:  Black Studies
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT 06430-5195
(203) 254-4000  x2379

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