Around 4:30 in the morning, 150 years ago today, old PT directed a ball to be fired at a distant fort on a small island in Charleston Harbor. The American Civil War, War of Succession, War Between the States, War of Northern Aggression (ahem, who fired the first shot?), War of the Rebellion had begun.
The very founding of the Nation was an argument over the power of the Federal Government and that of the States. Four years and the deaths of 500,000 Americans did not really completely settle the matter.
Oh, to be sure, big Government won the day. There is little wonder the Big Government king B. Obama reveres Lincoln. But the battles being waged by the Tea Party are the same political battles argued 150 years ago. Too bad a defense of slavery was part of the Southern cause. They might have won otherwise.
The Confederate States of America forswore slavery in the end, but it was too late. Now those of us who favor a limited Federal Government are fighting a long uphill battle.
Edit: caught. I put up a lazy post. Is this better Nathan?
What it will come down to is, do you have a right to run your own life, or are you chattel; property of our perpetually indebted, BanKhazar-fellating government? Sadly, too many these days don't mind the latter, as long as they get plenty of "money for nothing & checks for free."
ReplyDeleteNow lookee here you Johnny Rebs - we Buckeyes took away West Virginia from youse guise, and we can dang well give it back.
ReplyDeleteA long canon?
ReplyDeleteHow, er, tall was he?
Actually, Beauregard had nothing to do with it, other than to order it done. A "Captain James" sited and fired the gun. Which was a 10" mortar, not a "long cannon" :)
Then there is a good argument that the first shots of the Civil War were fired clear back in January 1861, at the relief ship Star of the West.
HB: Ya done good :)
ReplyDelete