Leroy N. Soetoro
2023-12-29 21:22:41 UTC
https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/we-are-fighting-for-
independence-not-slavery/
Mr. Davis, in conversation with a Yankee spy, named Edward Kirk, is
reported by said spy to have said, We are not fighting for slavery; we
are fighting for independence. This is true; and is a truth that has not
sufficiently been dwelt upon. It would have been very much to be desired
that this functionary had developed the idea in some message, or some
other State paper instead of leaving it to be promulgated through the
doubtful report of an impudent blockade-runner. The sentiment is true,
and should be publicly uttered and kept conspicuously in view; because our
enemies have diligently labored to make all mankind believe that the
people of these States have set up a pretended State sovereignty, and
based themselves upon that ostensibly, while their real object has been
only to preserve to themselves the property in so many negroes, worth so
many millions of dollars. The direct reverse is the truth. The question of
slavery is only one of the minor issues; and the cause of the war, the
whole cause, on our part, is the maintenance of the sovereign independence
of these States.
The whole cause of our resistance was and is, the pretension and full
determination of the Northern States to use their preponderance in the
Federal representation, in order to govern the Southern States for their
profit. . Slavery was the immediate occasioncarefully made so by themit
was not the cause. The tariff would have much more accurately
represented, though it did not cover, or exhaust, the real cause of the
quarrel. Yet neither tariffs nor slavery, nor both together, could ever
have been truly called the cause of the secession and the war. We refuse
to accept for a cause any thing than that truly announced, namely, the
sovereign independence of our States. This, indeed, includes both those
minor questions, as well as many others yet graver and higher. It includes
full power to regulate our trade for our own profit, and also complete
jurisdiction over our own social and domestic institutions; but it further
involves all the nobler attributes of national, and even of individual
life and character. A community which once submits to be schooled,
dictated to, legislated for, by any other, soon grows poor in spirit; its
citizens, become a kind of half-men, [and] feel that they have hardly a
right to walk in the sun.
The people of Virginia do not choose to accept that position for
themselves and for their children. They choose rather to die. They own a
noble country, which their fathers created, exalted, and transmitted to
them. That inheritance we intend to own while we live, and leave intact
to those who are to come after us.
It is right to let foreign nations, and those whom it may concern,
understand this theory of our independence. Let them understand that,
though we are not fighting for slavery, we will not allow ourselves to
be dictated to in regard to slavery or any other of our internal affairs,
not because thatwould diminish our interest in any property, but because
it touches our independence.
--
We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.
Durham Report: The FBI has an integrity problem. It has none.
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Officially made Nancy Pelosi a two-time impeachment loser.
Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.
President Trump boosted the economy, reduced illegal invasions, appointed
dozens of judges and three SCOTUS justices.
independence-not-slavery/
Mr. Davis, in conversation with a Yankee spy, named Edward Kirk, is
reported by said spy to have said, We are not fighting for slavery; we
are fighting for independence. This is true; and is a truth that has not
sufficiently been dwelt upon. It would have been very much to be desired
that this functionary had developed the idea in some message, or some
other State paper instead of leaving it to be promulgated through the
doubtful report of an impudent blockade-runner. The sentiment is true,
and should be publicly uttered and kept conspicuously in view; because our
enemies have diligently labored to make all mankind believe that the
people of these States have set up a pretended State sovereignty, and
based themselves upon that ostensibly, while their real object has been
only to preserve to themselves the property in so many negroes, worth so
many millions of dollars. The direct reverse is the truth. The question of
slavery is only one of the minor issues; and the cause of the war, the
whole cause, on our part, is the maintenance of the sovereign independence
of these States.
The whole cause of our resistance was and is, the pretension and full
determination of the Northern States to use their preponderance in the
Federal representation, in order to govern the Southern States for their
profit. . Slavery was the immediate occasioncarefully made so by themit
was not the cause. The tariff would have much more accurately
represented, though it did not cover, or exhaust, the real cause of the
quarrel. Yet neither tariffs nor slavery, nor both together, could ever
have been truly called the cause of the secession and the war. We refuse
to accept for a cause any thing than that truly announced, namely, the
sovereign independence of our States. This, indeed, includes both those
minor questions, as well as many others yet graver and higher. It includes
full power to regulate our trade for our own profit, and also complete
jurisdiction over our own social and domestic institutions; but it further
involves all the nobler attributes of national, and even of individual
life and character. A community which once submits to be schooled,
dictated to, legislated for, by any other, soon grows poor in spirit; its
citizens, become a kind of half-men, [and] feel that they have hardly a
right to walk in the sun.
The people of Virginia do not choose to accept that position for
themselves and for their children. They choose rather to die. They own a
noble country, which their fathers created, exalted, and transmitted to
them. That inheritance we intend to own while we live, and leave intact
to those who are to come after us.
It is right to let foreign nations, and those whom it may concern,
understand this theory of our independence. Let them understand that,
though we are not fighting for slavery, we will not allow ourselves to
be dictated to in regard to slavery or any other of our internal affairs,
not because thatwould diminish our interest in any property, but because
it touches our independence.
--
We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.
Durham Report: The FBI has an integrity problem. It has none.
No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Officially made Nancy Pelosi a two-time impeachment loser.
Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.
Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.
President Trump boosted the economy, reduced illegal invasions, appointed
dozens of judges and three SCOTUS justices.