From Rebellion:
1:12 PM (9 hours ago)This day in historyfrom feed/http://lsrebellion.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default by Old RebelIn 1861, Missouri Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson signed the Missouri Ordinance of Secession, passed the previous day by a quorum of the State Legislature in Neosho, Missouri.
Missouri’s capital, Jefferson City, was already occupied by Federal forces.
Thanks to loyal reader Dutchy for the heads up!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
150 Years Ago In Arkansas: Four Flags Over El Dorado
From The Arkansas Toothpick:
« 150 Years Ago… Drama in Arkansas
Main
November Toothpick Update »
150 Years Ago… 4 Flags Over El Dorado
By admin
October 31, 2010
This week 150 years ago, the election of 1860 was heating up. Several weeks prior, the reader may note the presence of the Everett/Bell Flag in Searcy. A November 1, 1860 Arkansas newspaper makes note that four poles were raised as far south as El Dorado, Arkansas; one for each of the politicians that were supported by South Arkansans.
1860 Arkansas saw the design and manufacture of many and varied flags, whether they be political flags, militia flags, or other flags for varied occassions. Today, creating a flag is as simple as creating a design and having it either embroidered or screen printed. However, during the 1860’s, a flag must be carefully hand-stitched and hand-embroidered. Thus, the creation of a “unique and expressive” flag was quite the chore.
One reason for the increase in flag making can be seen in the fact that 1860 America, whether North or South, saw the election of 1860 as the most important election of their lifetimes.
[LITTLE ROCK] OLD-LINE DEMOCRAT, November 1, 1860, p. 3, c. 3
Col. E. A. Warren made a most eloquent and effective speech at Eldorado on the 15th inst., where during the week there were four poles raised, one for Breckinridge, one for Bell, one for Douglas and one for HOUSTON and CHANDLER, which last named the Camden Eagle says, was “unique and expressive.”
“The ‘lone star’ twinkled in one corner, the inscription in the middle and below stood the old hero of San Jacinto pointing at the coon which was approaching him, while his associate was after him with a “sharp stick.” The new ticket had many warm supporters, in consequence of an able speech made by the distinguished candidate for the Vice Presidency.—His fame, already great, was greatly added to on this occasion.
Topics: 150th Anniversary Project, Research
« 150 Years Ago… Drama in Arkansas
Main
November Toothpick Update »
150 Years Ago… 4 Flags Over El Dorado
By admin
October 31, 2010
This week 150 years ago, the election of 1860 was heating up. Several weeks prior, the reader may note the presence of the Everett/Bell Flag in Searcy. A November 1, 1860 Arkansas newspaper makes note that four poles were raised as far south as El Dorado, Arkansas; one for each of the politicians that were supported by South Arkansans.
1860 Arkansas saw the design and manufacture of many and varied flags, whether they be political flags, militia flags, or other flags for varied occassions. Today, creating a flag is as simple as creating a design and having it either embroidered or screen printed. However, during the 1860’s, a flag must be carefully hand-stitched and hand-embroidered. Thus, the creation of a “unique and expressive” flag was quite the chore.
One reason for the increase in flag making can be seen in the fact that 1860 America, whether North or South, saw the election of 1860 as the most important election of their lifetimes.
[LITTLE ROCK] OLD-LINE DEMOCRAT, November 1, 1860, p. 3, c. 3
Col. E. A. Warren made a most eloquent and effective speech at Eldorado on the 15th inst., where during the week there were four poles raised, one for Breckinridge, one for Bell, one for Douglas and one for HOUSTON and CHANDLER, which last named the Camden Eagle says, was “unique and expressive.”
“The ‘lone star’ twinkled in one corner, the inscription in the middle and below stood the old hero of San Jacinto pointing at the coon which was approaching him, while his associate was after him with a “sharp stick.” The new ticket had many warm supporters, in consequence of an able speech made by the distinguished candidate for the Vice Presidency.—His fame, already great, was greatly added to on this occasion.
Topics: 150th Anniversary Project, Research
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Fighting With General Joseph E. Johnston To The Bitter End
From Confederate Digest:
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Fighting with General Joseph E. Johnston to the Bitter End
This imposing monument to Confederate General Joseph E. Johnson Stands on one of the most prominent intersections in downtown Dalton, Georgia. The inscription reads:
JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON
1807 - 1891
Brigadier General U.S.A.
General C.S.A.
Given command of the Confederate
Forces in Dalton in
1863. He directed the 79 days
Campaign to Atlanta, one of the
Most memorable in the annals of war.
Erected by Bryan M. Thomas
Chapter United Daughters of
Confederacy, Dalton, Georgia, 1912
*****
I am very proud to say that one of my great uncles, John Thomas Conn, fought with General Johnston during that Atlanta Campaign. My great uncle was a native of Big Shanty, Georgia, later named Kennesaw. He was literally fighting to defended his family and home against invading Yankee aggressors. John Thomas, along with three of his brothers, volunteered for service in the Confederate army shortly after the outbreak of the War Between the States.
By the time John Thomas came under the command of General Johnston, all three of his brothers, including my Great, Great Grandfather, William Elisha Conn, had been killed. John Thomas himself had been captured at Perryville, Kentucky and spent time in two northern POW Camps, one in Indianapolis, Indiana and the other on Pea Patch Island in Delaware. After being exchanged and released from prison, he immediately rejoined the War in the just and noble quest for Southern Independence.
John Thomas was faithful to the Confederate cause to the bitter end. On April 26, 1865, he was still under General Johnston's command when, near Greensboro, North Carolina, Johnston was finally forced to surrender the Army of Tennessee and all remaining Confederate forces still active in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. It was the largest surrender of the War, totaling 89,270 soldiers. This was two and a half weeks after General Robert E. Lee had surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox on April 9, 1865.
John Thomas, like the majority of Confederate soldiers, was not a man of wealth or position. He was a poor dirt farmer and laborer on the railroad who fought for one reason - his home, his family, and his very life was illegally and brutally attacked by an invading foreign army. Following the War, John Thomas finally limped home, weary and worn in body and mind but still strong in faith. He found many of his family members dead and the survivors destitute. His home town of Big Shanty, at the foot of Kennesaw Mountain, had been wantonly burned to the ground by Union General William T. Sherman. Crops and food stores had been destroyed. Personal property of any value had been stolen. Both his local community and the once sovereign state of Georgia were occupied by northern invaders who, for many ears to come, enforced the bitter and punitive policies which they called "Reconstruction."
Posted by J. Stephen Conn at 11:44 PM
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Fighting with General Joseph E. Johnston to the Bitter End
This imposing monument to Confederate General Joseph E. Johnson Stands on one of the most prominent intersections in downtown Dalton, Georgia. The inscription reads:
JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON
1807 - 1891
Brigadier General U.S.A.
General C.S.A.
Given command of the Confederate
Forces in Dalton in
1863. He directed the 79 days
Campaign to Atlanta, one of the
Most memorable in the annals of war.
Erected by Bryan M. Thomas
Chapter United Daughters of
Confederacy, Dalton, Georgia, 1912
*****
I am very proud to say that one of my great uncles, John Thomas Conn, fought with General Johnston during that Atlanta Campaign. My great uncle was a native of Big Shanty, Georgia, later named Kennesaw. He was literally fighting to defended his family and home against invading Yankee aggressors. John Thomas, along with three of his brothers, volunteered for service in the Confederate army shortly after the outbreak of the War Between the States.
By the time John Thomas came under the command of General Johnston, all three of his brothers, including my Great, Great Grandfather, William Elisha Conn, had been killed. John Thomas himself had been captured at Perryville, Kentucky and spent time in two northern POW Camps, one in Indianapolis, Indiana and the other on Pea Patch Island in Delaware. After being exchanged and released from prison, he immediately rejoined the War in the just and noble quest for Southern Independence.
John Thomas was faithful to the Confederate cause to the bitter end. On April 26, 1865, he was still under General Johnston's command when, near Greensboro, North Carolina, Johnston was finally forced to surrender the Army of Tennessee and all remaining Confederate forces still active in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. It was the largest surrender of the War, totaling 89,270 soldiers. This was two and a half weeks after General Robert E. Lee had surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox on April 9, 1865.
John Thomas, like the majority of Confederate soldiers, was not a man of wealth or position. He was a poor dirt farmer and laborer on the railroad who fought for one reason - his home, his family, and his very life was illegally and brutally attacked by an invading foreign army. Following the War, John Thomas finally limped home, weary and worn in body and mind but still strong in faith. He found many of his family members dead and the survivors destitute. His home town of Big Shanty, at the foot of Kennesaw Mountain, had been wantonly burned to the ground by Union General William T. Sherman. Crops and food stores had been destroyed. Personal property of any value had been stolen. Both his local community and the once sovereign state of Georgia were occupied by northern invaders who, for many ears to come, enforced the bitter and punitive policies which they called "Reconstruction."
Posted by J. Stephen Conn at 11:44 PM
Friday, October 29, 2010
On Understanding "A Sense Of Place"
From Old Virginia Blog:
2:23 PM (9 hours ago)On Understanding "A Sense Of Place"from Old Virginia Blog by Richard G. Williams, Jr.
"The south has produced the world's best literature. It dominates world culture. Southern culture is the most powerful and expressive in the world." ~ Timothy Tyson
William Faulkner's Typewriter
"The American South is a geographical entity, a historical fact, a place in the imagination, and the homeland of an array of Americans who consider themselves southerners. The region is often shrouded in romance and myth, but its realities are as intriguing, as intricate, as its legends." ~ The Encyclopedia of Southern Culture
"The South is cultivated in collards and covered in kudzu . . . Many of us are descended from Scottish settlers and African slaves--and we usually find that we have more in common with each other than with Northern urbanites." ~ Clint Johnson
In a recent post at Civil War Memory, Kevin Levin wrote about a question he was recently asked in a public forum. The question was in regards to where Kevin was born. He responded on his blog with this rather curious comment:
"The question is, of course, silly since it implies some kind of privilege or unique access to the past depending on birth."
Kevin's response presents a wonderful opportunity to briefly discuss how our place of birth and where we grew up - our "sense of place" - impacts our views on history and does, in fact, often give one "unique access to the past" - particularly when it comes to the WBTS.
First of all, no honest questions are silly - especially if it pertains to one's place of birth and is asked of someone whose field of work specializes in dissecting and psycho-analyzing a particular geographic region of the United States.
Secondly, no informed historian or writer could state, with a straight face, that one's place of birth, and the various cultural influences of the diverse regional areas of the United States, do not impact one's perspective and views on history - whether that impact is realized or not. Of course, this is true of not only the South, but practically any region of the world since all regions have their own unique and colorful history.
Thirdly, I'm not quite sure what Kevin has to gain by insulting someone for asking an honest and reasonable question - someone who took time out of their schedule to come hear Kevin participate in a public forum. That won't go very far to encourage attendance and sincere questions at these types of events in the future, that's for sure.
Since Kevin has mentioned this issue before, I get the distinct impression he's uncomfortable with the topic, perhaps revealing his own feelings (justified or not) of inadequacy due to his not being "Virginian, born and bred." (See, I can pyscho-analyze too.) Many moderns like to imagine a homogeneous America where our rich regional differences have been purged and we all march in bland (and boring) lockstep sameness of opinion, perspective, dialect, and views on history. While some of that has occurred due to mass marketing and other influences, the various regions of the United States still have distinct cultural differences which impact the way we view all sorts of topics, history being just one of them.
Being born in Dixie and raised with the knowledge that your ancestors sacrificed and fought bravely to defend their homes against overwhelming odds certainly has an impact on your perspective, your emotions and, yes, the way one intellectually approaches the study of the WBTS. I should know since I was born on a battlefield where two of my own Confederate ancestors fought. I also spent much of my childhood at my grandmother's home on that same battlefield, exploring the surrounding woods, fields, and streams where, just underfoot, lay mini-balls, shrapnel and yes, blood. Images of Lee, Jackson and the boys hung from parlor walls, books on the WBTS adorned our bookshelves, and the ghosts of the Confederacy seemed to always be present. This experience does indeed give me "unique access" to the past.
Does anyone really believe it is a coincidence that the definitive biographies of the Confederacy's two most recognized icons - Lee and Jackson - were written by proud Sons of the South and descendants of Confederate soldiers: Douglas Southall Freeman and James I. Robertson, Jr.?
Could anyone, other than a Southerner like Faulkner (who grew up breathing Southern air still - figuratively speaking - heavy with the smell of gunsmoke), have written these words:
For every Southern boy fourteen years old, not once but whenever he wants it, there is the instant when it's still not yet two o'clock on that July afternoon in 1863, the brigades are in position behind the rail fence, the guns are laid and ready in the woods and the furled flags are already loosened to break out and Pickett himself with his long oiled ringlets and his hat in one hand probably and his sword in the other looking up the hill waiting for Longstreet to give the word and it's all in the balance, it hasn't happened yet, it hasn't even begun yet, it not only hasn't begun yet but there is still time for it not to begin against that position and those circumstances which made more men than Garnett and Kemper and Armistead and Wilcox look grave yet it's going to begin, we all know that, we have come too far with too much at stake and that moment doesn't need even a fourteen-year-old boy to think This time. Maybe this time with all this much to lose than all this much to gain: Pennsylvania, Maryland, the world, the golden dome of Washington itself to crown with desperate and unbelievable victory the desperate gamble, the cast made two years ago. ~ William Faulkner, Intruder in the Dust
Some historians have openly admitted their regret for not having Faulkner's connection to the South and the Civil War:
Moreover, not a single ancestor fought in the war, a fact I lamented as a boy reading books by Bruce Catton and Douglas Southall Freeman and wanting desperately to have some direct connection to the events that fascinated me. ~ Gary Gallagher
Both Faulkner and Gallagher refer to this passion being associated with youth, but don't fool yourself into thinking that much of that feeling does not linger into adulthood - it often grows even stronger. And these feelings also often lead to a lifelong passion regarding history and one's life work, as evidenced in the following line about legendary relic hunter and historian, Tom Dickey:
"And, this was not just any war fought in a far away land. It was a war that took place on the soil where he was born and grew up, and therein lay his fascination with the Civil War and its artillery."
Freeman would never have written his monumental biography of Lee were it not for his youthful fascination with the Confederacy and his ancestral ties:
Douglas Freeman had acquired a lifelong devotion to Confederate history from tales told by his father, one of General Lee's soldiers. He was taken to see the first 'Civil War Re-enactment', one performed by the actual veterans and it was then that he vowed to write the history of Lee's fabled Army of Northern Virginia. As well as the two massive biographies, Dr Freeman (he was part of the first generation of historians to earn a Ph.D.) wrote several other works of Southern history and historiography. ~ Richard Mullen: America's Greatest Biographer: Douglas Southall Freeman
And David Johnson, in his excellent biography of Freeman, further points to the fact that Freeman's place of birth, and all that went with it, continued to influence Freeman's writings until the day he died:
Having written and read millions of words, Douglas Freeman chose to be remembered with words from Tennyson's Ulysses: I am part of all that I have met.
The influences that shaped his life never left him. Always there was Walker Freeman - wounded veteran, struggling clerk, successful businessman, keeper of the faith; always there was the city of Richmond - its traditions, its heritage, its tragedies, its future . . . always there was Lee - the supreme example of service and sacrifice.
Now, all of this is not to say that those from outside the South can't write good histories of the region or offer insight on the Confederacy and the WBTS. Outside observers very often do see things that natives miss. That is a perspective (whether one admits it or not), as is one which comes from a homegrown Southerner. So, yes, it is important to know of an author's or historian's place of birth, where he grew up, and whether or not he understands what many have referred to as "a sense of place" so one may evaluate bias and perspective. That is certainly a legitimate inquiry. Why would anyone think otherwise?
In reading Kevin's blog, and others like it, it seems many writers and historians have difficulty getting their mind around the concept of "a sense of place." Wikipedia offers some good insight on this concept:
Cultural geographers, anthropologists, sociologists and urban planners study why certain places hold special meaning to particular people or peoples. Places said to have a strong "sense of place" have a strong identity and character that is deeply felt by local inhabitants and by many visitors. Sense of place is a social phenomenon that exists independently of any one individual's perceptions or experiences, yet is dependent on human engagement for its existence. Such a feeling may be derived from the natural environment, but is more often made up of a mix of natural and cultural features in the landscape, and generally includes the people who occupy the place. The sense of place may be strongly enhanced by the place being written about by poets, novelists and historians, or portrayed in art or music, and more recently, through modes of codification aimed at protecting, preserving and enhancing places felt to be of value . .
In order to have even the most fundamental understanding of Southern history and memory, one must understand this concept referred to as "a sense of place." This is especially true of the South and her various (and often complicated) perspectives on the WBTS . One's place of birth does, very often, provide a "unique access" and perspective to the study of history - especially the WBTS. And it can also be "privileged." I consider mine both.
http://oldvirginiablog.blogspot.com
2:23 PM (9 hours ago)On Understanding "A Sense Of Place"from Old Virginia Blog by Richard G. Williams, Jr.
"The south has produced the world's best literature. It dominates world culture. Southern culture is the most powerful and expressive in the world." ~ Timothy Tyson
William Faulkner's Typewriter
"The American South is a geographical entity, a historical fact, a place in the imagination, and the homeland of an array of Americans who consider themselves southerners. The region is often shrouded in romance and myth, but its realities are as intriguing, as intricate, as its legends." ~ The Encyclopedia of Southern Culture
"The South is cultivated in collards and covered in kudzu . . . Many of us are descended from Scottish settlers and African slaves--and we usually find that we have more in common with each other than with Northern urbanites." ~ Clint Johnson
In a recent post at Civil War Memory, Kevin Levin wrote about a question he was recently asked in a public forum. The question was in regards to where Kevin was born. He responded on his blog with this rather curious comment:
"The question is, of course, silly since it implies some kind of privilege or unique access to the past depending on birth."
Kevin's response presents a wonderful opportunity to briefly discuss how our place of birth and where we grew up - our "sense of place" - impacts our views on history and does, in fact, often give one "unique access to the past" - particularly when it comes to the WBTS.
First of all, no honest questions are silly - especially if it pertains to one's place of birth and is asked of someone whose field of work specializes in dissecting and psycho-analyzing a particular geographic region of the United States.
Secondly, no informed historian or writer could state, with a straight face, that one's place of birth, and the various cultural influences of the diverse regional areas of the United States, do not impact one's perspective and views on history - whether that impact is realized or not. Of course, this is true of not only the South, but practically any region of the world since all regions have their own unique and colorful history.
Thirdly, I'm not quite sure what Kevin has to gain by insulting someone for asking an honest and reasonable question - someone who took time out of their schedule to come hear Kevin participate in a public forum. That won't go very far to encourage attendance and sincere questions at these types of events in the future, that's for sure.
Since Kevin has mentioned this issue before, I get the distinct impression he's uncomfortable with the topic, perhaps revealing his own feelings (justified or not) of inadequacy due to his not being "Virginian, born and bred." (See, I can pyscho-analyze too.) Many moderns like to imagine a homogeneous America where our rich regional differences have been purged and we all march in bland (and boring) lockstep sameness of opinion, perspective, dialect, and views on history. While some of that has occurred due to mass marketing and other influences, the various regions of the United States still have distinct cultural differences which impact the way we view all sorts of topics, history being just one of them.
Being born in Dixie and raised with the knowledge that your ancestors sacrificed and fought bravely to defend their homes against overwhelming odds certainly has an impact on your perspective, your emotions and, yes, the way one intellectually approaches the study of the WBTS. I should know since I was born on a battlefield where two of my own Confederate ancestors fought. I also spent much of my childhood at my grandmother's home on that same battlefield, exploring the surrounding woods, fields, and streams where, just underfoot, lay mini-balls, shrapnel and yes, blood. Images of Lee, Jackson and the boys hung from parlor walls, books on the WBTS adorned our bookshelves, and the ghosts of the Confederacy seemed to always be present. This experience does indeed give me "unique access" to the past.
Does anyone really believe it is a coincidence that the definitive biographies of the Confederacy's two most recognized icons - Lee and Jackson - were written by proud Sons of the South and descendants of Confederate soldiers: Douglas Southall Freeman and James I. Robertson, Jr.?
Could anyone, other than a Southerner like Faulkner (who grew up breathing Southern air still - figuratively speaking - heavy with the smell of gunsmoke), have written these words:
For every Southern boy fourteen years old, not once but whenever he wants it, there is the instant when it's still not yet two o'clock on that July afternoon in 1863, the brigades are in position behind the rail fence, the guns are laid and ready in the woods and the furled flags are already loosened to break out and Pickett himself with his long oiled ringlets and his hat in one hand probably and his sword in the other looking up the hill waiting for Longstreet to give the word and it's all in the balance, it hasn't happened yet, it hasn't even begun yet, it not only hasn't begun yet but there is still time for it not to begin against that position and those circumstances which made more men than Garnett and Kemper and Armistead and Wilcox look grave yet it's going to begin, we all know that, we have come too far with too much at stake and that moment doesn't need even a fourteen-year-old boy to think This time. Maybe this time with all this much to lose than all this much to gain: Pennsylvania, Maryland, the world, the golden dome of Washington itself to crown with desperate and unbelievable victory the desperate gamble, the cast made two years ago. ~ William Faulkner, Intruder in the Dust
Some historians have openly admitted their regret for not having Faulkner's connection to the South and the Civil War:
Moreover, not a single ancestor fought in the war, a fact I lamented as a boy reading books by Bruce Catton and Douglas Southall Freeman and wanting desperately to have some direct connection to the events that fascinated me. ~ Gary Gallagher
Both Faulkner and Gallagher refer to this passion being associated with youth, but don't fool yourself into thinking that much of that feeling does not linger into adulthood - it often grows even stronger. And these feelings also often lead to a lifelong passion regarding history and one's life work, as evidenced in the following line about legendary relic hunter and historian, Tom Dickey:
"And, this was not just any war fought in a far away land. It was a war that took place on the soil where he was born and grew up, and therein lay his fascination with the Civil War and its artillery."
Freeman would never have written his monumental biography of Lee were it not for his youthful fascination with the Confederacy and his ancestral ties:
Douglas Freeman had acquired a lifelong devotion to Confederate history from tales told by his father, one of General Lee's soldiers. He was taken to see the first 'Civil War Re-enactment', one performed by the actual veterans and it was then that he vowed to write the history of Lee's fabled Army of Northern Virginia. As well as the two massive biographies, Dr Freeman (he was part of the first generation of historians to earn a Ph.D.) wrote several other works of Southern history and historiography. ~ Richard Mullen: America's Greatest Biographer: Douglas Southall Freeman
And David Johnson, in his excellent biography of Freeman, further points to the fact that Freeman's place of birth, and all that went with it, continued to influence Freeman's writings until the day he died:
Having written and read millions of words, Douglas Freeman chose to be remembered with words from Tennyson's Ulysses: I am part of all that I have met.
The influences that shaped his life never left him. Always there was Walker Freeman - wounded veteran, struggling clerk, successful businessman, keeper of the faith; always there was the city of Richmond - its traditions, its heritage, its tragedies, its future . . . always there was Lee - the supreme example of service and sacrifice.
Now, all of this is not to say that those from outside the South can't write good histories of the region or offer insight on the Confederacy and the WBTS. Outside observers very often do see things that natives miss. That is a perspective (whether one admits it or not), as is one which comes from a homegrown Southerner. So, yes, it is important to know of an author's or historian's place of birth, where he grew up, and whether or not he understands what many have referred to as "a sense of place" so one may evaluate bias and perspective. That is certainly a legitimate inquiry. Why would anyone think otherwise?
In reading Kevin's blog, and others like it, it seems many writers and historians have difficulty getting their mind around the concept of "a sense of place." Wikipedia offers some good insight on this concept:
Cultural geographers, anthropologists, sociologists and urban planners study why certain places hold special meaning to particular people or peoples. Places said to have a strong "sense of place" have a strong identity and character that is deeply felt by local inhabitants and by many visitors. Sense of place is a social phenomenon that exists independently of any one individual's perceptions or experiences, yet is dependent on human engagement for its existence. Such a feeling may be derived from the natural environment, but is more often made up of a mix of natural and cultural features in the landscape, and generally includes the people who occupy the place. The sense of place may be strongly enhanced by the place being written about by poets, novelists and historians, or portrayed in art or music, and more recently, through modes of codification aimed at protecting, preserving and enhancing places felt to be of value . .
In order to have even the most fundamental understanding of Southern history and memory, one must understand this concept referred to as "a sense of place." This is especially true of the South and her various (and often complicated) perspectives on the WBTS . One's place of birth does, very often, provide a "unique access" and perspective to the study of history - especially the WBTS. And it can also be "privileged." I consider mine both.
http://oldvirginiablog.blogspot.com
Thursday, October 28, 2010
An Inconvenient Truth: The Case For Texas Secession
From The Ohio Republic:
Thursday, October 28, 2010A darned inconvenient truth
Daniel Miller of the Texas Nationalist Movement lays out the case for secession about as plainly as it can be laid out. After cataloguing the excesses of the federal government, he writes this:
So What Is It Going To Take?
The Founders of Texas declared independence from Mexico for far less and sacrificed way more. The Founders of the United States declared independence for far less and sacrificed way more. The people of France took to the streets for far less and sacrificed way more.
It is time for you to make a decision. Either you want to: “A” live like this or you want something better. Either you or perfectly fine with the ride the federal government is taking you or you want to be rid of it. Either you want to exist in bondage or you want to “B” live free and independent. There is no "Option C". There is no compromise option. There is no middle ground. There is only slavery and tyranny or freedom and liberty.
If you fail to choose, you have chosen. We either create history or it will be created for us.
Years from now, you will have the opportunity to explain this period in our history to the generations yet to come. When they ask you what you did when Texas became a Republic again, are you going to tell them that you couldn't take off of work? Are you going to tell them that you missed out because the Cowboys game was on? Are you going to tell them that a pizza or a case of beer was more important?
If you ignore this call to join with the Texas Nationalist Movement, then never, ever complain about the federal government again. Never complain about Obama, Pelosi, Reid or any of their successors. Never complain about taxes, inflation, unemployment or immigration. When the banks run out of money, don't complain. When your job goes to an illegal alien, don't complain. When your money becomes worthless, don't complain. When the price of food goes sky high, don't complain.
And whatever you do, never insult the French. They at least did something that you were unwilling to do for far less.
However, if you are ready to join with me and other Texans who are ready to give everything and sacrifice all to live for a cause, then I welcome you and embrace you as my countrymen.
Respectfully submitted to the Citizens of Texas this 26th day of October 2010.
Daniel Miller, President
Texas Nationalist Movement
Liberty-minded Ohioans are hoping for election results next Tuesday that will strengthen our voice in the General Assembly and the Congress. I voted, and I hope we are right. But if we're not, then what?
I have advocated taking the nullification route first; but we must start preparing for the step after that. As a certain Columbus-based insurance company would say, "Life comes at you fast." Like it or not, ready or not, the revolution will soon be upon us. What we do in the next few months will determine whether or not we deserve to live in a free society.
Posted by Harold Thomas
Labels: Secessionism, Texas
Thursday, October 28, 2010A darned inconvenient truth
Daniel Miller of the Texas Nationalist Movement lays out the case for secession about as plainly as it can be laid out. After cataloguing the excesses of the federal government, he writes this:
So What Is It Going To Take?
The Founders of Texas declared independence from Mexico for far less and sacrificed way more. The Founders of the United States declared independence for far less and sacrificed way more. The people of France took to the streets for far less and sacrificed way more.
It is time for you to make a decision. Either you want to: “A” live like this or you want something better. Either you or perfectly fine with the ride the federal government is taking you or you want to be rid of it. Either you want to exist in bondage or you want to “B” live free and independent. There is no "Option C". There is no compromise option. There is no middle ground. There is only slavery and tyranny or freedom and liberty.
If you fail to choose, you have chosen. We either create history or it will be created for us.
Years from now, you will have the opportunity to explain this period in our history to the generations yet to come. When they ask you what you did when Texas became a Republic again, are you going to tell them that you couldn't take off of work? Are you going to tell them that you missed out because the Cowboys game was on? Are you going to tell them that a pizza or a case of beer was more important?
If you ignore this call to join with the Texas Nationalist Movement, then never, ever complain about the federal government again. Never complain about Obama, Pelosi, Reid or any of their successors. Never complain about taxes, inflation, unemployment or immigration. When the banks run out of money, don't complain. When your job goes to an illegal alien, don't complain. When your money becomes worthless, don't complain. When the price of food goes sky high, don't complain.
And whatever you do, never insult the French. They at least did something that you were unwilling to do for far less.
However, if you are ready to join with me and other Texans who are ready to give everything and sacrifice all to live for a cause, then I welcome you and embrace you as my countrymen.
Respectfully submitted to the Citizens of Texas this 26th day of October 2010.
Daniel Miller, President
Texas Nationalist Movement
Liberty-minded Ohioans are hoping for election results next Tuesday that will strengthen our voice in the General Assembly and the Congress. I voted, and I hope we are right. But if we're not, then what?
I have advocated taking the nullification route first; but we must start preparing for the step after that. As a certain Columbus-based insurance company would say, "Life comes at you fast." Like it or not, ready or not, the revolution will soon be upon us. What we do in the next few months will determine whether or not we deserve to live in a free society.
Posted by Harold Thomas
Labels: Secessionism, Texas
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Comments
This is a reader, basically an online notebook of things that catch my interest. I welcome comments, discussion and responses to the articles, etc. that I post. I try to post different points of view, especially when they shed more light on the subject. I do not necessarily agree with everything I post, but I do feel that the differing opinions still offer valuable perspectives on the subjects. I hope that comments will shed further vvaluable light on the subjects, although affirmations or disagreements are valued as well. I try to be open-minded. Comments that are thoughtful, on subject, and pertinent will be approved. Comments that are abusive, contain profanity, or ranting that has no coherence will not be approved.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Washington: An Organized Criminal Enterprise
From League of the South:
Washington - An Organized Criminal Enterprise
23 October 2010
In the wake of the League’s 17th annual national conference, we believe it is time to restate the obvious for those who still don’t “get it” yet: the US government in DC is an organized criminal enterprise. Despite being founded on the “principle” of limited government, it has its tentacles in virtually every aspect of our lives all over our beloved Southland. It has become Godless and is rapidly approaching bankruptcy. Something must be done quickly to free us from this monster.
Don’t tell us to wait until the November elections—the GOP is not our savior. Rather, it is only the other side of a counterfeit coin. After all, who started this corrupt bailout business in September 2008 in the first place? Obama was merely a candidate at the time, though he has certainly continued to advance the Bush policies of allowing the banksters to continue their crime spree unabated.
The "Tea Party", while showing some promise in the beginning, is now being predictably absorbed by status quo Republican politicians. These are people who think reducing government spending by a meager 1-3% is acceptable, but they aren’t even serious about accomplishing that much. It is all a ruse to get re-elected, and unfortunately the bulk of “conservative” America will fall for it yet again.
The Republican Party’s “Pledge to America” is another fraud that is carefully written not to set measurable goals or bind the Republicans to any sort of consequences if (or more accurately, when) they fail to fulfill their promises. A major GOP victory in November will be a devastating setback because conservative voters will think they have “won.” Consequently, they will continue to serve the Federal regime while they wait in vain for their anointed Republicans to bring some kind of meaningful reform to Washington, D.C. Even if today’s Republicans were to faithfully deliver on every single principle mentioned in their “pledge," it would only be a fraction of what needs to done. It would take many decades of sweeping electoral victories in both houses of Congress and the presidency to undo the monstrosity that has been created over a period of 150 years in D.C. Oh, and let’s not forget that all of this will also require the blessing of the US Supreme Court. These are events, of course, that will never occur in the current political system.
Finally, the mainstream Republican Party has no interest whatsoever in curbing the insatiable appetite of the United States government to occupy and control other nations. Irrational fear of the Islamic terror threat has prompted far too many Americans to endorse a perpetual military occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, with the prospect of war with Iran and possibly Pakistan on the horizon as well. The magnitude of resources consumed by the war machine that is the US military will continue to drag down our economy; yet among all the outrage within the Tea Party and its supporters about government spending, we hear very little about reducing the US military presence in foreign lands.
We at the League of the South believe all peoples are entitled to the right of self-determination even those who do not share our Southern cultural values. The people of Iraq and Afghanistan should be free to decide for themselves what government they will have, just as the people in Dixie have the same God-given right. This is why we advocate peaceful separation from the United States government. In a free and independent South, although we would pity other Americans who remained subjects of the United States government, we would not set out to make enemies of them.
If we don’t begin thinking and acting “outside the box,” the establishment elite will continue to loot us with impunity and violate our rights at every turn. Indeed, their greed (with the assistance of our inaction and even complicity) has essentially destroyed our economy. Instead of trying once again to reform that which cannot be reformed (those who most need reforming control all meaningful avenues of reform), we need simply to leave DC behind. There is even less reason to “save the Union” today than there was 150 years ago when our ancestors fought to be free from it.
Yes, we’re talking about Southern independence NOW! The sooner we get off this sinking ship, the better. The policies conducted by the ruling elite in Washington, D.C. can only end in utter collapse, chaos, and extreme hardship on our future generations. Independence achieved now, although sure to be challenging and not without sacrifices, is infinitely preferable to the chaos that will ensue as the US inevitably self-destructs. We are confident that another bid for Southern independence in our own day will be more widely supported by other nations than it was in 1861. This international support will make it much more difficult for the United States to use military force to thwart our independence. The League of the South does not seek to exact revenge on the United States government in any way, and we seek independence that is free of bloodshed. Just like President Jefferson Davis said in 1861, “All we ask is to be let alone”.
If Southern independence sounds like a good idea to you, then help us. You can start by going to our website, and signing the online petition entitled “States Rights, Secession, and Big Government.” Leave your address so we can contact you. Also, we are preparing another petition that will be presented to the people of the Southern States face-to-face. It calls for immediate secession and independence by our various State governments. We will have it available soon, and it will be announced (and probably downloadable) on the website. We will need your help in acquiring signatures.
Moreover, we need you to join the League of the South. If you’re reading this and are not already a member, please join today. If you were once a member but let your membership slide, please re-join. If you are a member in good standing, then recruit your family and friends into our organization. We need numbers along with hardworking hands and minds.
We also need people who are not afraid to hear the truth and to proclaim it; that Southern independence is the only way short of a direct miracle from the Lord that we can save the South for future generations. I want my children and grandchildren to live free and prosperous in a free South. I’ll bet you feel the same way about yours. Let’s make it happen together right now! Don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be done.
Washington - An Organized Criminal Enterprise
23 October 2010
In the wake of the League’s 17th annual national conference, we believe it is time to restate the obvious for those who still don’t “get it” yet: the US government in DC is an organized criminal enterprise. Despite being founded on the “principle” of limited government, it has its tentacles in virtually every aspect of our lives all over our beloved Southland. It has become Godless and is rapidly approaching bankruptcy. Something must be done quickly to free us from this monster.
Don’t tell us to wait until the November elections—the GOP is not our savior. Rather, it is only the other side of a counterfeit coin. After all, who started this corrupt bailout business in September 2008 in the first place? Obama was merely a candidate at the time, though he has certainly continued to advance the Bush policies of allowing the banksters to continue their crime spree unabated.
The "Tea Party", while showing some promise in the beginning, is now being predictably absorbed by status quo Republican politicians. These are people who think reducing government spending by a meager 1-3% is acceptable, but they aren’t even serious about accomplishing that much. It is all a ruse to get re-elected, and unfortunately the bulk of “conservative” America will fall for it yet again.
The Republican Party’s “Pledge to America” is another fraud that is carefully written not to set measurable goals or bind the Republicans to any sort of consequences if (or more accurately, when) they fail to fulfill their promises. A major GOP victory in November will be a devastating setback because conservative voters will think they have “won.” Consequently, they will continue to serve the Federal regime while they wait in vain for their anointed Republicans to bring some kind of meaningful reform to Washington, D.C. Even if today’s Republicans were to faithfully deliver on every single principle mentioned in their “pledge," it would only be a fraction of what needs to done. It would take many decades of sweeping electoral victories in both houses of Congress and the presidency to undo the monstrosity that has been created over a period of 150 years in D.C. Oh, and let’s not forget that all of this will also require the blessing of the US Supreme Court. These are events, of course, that will never occur in the current political system.
Finally, the mainstream Republican Party has no interest whatsoever in curbing the insatiable appetite of the United States government to occupy and control other nations. Irrational fear of the Islamic terror threat has prompted far too many Americans to endorse a perpetual military occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, with the prospect of war with Iran and possibly Pakistan on the horizon as well. The magnitude of resources consumed by the war machine that is the US military will continue to drag down our economy; yet among all the outrage within the Tea Party and its supporters about government spending, we hear very little about reducing the US military presence in foreign lands.
We at the League of the South believe all peoples are entitled to the right of self-determination even those who do not share our Southern cultural values. The people of Iraq and Afghanistan should be free to decide for themselves what government they will have, just as the people in Dixie have the same God-given right. This is why we advocate peaceful separation from the United States government. In a free and independent South, although we would pity other Americans who remained subjects of the United States government, we would not set out to make enemies of them.
If we don’t begin thinking and acting “outside the box,” the establishment elite will continue to loot us with impunity and violate our rights at every turn. Indeed, their greed (with the assistance of our inaction and even complicity) has essentially destroyed our economy. Instead of trying once again to reform that which cannot be reformed (those who most need reforming control all meaningful avenues of reform), we need simply to leave DC behind. There is even less reason to “save the Union” today than there was 150 years ago when our ancestors fought to be free from it.
Yes, we’re talking about Southern independence NOW! The sooner we get off this sinking ship, the better. The policies conducted by the ruling elite in Washington, D.C. can only end in utter collapse, chaos, and extreme hardship on our future generations. Independence achieved now, although sure to be challenging and not without sacrifices, is infinitely preferable to the chaos that will ensue as the US inevitably self-destructs. We are confident that another bid for Southern independence in our own day will be more widely supported by other nations than it was in 1861. This international support will make it much more difficult for the United States to use military force to thwart our independence. The League of the South does not seek to exact revenge on the United States government in any way, and we seek independence that is free of bloodshed. Just like President Jefferson Davis said in 1861, “All we ask is to be let alone”.
If Southern independence sounds like a good idea to you, then help us. You can start by going to our website, and signing the online petition entitled “States Rights, Secession, and Big Government.” Leave your address so we can contact you. Also, we are preparing another petition that will be presented to the people of the Southern States face-to-face. It calls for immediate secession and independence by our various State governments. We will have it available soon, and it will be announced (and probably downloadable) on the website. We will need your help in acquiring signatures.
Moreover, we need you to join the League of the South. If you’re reading this and are not already a member, please join today. If you were once a member but let your membership slide, please re-join. If you are a member in good standing, then recruit your family and friends into our organization. We need numbers along with hardworking hands and minds.
We also need people who are not afraid to hear the truth and to proclaim it; that Southern independence is the only way short of a direct miracle from the Lord that we can save the South for future generations. I want my children and grandchildren to live free and prosperous in a free South. I’ll bet you feel the same way about yours. Let’s make it happen together right now! Don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be done.
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