The Real Purpose of the Civil War
The statement made by Mr. Broxton that the Civil War was completely over taxes.
He was wrong because “And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free,”(Emancipation Proclamation). The entire Proclamation, was declaring freedom for black slaves in some states. Mr. Lincoln never needed to mention taxes, therefore, he never did. But throughout the entire proclamation, freedom was the main purpose.
He didn’t mention taxes because that would’ve caused a much bigger riot throughout the United States. Another incorrect thought explained by Mr. Broxton was that slavery was not abolished. “And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free;”(Emancipation Proclamation). Slavery was abolished, yet law breaking wasn’t. Lincoln did all that he could.
It was not in his power to abolish all people breaking laws, or to personally see to it that every slave was released. Just because slavery was abolished, doesn’t mean that segregation wasn’t. Many people still viewed colored people as less valuable or dangerous, that is not slavery. Continuing, Mr. Broxton made the statement that “Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, in virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution and the laws, have thought fit to call forth, and hereby do call forth, the militia of the several States of the Union to the aggregate number of 75,000 in order to suppress said combinations and to cause the laws to be duly executed.” President Lincoln did not want this war personally and presidentially.
He would have lost many citizens, people that were tax payers, that needed to pay for essentials. So the assumption that Lincoln declared war for money was indeed an incorrect statement. Already, both the Confederate and the Union were in debt, so how was losing thousands of people going to help that. Mr. Lincoln did not want war to happen, but as said in the War Proclamation, “I appeal to all loyal citizens to favor, facilitate, and aid this effort to maintain the honor, the integrity, and the existence of our National Union and the perpetuity of popular government and to redress wrongs already long enough endured.”(War Proclamation).
This clearly says that, he wants to protect people and wants the best for them. Mr. Broxton incorrectly stated that the only reason the Confederates ever gave for fighting the Union was for self defense. The Confederates had a cause, and that was to continue slavery in their states. “The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That, in order to provide additional forces to repel invasion, maintain the rightful possession of the Confederate States, secure their independence, and preserve their institutions,”(Confederate Orders). Right here, the purpose is stated.
To “Maintain the rightful possession of the State’s” means to keep the black slaves. There wouldn’t have been a war if the South didn’t have a cause. In conclusion, a final incorrect statement made by Mr. Broxton was that Mr. Lincoln caused the war himself on April 8, but that is incorrectly stated because the Confederates started the War on April 12 by attacking the Fort Sumter. “The war began when the Confederates bombarded Union soldiers at Fort Sumter, South Carolina on April 12, 1861.
“(Civil War Facts). Mr. Lincoln declared war because that was his right as the President, he did not start the war. “And Lincoln did not even hold public office when the Morrill Tariff was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Buchanan. It is true that the law went into effect early in Lincoln’s term, but claims that Lincoln created the law to penalize the South are quite a stretch.” Thought Co.
