What you didn’t learn in history class

Posted December 3rd, 2010 by
Category: History Tags: , ,

South Carolina’s “Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union,” adopted by the state legislature on December 24, 1860, mentions the word “slave” 18 times.  The following passage (emphasis added) from the document clearly makes the case for secession due to the fact that the Federal Government encroached on their rights to own slaves.

The right of property in slaves was recognized [by the Federal Government] by giving to free persons distinct political rights, by giving them the right to represent, and burthening them with direct taxes for three-fifths of their slaves; by authorizing the importation of slaves for twenty years; and by stipulating for the rendition of fugitives from labor.

We affirm that these ends for which this Government was instituted have been defeated, and the Government itself has been made destructive of them by the action of the non-slaveholding States. Those States have assume the right of deciding upon the propriety of our domestic institutions; and have denied the rights of property established in fifteen of the States and recognized by the Constitution; they have denounced as sinful the institution of slavery; they have permitted open establishment among them of societies, whose avowed object is to disturb the peace and to eloign the property of the citizens of other States. They have encouraged and assisted thousands of our slaves to leave their homes; and those who remain, have been incited by emissaries, books and pictures to servile insurrection.

One Response to “What you didn’t learn in history class”

  1. Goldie H. Summage Says:

    South Carolina's reasoning was fully reasonable and I, a Black person, see how secession was justified in their view. Today our government continues to intnetionally enact and enforce laws that directly impact Black persons more than other members of society. Or government has deliberately inaugarated a criminal society and industry builds prisons in anticipation of having people to inhabit them. They cannot build schools to teach children nor housing complexes to give children decent and safe play

    areas but as soon as some incident occurs children/teens are processed and labeled for life. There are few safe places for Black children in this country. One doesn't have to look far to see that the roots of discrimination are deeply embedded in the government of these United States at every level. Why should a person have to pay a $10,000 fine because of fighting, then be charged with additional fines totaling in the thousands? It is a deliberate attempt to collect money and to fill the prisons when the person fails to pay! Where are felons supposed to live and work? Why can't they find jobs? Why aren't they eligible for food stamps? After one serves the sentence allocated, why aren't they finished with that indictment?

    Why does our government continue those people forever? At every level our government is racist unfair. People in positions of authority regularly abuse that authority over minorities and women and only rarely is it caught where the perpetrators cannot deny it and escape punishment. Ours is an evil government protecting the rich and powerful just like other governments. There is no telling what the current leaking of documents will reveal about the USA.

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