From the Blogger archive, circa 1863

A Sophistpundit exclusive: recently leaked entry from the 19th century Maryland blogger, Plantationpundit

In the time since the Southern secession, President Lincoln has dragged America into the bloodiest war in our history, and to what end? So that we may impose our way of life on a peoples who share our love of freedom? To slaughter our brothers and sisters, children and cousins to the South?

In his recent statements Lincoln has attempted to rewrite history--arguing that this is a war against slavery. Yet it was not so long ago that we were told this was a war to protect the Union. So which is it, Mr. President? Is this a war to protect our interests or a war to free the slaves?

The cynicism that embodies these political manuevers is not without consequences. It's exactly this wide-eyed idealistic rambling about "freeing the slaves" that encourages prejudices towards the southern way of life which is tantamount to intolerance. Do we not believe in liberty, in the liberty to live the lifestyle of whatever religion or culture that you are from? Certainly slavery isn't right, but to just say it like that fosters a stereotype of Southern Plantation Owners which simply is not in keeping with the American tradition of tolerance.

What is more, how can Lincoln pretend to have the moral high stand in asserting a fundamental right to the unity of the Union? Isn't that exactly the kind of logic used by the redcoats who we so valiantly defeated near a hundred years ago?

But this was never a war about the Union, or about freeing the slaves, and we've all known that. So we might as well come out and say it: this is a war for Cotton, our number-one export and one of America's most profitable products, which comes mostly from the South. Yet attacking the South to try and take their cotton only delays the long-term problem of what will happen when we run out of it altogether. Unless we start thinking about alternative fabrics, we might be literally leaving our descendents out in the cold.

So when it comes time to cast your ballot in November of 1864, join in the cry that will heard round the Union: No Blood for Cotton!

Posted by Plantatonpundit on January 12, 1863 5:49 am