I’ve done a lot of research into the Civil War, John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln and how American history is only telling one side of that story. Especially Lincoln. I’m sure he was s decent enough guy (I feel he was) but he was a politician and no matter if it was in the 1860 or today politicians are all about power and reinventing the government to suit THEIR beliefs. I’ll list things that Lincoln did during his time in the White House…
1. Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus throughout the nation. He assumed the power to close newspapers and in fact closed hundreds of them in the North which dared criticize his policies. He arrested elected officials, including former members of Congress, who opposed him.35
2. Lincoln was an atheist. His wife Mary Todd had séances in the White House. There’s nothing wrong with that I’m all for it. But don’t pass off being a Christian when you are not JUST TO GET VOTES!
3. He was the 1st president to enact a draft. Leading to the Draft Riots in NYC which led to several deaths. John Wilkes Booth was there at the time visiting his mother at his brother Edwin’s house. (More about that when I get to Wilkes.)
4. Created Federal income tax to pay for the war. Very unpopular.
5. Prior to his taking office every state has it’s own currency and for the most part ran itself with the president in a lesser role. The government ran efficiently until Washington the Lincoln administration gained too much control. How can Washington DC and the Senate and Congress decide what is right for states they do not reside in. Example how can Senator from Maine vote about say a National environmental issues when Florida or say Arizona has no bearing on the social or economic of the state of Maine. 3 different region with 3 different environmental need. In the 1860 Virginia would take of Virginia, New York would take of New York, etc. Sure they all voted on national issues but Senators and Congressmen took care of their state 1st and foremost. Look at Robert E. Lee. Perfect example. Lincoln asked him to lead the Army of the Potomac. Lee declined stating his heart and patriotism lies with Virginia and that he is a Virginia 1st. He resigned from the US Army and became leader of the Army of Northern Virginia. So taking power awy from the states it changed the whole dynamic of the country (and not for the better I might add!)
6. What really PISSED me off is near the end of the war when Sherman made his famous march to the sea. He depleted all the food, livestock and medicine along the way so there was little food or medicine. This not only effected the civilians but the soldiers and NOT only just Confederate soldiers, but Union soldiers in prison camps. In Andersonville (Visited it twice before moving to PA) there were little food , no meds and the water was contaminated. Maj. Henry Wirtz who a German immigrant (His name was actually Henrich) was the commandant. He was a decent honorable man who actually felt sympathy for the prisoners. He wrote to southern president Jefferson Davis and told them that prisoners are starving to death and dying of disease ( Common things today like diarrhea would kill a soldier during the Civil War.) Could he contact President Lincoln and ask for food and medicine for the Union prisoners be sent down. Since they couldn’t feed or care for them. Lincoln refused. Oh, I forgot to mention that they use to have prisoner exchanges but Lincoln, Grant & Sherman stopped it. There were more Union soldiers than Confederate since the North was more populated. Keeping the Rebs in jail would mean less opposition when Sherman made his march to the Sea. (The North didn’t treat Confederate prisoners well, but they had a better chance of getting food and meds than the Union prisoners at Andersonville, but just as many died up North, I think with the Union it was just neglect and spite.) So Wirtz sent a few guards with some prisoners to Washington so they can see the condition of the Union prisoners. They were turned away and the guards were told to take them back to prison. After the war. The North tried Wirtz for War Crimes. They said they’d let him go if he’d lay the blame for the prisoners deaths on Jefferson Davis. He refused since he was a honorable man and it was not Davis’ fault. Even former Union prisoners came to Wirtz’s defense, but they hanged him for war crimes. There was no need for those soldiers to suffer and there was no need to try him for war crimes. Though the trial took place after Lincoln’s death, Lincoln and his government could have helped their own soldiers who fought for them.
There’s a lot more things that will shock people about Lincoln, but I’m not going to type it all out. But there is a good site that has quotes that Lincoln made that makes people see him in a whole new light.
http://www.realabelincoln.com
I’ll put all the stuff I know about Wilkes in another e-mail but he was actually sweet, loving & funny (but he did have a dark obsessive side and I suspect he had ADD) He was way misunderstood. But I keep hearing in my head that “People today can not fathom what life was like in the 1860’s. Families torn apart, a country divided. It was a country that destroyed itself by power, greed and violence. In 4 years the veil of justice and security I felt as a child was pulled away in favor of a tyrant whose self importance and complete control would forever change the nation that I loved. With his election in 1861 he would destroy hundreds of thousands of lives to preserve a Union that he destroyed and I'm forever villified for killing one man.”
I keep hearing things like that in my head. I don’t think he should have killed Lincoln (I don’t think anyone should kill another human or even an animal!) But he’s a very deep man and dare I even say patriotic. He loved his country. Actually his actions in the war saved countless lives. He took the money he received from acting and spending it on medicine and smuggle it to the South. Who knows how many soliders that medicine saved. History fail to mention that. Even even saved a black boy and a Union officer during th draft riots in NYC. But more about him later. Wrtiting way too much right now.
Funny though he in the audience at Lincoln's 2nd inauguration and I kept thinking I'm feeling what he felt then. Bet he was snickering and say things then too! Maybe his vessel shouldn’t have been in my pocket at the time. Just strange that he's so active and his sister Asia too, I pick up on her ‘feelings' alot. But they were really close! All my other spirits (non human also) have been for the most part really quiet.
Her other horse that she had got from there had complications and had to be put down...Anyway, I go up there every other week normally when the weather is okay to help my aunt with her new horse.
