Meme Thread for Memes and other assorted Lulz

[Okeefenokee]

/bonghit. You know maaaan. If you think about it, like, Obama ended all the wars.

[Fife]

[Okeefenokee]

I used to have a copy of this,

"The public good before private advantage."

[TheReal_ND]

Slavery was a common good? What retardation is this?

[Okeefenokee]

Slavery was a common good? What retardation is this?

As an institution? Seems about right.

It was the one thing protecting the south from the mercantile subjugation explicitly sought by northern industrialists.

Everyone in that period knew it. Repeated attempts to reduce the south to a colonial status across decades ensured everyone knew what was up.

Short of open war, the one thing keeping the south from being brought to heel economically was the economic value in slavery.

With most of the tariff revenue collected in the South and then spent in the North, the South rightly felt exploited. At the time, 90% of the federal government’s annual revenue came from these taxes on imports.

The Tariff of 1828, called the Tariff of Abominations in the South, was the worst exploitation. It passed Congress 105 to 94 but lost among Southern congressmen 50 to 3. The South argued that favoring some industries over others was unconstitutional.

The South Carolina Exposition and Protest written by Vice President John Calhoun warned that if the tariff of 1828 was not repealed, South Carolina would secede. It cited Jefferson and Madison for the precedent that a state had the right to reject or nullify federal law.

In an 1832 state legislature campaign speech, Lincoln defined his position, saying, “My politics are short and sweet, like the old woman’s dance. I am in favor of a national bank . . . in favor of the internal improvements system and a high protective tariff.” He was firmly against free trade and in favor of using the power of the federal government to benefit specific industries like Lincoln’s favorite, Pennsylvania steel.

The country experienced a period of lower tariffs and vibrant economic growth from 1846 to 1857. Then a bank failure caused the Panic of 1857. Congress used this situation to begin discussing a new tariff act, later called the Morrill Tariff of 1861. However, those debates were met with such Southern hostility that the South seceded before the act was passed.

The South did not secede primarily because of slavery. In Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address he promised he had no intention to change slavery in the South. He argued it would be unconstitutional for him to do so. But he promised he would invade any state that failed to collect tariffs in order to enforce them. It was received from Baltimore to Charleston as a declaration of war on the South.

From Lincoln's first inaugural address,

I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so.

In doing this there needs to be no bloodshed or violence, and there shall be none unless it be forced upon the national authority. The power confided to me will be used to hold, occupy, and possess the property and places belonging to the Government and to collect the duties and imposts; but beyond what may be necessary for these objects, there will be no invasion, no using of force against or among the people anywhere.

Dude said right then and there that he wasn't going to war over slavery, but you could bet your ass those tariffs were gonna be paid, or else.

[TheReal_ND]

I am a firm believer that slavery was one of the greatest errors of America, however net positive it was at the time.

[pineapplemike]

[TheReal_ND]

It was a state funded project that citizens took part in yearly retard.

[pineapplemike]

Re: Meme Thread for Memes and other assorted Lulz

[SuburbanFarmer]