tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262783067993808760.post8987088512226086232..comments2023-09-29T06:18:27.221-07:00Comments on Cosmic America: Robert E. Lee and Slavery (Part Deux)M. Keith Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02444898713867430753noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262783067993808760.post-51435078219444974112012-02-26T02:16:19.000-08:002012-02-26T02:16:19.000-08:00The letter does not show Lee as an emancipationist...The letter does not show Lee as an emancipationist, but i it does show him to be more of a realist than most Confederate congressmen. In spite of his praise of slavery at the beginning of the letter, he clearly understands that no black man wanted to be a slave and understood that regiments of slave Confederates had grave insurrectionary potential. So behind the precatory language is a hardheaded analysis that slavery is odious to blacks.<br><br>Patrick Cleburne's fate after making a slightly more radical proposal was known to Lee, yet he still made it.Pat Youngnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262783067993808760.post-18368654897475070122012-02-26T03:22:20.000-08:002012-02-26T03:22:20.000-08:00I agree entirely - yet strangely, Lee traditionali...I agree entirely - yet strangely, Lee traditionalists often point to Lee's interest in arming blacks as evidence that he favored emancipation. I find this odd to say the least.Keith Harrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262783067993808760.post-56793400098881587712012-02-28T05:41:45.000-08:002012-02-28T05:41:45.000-08:00Lee traditionalists often point to Lee’s interest ...Lee traditionalists often point to Lee’s interest in arming blacks as evidence that he favored emancipation.Lee did argue for emancipation of those who volunteered -- whether immediately upon enlistment or after their service was ended, I don't recall. But even that, Pat suggests, was too much for the Confederate congress, that eventually passed a law authorizing the enlistment of slaves (less than three weeks before the fall of Richmond), but explicitly stated that such enlistment would not alter their enslaved status. <br><br>I think I just made H. K. Edgerton cry.Andy Hallhttp://deadconfederates.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262783067993808760.post-53488208177526006852012-02-28T06:28:21.000-08:002012-02-28T06:28:21.000-08:00Yes...I think you did.Yes...I think you did.Keith Harrisnoreply@blogger.com