Yeah, Carter and his inner circle tended be admirers of their Confederate ancestors. How times change quickly in the Democrat party. Davis of course would have resented this. When asked why he never asked for a pardon he responded “It has been said that I should apply to the United States for a pardon, but repentance must precede the right of pardon, and I have not repented.”
While urging the young men of the South to be good citizens of the reunited nation and to forget the past, for himself the only regret he had for the Confederacy was that it had not been victorious. A man like that, defiant in defeat, deserves better than to have the future attempt to change the past he had helped forge.
Biden of course voted for this in the Senate. The poor puppet should be asked about it. The answer would not be enlightening, but it surely would be amusing.
It’s a marvel that the Kentucky-born soldier, veteran and War Secretary was not remotely the commander in chief the Kentucky-born barrister who was briefly a militia officer was.
I think we may have had a different view Dale if the war had come out differently Here are some criticisms if Lincoln had lost:
1.He was continually shuffling commanders, especially with the Army of the Potomac.
2.The Union never fully utilized its amphibious capacity.
3.He diverted too much effort on pet political objectives like East Tennessee.
4.The Union never adopted a comprehensive draft as did the Confederacy.
5.The Union army could have been armed with repeating rifles early in the War, but Lincoln never did anything about the footdraggers in ordnance.
6.Lincoln gave too much authority to political generals who were completely incompetent like Fremont, Banks and Butler.
7.Lincoln turned a blind eye to the illicit trade in cotton which allowed the Confederacy to get badly needed supplies.
8.The Union never adopted the Confederate system of replenishing with new men their battle hardened regiments.
9.Lincoln was too concerned with protecting Washington.
10.Lincoln allowed far too many Union troops to remain idle in the North or in rear areas where they were not needed.
Lincoln knew that winning would cover a multitude of sins and losing would obliterate a multitude of virtues:
I do the very best I know how-the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won’t amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten thousand angels swearing I was right would make no difference.