Celebrating our country’s freedom from the bondage of slavery based on Texas’ celebration of Juneteenth dismisses too much history.
The Civil War was fought over individual states’ rights to make economical and moral decisions, such as the practice of chattel slavery (or abortion, gun laws, marijuana usage, masks, shutdowns, etc.).
The end of slavery should reflect of the Union’s victory, right? Wrong.
Slaves in Union-loyal states weren’t emancipated until the ratification of the 13th Amendment on December 18, 1865.
The beleaguered Confederate States freed their slaves by the end of the war, beginning with Andrew Johnson’s Emancipation Proclamation of Tennessee’s slaves as Military General in 1864. In Texas, Federal troops took control of Galveston and proclaimed emancipation in Texas as of June 19, five months before hostilities and the practice of chattel slavery in the South ended on November 6, 1865.
Border States like Kentucky, Delaware and the Northern holdout New Jersey still resisted, initially rejecting ratification of the 13th Amendment. New Jersey finally ratified in 1866. Kentucky, the last to ratify, did so in 1976.
Although Maryland was one of the first states to ratify the 13th Amendment, they didn’t actually emancipate their own slaves until abolition became Federal law on December 18, 1865.
History matters.
Too many people are taking down statues based on the myths of modern narratives that create division where we should be united in truth.
Like the truth of SCOTUS Chief Justice Tawney, who pointed out in his 1857 Dred Scott opinion that we needed to amend the US Constitution. Instead of lauding his insight he’s posthumously beheaded in effigy.
It’s easy to say, “who cares?” But, I care.
I hope you’ll join me.
Let’s do this!