Introduction
(copied in part from http://stonewall.fayette.k12.ky.us/wq/cwwebquest/cwintro.htm)
April 13, 1861
Dear Citizen of the United States of America:
As you know, yesterday the Confederates, in a surprise attack at 4:30 a.m., fired upon Fort Sumter in South Carolina which was supported with Union troops. Our new country, after much struggle for its independence and with great effort to form a more perfect union, has been distressed by the multitude of conflicts suffered over the past years.
Problems arose as the North was gaining more and more power in Congress as their population increased. The Southerners decided that the power issue was of real concern. The South felt like the North was deciding the South's fate. The South felt that they were being treated unfairly and therefore could simply ignore laws that appeared to be unjust. The South felt that it was their right to decide for themselves what was fair or unfair. After all, the South joined the Union freely, it did not give up its "states' rights" simply because it was part of something bigger and therefore, did not have to follow the new unfair laws.
One of the biggest quarrels concerned the issue of slavery. You have seen how big the cotton plantations are in the South. Southerners needed a lot of field hands to help produce that main crop of cotton. They also need their slaves to perform household chores while they are overseeing their plantations. With this cheap or free labor, the Southerners were making a profit. The South argues that slaves are property (not people) and has been a part of their way of life for over 200 years. On the other side, the North does not approve of Southerners owning slaves. Slaves are human. Humans are not supposed to be owned by other humans. The North thinks this is terribly wrong. Again, the South doesn't like the North telling them what they can and cannot do (states' rights again). After all, the Constitution guaranteed the right to own property and it protects it against seizure -- a slave is property to the Southerner, the North should butt out.
This letter is to inform you, that due to the circumstances described above, your services are needed to help get this country back on the right track. Please report to your officer in charge immediately.
Sincerely,
Major Ventura
Image used with permission of U.S. National Archives & Record Administration
10/27/04 B. Ventura Updated 10/20/05
