Hidden Heroes: White Southerners Who Fought for Abolition Before the Civil War

The South is often portrayed as uniformly pro-slavery, but there were individuals who defied this narrative. One prominent figure was Cassius Marcellus Clay, better known as the future Muhammad Ali’s ancestor. Clay was a fervent abolitionist and a Kentuckian who worked tirelessly to end slavery through his newspaper, The True American.

The Socioeconomic Context

However, let us not overlook the broader context that pervaded the South. Many yeoman farmers, like Clay, found themselves in a predicament. Yeoman farmers worked on small plots of land often with their families. Large plantations, worked by hundreds of slaves, dominated the economy. The economies of scale made it unfeasible for the small farmers to compete. Supporting slavery devalued their own labor, which created a deeply divided society.

The Early Abolition Movement in the South

The abolition movement was not confined to the North. In fact, there were more abolitionist societies in the South than in the North. This surprising fact contradicts common historical narratives. For example, Jimmy Crow, the laws designed to disenfranchise and oppress black individuals, began in Massachusetts in 1831. It eventually spread to the North under the guise of black codes aimed at forcing African Americans out of Northern states and back into the South.

Myths Debunked: The True Intentions

The diplomatic manoeuvers of the South also challenge the myth of the conflict as a simple defense of slavery. The secession was not about slavery, as evidenced by the Corwin Amendment which offered the seceding states the right to maintain slavery permanently if they would cease the “secession crisis” and stay in the Union. The Crittenden-Johnson Declaration further reinforces this, clearly stating that Lincoln’s war was not about ending slavery or freeing the slaves.

Lincoln’s True Intentions

Lincoln himself was a complex figure. Dr. Thomas DiLorenzo’s book, The Real Lincoln: Revealing the Myths about America's Greatest President, uncovers a presidency dedicated to the forced removal of African Americans from the country. Lincoln was a key proponent of the Colonization Movement, an initiative aimed at sending African Americans back to Liberia or elsewhere. After the war, his plans for black repatriation continued.

Champions of Freedom and Equality

Not all Southerners supported slavery. Figures like Henry Clay of Kentucky stand out. Clay was a member of the Whig party and a renowned orator. He despised slavery and worked tirelessly to preserve the Union. In recognition of his role, he earned the nickname the “Great Compromiser.” Through his political acumen, Clay managed to delay the civil war for two decades. His efforts were so remarkable that both the North and the South held him in high regard.

Conclusion

The legacy of individuals like Cassius Marcellus Clay and Henry Clay underscores the complexity of the Civil War era. The movement for abolition was not restricted to the North, and there were white Southerners who fought for freedom and equality. The Southern states’ secession was not driven by the desire to retain slavery, and the war was not waged to end slavery. These truths challenge the monolithic historical narrative and reveal a more nuanced and diverse set of motivations and actions.