The Truth about American Slavery: Book Review

Author: Stanley K. Lott, Eastern Digital Resources

By Clint Lacy
22 January 2008

In Stanley K. Lott's book, The Truth about American Slavery, the reader is introduced to the subject through a picture of Abraham Lincoln on the cover. It is a picture which depicts the most popular version of the 16th president of the United States: as kind, honest, caring, and benevolent.

As Lott describes:

Richmond, Va. fell on April 3'rd 1865. On April 4'th, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln visited the Confederate Capital. In one of the most historic events of Lincoln's presidency, renowned artist Thomas Nast captured this scene in this sketch. This messianic scene shows Lincoln being praised and almost worshipped by freed slaves. The former Nast sketch was published in Harper's Weekly shortly after....Thus we see that even before his death, the cult worship of Lincoln had begun."

And so begins Stanley K. Lott's debunking of this myth. As he writes on page 13: "The #2 lie {in American History} is that the Civil War was fought over slavery." Lott lists Columbus' discovering of America as the #1 myth.

The author wastes no time in painting a new picture of "the Great Emancipator.” One that is less kind, benevolent and honest. Caring, yes, but more about politics and agenda than that of the African race. As evidence, Lott offers up Lincoln's first inaugural address in which he stated he had no purpose directly or indirectly to interfere with slavery in the states where it existed and that he had no lawful right to do so, and no inclination to do so. As further evidence, Lott offers the fact that when Union Generals Freemont and Hunter issued emancipation proclamations in their military districts, Lincoln promptly revoked their proclamations and later relieved Freemont of his duties.

Lott, however, delves deeper into the subject than merely exposing the myth of Lincoln as an "emancipator.” The latest trend in the media and politics is to blame the American South for slavery, with some states going so far as to apologize for the institution. Mr. Lott informs us that the Portuguese commenced the slave trade in 1443. This was followed by the Spanish, the Dutch, and the English, with the first slaves introduced in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1620.

More important, Lott gets to the root of the problem by quoting a Mr. Bliss in the Congressional Globe archives:

In Africa, the natives (Africans) sell their own race as slaves. They sell to each other as they sold to the white man. Thus it was that the ancestors of those now held in bondage (slavery) on this continent brought from Africa with them the condition of property.

In The Truth about American Slavery, Lott revisits themes common in his previous works (such as: slavery was protected by the Federal Government, the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Supreme Court, and under the flag of the United States). What makes this particular work by Lott unique is that he devotes entire chapters of quotations from the Congressional Globe archives to back up his research. Take quote #6 (page 43) for instance, which states:

Could anything be more explicit than the assertion of the right to protection of property everywhere, wherever the (Federal Flag, American Flag) floats or the Federal Government has jurisdiction...Upon the land and upon the sea it is the duty of the federal government in all its departments to protect property of every species, slaves as well as other property.

Yet another chapter of Congressional Globe quotations is dedicated to proving that Washington D.C., our nation's capitol, was in fact a slave capitol where slavery was not only accepted but flourished. Quotation #10 in this chapter is an excellent example:

The maintenance of slavery in the Federal District (Washington D. C.), by the authority of the United States, exerts a conservative influence over the institution (slavery) in the states, by clothing it with the countenance and sanction of the nation. The District of Columbia is thus made the Citadel of American slavery, its munitions of defense or as the late Mr. Calhoun once said, the very key of slavery.

Also included are 19 pages of Congressional Globe quotations proving that the U.S. Government depended upon the taxation of slaves for its revenue. Quotation #22 reads:

Resolved that a tax or duty of ten dollars per head be imposed upon all slaves hereafter imported into any of the United States.

An entire chapter of Congressional Globe quotations is devoted to proving that the Civil War was a war caused by economic issues, not morality issues. The Federal Government had much to lose in the form of revenue collected from the taxation of slaves if the South were allowed to go free and claim its independence. Another cause of the war was the recently enacted tariffs against Southern ports by the Federal Government. As Lott writes, just one month prior to the hostilities which erupted at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, the Morrill Tariff was enacted which increased the price of imported goods by 47 percent. Lott dedicates 14 pages of Congressional Quotes to prove the Civil War was about economics. An excellent example of this is found on page 121:

Let me beg the party (Republican Party led by Abraham Lincoln) who are soon to take charge of this government to let the seceded states (Southern states) alone, and by no means to attempt to collect revenue (taxes or tariffs) in their ports: that would result in a bloody, terrible war. But on the contrary, acknowledge the independence of the Confederate States of America, and treat them as an ally and friendly nation.

But, as we all know, Abraham Lincoln did not let the South go in peace. He did not treat the Confederate States of America as a friend or an ally. In fact, to keep Southern revenue filling its treasury the United States government would stop at nothing. In Chapter 8 Mr. Lott writes:

The United States Army was the first army to break the rules of civilized warfare. War crimes are crimes committed on non-combatants (civilians) during war. It is also what happened to Southerners during the Civil War. Southerners had their farms and plantations burned to the ground, their land was taken illegally and Southern women (both black and white) were raped during the Civil War.

In a time when so many race-hustling politicians and organizations are calling for apologies and reparations for slavery so that our nation might be "healed,” Stanley Lott reminds us of another group of people, forgotten by the public and ignored by the media, who deserve an apology:

War crimes that were committed against regular, common, Southern people during the Civil War need to be brought out and dealt with. A true healing process needs to happen. Southerners of all races need to get some form of reparations and an official apology from the U.S. Government.

The Truth about American Slavery is an excellent tool which all Southerners should purchase and use; all Southerners who are concerned about recent attacks on their heritage and the distortion of our symbols by the media. Copies should be purchased and given to friends, family, local libraries and schools.

As Lott writes: "After reading about this stuff, who could keep on saying that the Confederate Battle Flag and other Confederate symbols are symbols of slavery?"

You can purchase The Truth about American Slavery at: www.amazon.com, or www.millersservices.com/lott/lott.htm.

Mail orders should be addressed to:

Stanley K. Lott
343 Oak St.
Passaic, NJ 07055

Or call: 973-458-8279