by Tim Swanson
After reading this article, several readers were curious to know more about Acton’s views on this cursed War. Acton’s views are hereupon expounded on and further explored. I highly recommend his Essays in the History of Liberty for those who wish to pursue this topic more.
Acton describes the War Party of this time period as:
"The Republican party is composed of two elements very nearly allied – the party of "manifest destiny," which desires the exclusion of England from the continent, and the Abolitionists."
And what binds the two groups together, Acton says: "Their point of union is the theory that the central power, as the organ of popular will, enjoys unlimited authority."
Not only that, but "[t]hey are the consistent Democrats, because they tolerate no barriers to the sovereign power, and insist upon the unfettered freedom of the people represented in the unfettered power of its Government."
And what do these Warmongers hate: "A divided rule, intermediate authorities, moral unities, corporations, local powers, joint rights, and the protection of minorities, are things abhorrent to this system."
Their modus operandi: "It makes the central power absolute over the several States, and over the rights of individuals, and originates all those vexatious and inquisitive measures which are so repugnant to our notions of self-government and freedom."
In 1863-64, Czar Alexander II squashed the rebellions and revolutions by the Polish (who wished to be self-governed), thereby assimilating the entirety of that country into Mother Russia. Charles Adams points out that Lincoln and Czar Alexander II were comrades of sorts, as Acton points the two dictators relationships: "It is obvious, therefore, why the only European power that has adopted the cause of the North is Russia, why the Democratic party are its friends in England, and why it relies on the sympathy of France."
One reason why France held sympathies towards the dictatorship, "since the visit of Prince Napoleon it was known that the North found strong sympathies at Paris, and that a war between England and America would be the best possible opportunity for the execution of the ambitious designs of the Emperor of the French."
The outcome of this devastating and absolutist endeavor that the North pursued, is what Acton focuses on next, saying: "Whether the Northern Government succeeds or fails, its character is altered, and its power permanently and enormously increased."
Not only that, but Acton shows worry and is taken back by: "The Free States alone would be henceforth more formidable neighbours than the United States have ever been."
And what is their reward? "Whatever they may lose in this conflict, they have gained things which, far beyond extent of territory or population, compose the strength of States – concentration and emancipation of the governing power.
His list of what the Great Emancipator has created: "A mighty army, a navy absorbing nearly the whole mercantile marine, vast military stores, a martial law, a national debt, a heavy taxation, enormous dues – all things which it was long the object of all constitutional statesmen to prevent – have now been established without resistance, and have transformed the government."
Acton then describes how Executive Orders have transformed that pillar of federalism, saying, "It will be impossible in time of peace to surrender the dictatorial power which this war has conferred to the President."
And what will this Executive do now?
"The initiative in administration; the function of universal guardian and paymaster; the resources of coercion, intimidation, and corruption; the habit of preferring the public interest of the moment to the established law; the duty of providing for the gradual return to peaceful life of a while nation of soldiers trained in the scenes of civil war; a public creditor; a prodigious budget – these things will remain to the future government of the Federal Union, and will make it approximate more closely to the imperial than to the republican type of democracy."
Imperialism logically follows this list, as Acton states: "New aspirations will be awakened by the means of gratifying them; for nations are seldom content with the glory which is acquired in civil war."
Acton thought, "The spurious liberty of the United States is twice cursed, for it deceives those whom it attracts and those whom it repels."
The North, in his opinion, acted hypocritically "By exhibiting the spectacle of a people claiming to be free, but whose love of freedom means hatreds of inequality, jealousy of limitations to power, and reliance on the States as an instrument to mould as well as to control society, it calls on its admirers to hate aristocracy and teaches its adversaries to fear the people."
In summation, "The North has used the doctrines of Democracy to destroy self-government. The South applied the principle of conditional federation to cure the evils and to correct the errors of a false interpretation of Democracy."
Why are historians rarely referenced to John Acton’s works? Professor Steven Tonsor, of the Acton Institute, says "They do not read him, I am convinced, because Acton espoused the Confederate cause in the Civil War."
Despite the fact that Acton was staunchly opposed to slavery, why did he continue his unwavering support for the Confederates? Mr. Tonsor suggests that,
"…the threat to freedom from centralized governmental absolutism, the tyranny of the majority, bureaucratic administration, democracy and socialism were all greater in Acton's estimate than the threat to freedom from slavery in 1860. It is only in this light that Acton's ambivalent attitudes toward slavery in the Southern States of the United States can be explained. That Acton shared this view with many others in Europe and America should not come as a surprise to us."
Please visit The Acton Institute for further information on this topic.
August 20, 2001
Tim Swanson is a senior at Texas A&M studying history and economics.