[HIMC] Abraham Lincoln holds record for largest mass execution in American history

[Jennafer Yellowhorse]

From: Simon <simplesimon91 at hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, Feb 12, 2009 at 11:09 AM
Subject: Abraham Lincoln holds record for largest mass execution in American
history
> 
> 
> 
> Today, as it is his 200th birthday, I thought I'd share a very interesting
> fact that not many people are aware of, but, incontrovertibly, is quite
> noteworthy. 
>  
> In 1862, the same year Lincoln ratified his Emancipation Proclamation, freeing
> Africa-American slaves from servitude and, in doing so, proclaiming their
> humanity before the north and, of course, the south, Abraham Lincoln set a
> record: 
>  
> President Abraham Lincoln holds the record for the largest mass execution of
> people in American history -- 38 American Indians in a single day. The
> indigenous men met their fate at the gallows at the behest of Lincoln.
>  
> No other president holds that record. Some laud him for vindicating the other
> 264 American Indians of the originally 303 convicted for "murder and other
> outrages" in a Minnesota uprising. Nevertheless, 38 American Indians were
> sentenced to the gallows for rebelling against the tyranny inflicted upon them
> at the hands of the U.S. government and European settlers desiring more
> western land.
>  
> Below are a few links if you're interested in reading some objective, and
> subjective, literature on the event:
>  
> (I will confess I do not entirely agree with this Irish times author found in
> the link below, as he is attempting to, for all practical reasons, absolve
> Lincoln for his order. Still, the author does remark some objective things
> that are empirically true):
>  
> http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2009/0210/1233867928984.html
>  
> From the American Indian view point:
>  
> http://www.unitednativeamerica.com/hanging.html
>  
> A macabre image of the hanging of 38 Dakota Indians on Dec. 16, 1862:
>  
> http://campus.lakeforest.edu/~ebner/mackiag/lincoln.html
> <http://campus.lakeforest.edu/%7Eebner/mackiag/lincoln.html>
>  
>  
> In all, and as I feel, Abraham Lincoln is a study in contradictions; for in
> the same year he proclaimed the humanity and rights of one grossly mistreated
> and neglected race, he lent his voice and hand in the continued and fervent
> persecution of another -- the American Indian.
>  
> I hope this made you think today, the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln.
>  
> -Simon
> 
> -- 
> Ahe'hee
> Shannon Francis
> 
> 


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