This summarizes a document discussing two new books about the origins and legacy of the American Civil War. The first book discusses a failed 1861 peace conference that aimed to avert the Civil War through compromise on slavery and territorial division. The second book by IRD President Mark Tooley examines the influence of religion during and after the Civil War. The document warns that Americans should learn from past crises like the Civil War rather than despair, and that ultimately God, not humanity, directs history. It also references recent shootings and social divisions in the US, noting that the Bible foretold such events and increasing wickedness before Christ's return.

1. IRD’s new Book on Civil War Origins Reminds us of Our Book of Origins
As the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) conveys the publishing of
another book on the legacy of the Civil War and slavery, it has to leave Americans
wondering, where does the Confederacy stand, or does it? If this part of history is broken,
how will affect the future? Will it be erased from the past, one flag, one monument, one
tomb, one grave and celebrated soldier, and then disappear from history all together?
How far will we go not to offend? Will we erase a broken Confederacy, to have the face
of Christianity determined by seven Supreme Court Justices? Mark Tooley, the IRD
President has published a new book on this legacy, to remind us all, we have traveled
this road once before, and maybe then, it was just a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
The initial publishing of the Peace That Almost Was: The Forgotten Story of the
1861 Washington Peace Conference. This was a time of great discourse when seven
slave states from what was considered the “Deep South” and fourteen free states, had
begun meetings in Alabama to discuss separation and to form a new government for
themselves. This final attempt to avert the Civil War, according to Thomas Nelson, and
his book discussing the Washington Peace Conference of 1861, rationalizes the
Crittenden Compromise, when six amendments were being passed prior to election, in
hopes of disunion and to reestablish the line of sectional division of territories from running
to Missouri, to running to the Pacific. However, Abraham Lincoln was elected, and the
Missouri Compromise remained in line, preventing the disunion of free and slave
territories. 1(Gunderson, 1958)
As the result of the failed compromise, one of proposed amendments and
resolutions; a compromise which would have guaranteed the permanent existence of
slavery in the slave states by remarking the Missouri line, also known as the free-slave
demarcation line, or the Mason-Dixon line. One of the main points of the compromise
proposed by Crittenden was the preservation of all amendments and resolutions. In the
end, all free-states, and all slave states would benefit from the safeguard of slavery
forever. The compromise would uphold disunion and war, and Crittenden was so sure of
1 Gunderson, R. G. (1958). The Washington Peace Conference of 1861: Selection of
Delegates. The Jounral of Southern History, 347-359 (13)

2. himself he wanted it put to a nationwide vote. It was during this time, former US President
John Tyler began holding counsel for President-Elect Lincoln, resulting in amendments
which would uphold separation and slavery.2 (Staff, 2009)
The aftermath of the Civil War can now be found in two books. The first, mentioned
earlier, by Thomas Nelson, and now the second publishing by Mark Tooley. Unlike
Nelson, Tooley’s book discusses the effects both positive and negative of religion during
this time. The influence of Christianity over issues on slavery is perpetuated so the
importance of religion and politics in this era can be valued. Tooley commented, “It also
warns Americans, especially Christians, not to exaggerate national decline or fatalistically
succumb to despair. We have endured worst, and can learn important lessons from the
cataclysms of the past, remembering that ultimately Providence and not humanity
presides over the course of human affairs.” 3(walton, 2015)
Our Two Cents:
As a Nation, we have endured tougher times, and times lie ahead which will cause
us to wonder if things could possibly get any worse. We face war with other countries,
some we feel we should be involved in, others we may question why we are there. Our
country will go into debt and taxes will be imposed. Laws will be broken, and people will
be harmed, and at times, lives will be lost. There are other countries that face famine,
disease, and religious wars. These countries will look for aid, and they will see our country
as a target. All of these things we face as a one country, and we stand together, united.
We know, as long as we stand together, we will get through these times.
At this very time, we are facing a now, within our country, where laws have been
passed, Amendments have been broken, other Amendments are being threatened,
people are dying at the hands of each other in the streets, in churches, and just last night,
2
Staff, H. (2009, July 24th). Crittendon Compromise. Retrieved from History.com:
http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/crittenden-compromise
3 Walton, J. (2015, July 23). IRD President's New Book on U.S. Civil War's Origins .
Retrieved from The Christian Newswire:
http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/8673476418.html

3. in my home state of Louisiana, in a theater. In Lafayette, Louisiana, a man walked into
Grand Theater and fired his weapon. A total of seven people were injured, two people
were killed, and the man who incited this catastrophe, turned the gun on himself, and he
became the third to die. There is so much pain from death, dying, religion, people being
offended and laws and amendments changing, love, hate, marriage, color, sex, people
are turning on each other, and some reasons will remain unknown.
Does any of this concern you? As a Christian, it may not, because in Matthew
Ch.24, V. 6-14, the bible says, 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it
that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation
will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and
earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.9 “Then you
will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all
nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray
and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,
13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the
kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the
end will come. Powerful verses, powerful words from an almighty God. Does any of this
sound familiar? I have often heard “history repeats itself”. It has through the years, and
it has with these two books being published. In that very same Book, Matthew the
Chapter 24, Verses 42-44, tells of the one time, history will not repeat itself, and you will
not get a second chance, and that is the return- 42 “Therefore keep watch, because you
do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the
house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch
and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Are there changes to be made,
because things are really so offensive? It is a question for you, not for me. Ask your
heart, about these offenses? Do you want the Nation to have this change in their
Origins, so much you would set the wheel in motion, for what is to come from others?

4. For we are to the point where everyone is offended by something, and they are
speaking out. There will be no more people getting offended by a flag, and so we
remove them. People are offended by Generals on a mountain. So we deface historical
monuments to appease them. We even go so far as to disturb a sacred burial ground, to
remove a soldier? So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an
hour when you do not expect him. There will be no more books to read about, and no
more times to get that second chance, no more books of origins, only the book of life,
and I know personally, that is the one I want to be in.