# Quote — Harry Turtledove, The Guns of the South

> Judah Benjamin said, "The nations of Europe continue to abhor our policy, try as we will to convince them that we cannot do otherwise. Mr. Mason has written from London that Her Majesty's government might well have been willing to extend us recognition two years ago, were it not for the continuation of slavery among us: so Lord Russell has assured him, at any rate. Mr. Thouvenel, the French foreign minister, has expressed similar sentiments to Mr. Slidell in Paris." Slavery, Lee thought. In the end, the world's outside view of the Confederate States of America was colored almost exclusively by its response to the South's peculiar institution. Never mind that the U.S. Constitution was a revocable compact between independent states, never mind that the North had consistently used its numerical majority to force through Congress tariffs that worked only to ruin the South. So long as black men were bought and sold, all the high ideals of the Confederacy would be ignored.

- Author: [Harry Turtledove](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove.md)
- Book: [The Guns of the South](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/the-guns-of-the-south.md)
- Page: 234
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Harry_Turtledove#The_Guns_of_the_South_(1992)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/the-guns-of-the-south/judah-benjamin-said

## More from this book

> "But there is no such thing as possessing a little freedom," Lee mused. "Once one enjoys any whatsoever, he will seek it all."

p. 512 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/the-guns-of-the-south/but-there-is-no-such.md)

> Bureau of Ordnance, Richmond
>
> January 17, 1864
>
> General Lee:
>
> I have the honor to present to you with this letter Mr. Andries Rhoodie of Rivington, North Carolina, who has demonstrated in my presence a new rifle, which I believe may prove to be of the most significant benefit conceivable to our soldiers. As he expressed the desire of making your acquaintance & as the Army of Northern Virginia will again, it is likely, face hard fighting in the months ahead, I send him on to you that you may judge both him & his remarkable weapon for yourself. I remain,
>
> Your most ob't servant,
>
> Josiah Gorgas
>
> Colonel

p. 5 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/the-guns-of-the-south/bureau-of-ordnance.md)

> Keeping the Army of Northern Virginia fed and clothed was a never-ending struggle. His men were making their own shoes now, when they could get the leather, which as not often. The ration was down to three-quarters of a pound of meat a day, along with a little salt, sugar, coffee- or rather, chicory and burnt grain- and lard. Bread, rice, corn... they trickled up the Virginia Central and Orange and Alexandria Railroad every so often, but not nearly often enough. He would have to cut the daily allowance again, if more did not arrive soon. President Davis, however, was as aware of all that as Lee could make him. To hash it over once more would only seem like carping.

p. 4 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/the-guns-of-the-south/keeping-the-army.md)