The Confederate States of America ceased to exist as a country shortly after the surrender at Appomattox. Its military forces were disbanded and/or interned, the members of its government were arrested, and its territory was occupied for several years afterwards. The lack of a "formal surrender" is thus moot.
That its symbols and flags are still occasionally used to adorn bumperstickers and such is as little evidence of the continuation of the C.S.A. as the frequent sighting of Nazi symbols in graffiti, etc. is proof of the continued existence of Nazi Germany.
As for the beliefs those symbols actually symbolize: I'm sure that there are almost as many different opinions on that as there are people who display them.
Regards,
“its territory was occupied for several years afterwards.”
It’s true the CSA was occupied following it’s dwindling efforts to defeat northern aggression. But the “several years” is dead wrong. Starting with Reconstruction, the occupation is still going strong and Southern values about the rights of states as set forth in the constitution are still foremost in the hearts of those born in the South and those who wish they had been.
“The Confederate States of America ceased to exist as a country”
Abe Lincoln claimed that the CSA never was a country.
Lincoln declared it to be nothing more than an insurrection and he called up 75,000 troops to put it down while Congress was out of session.
Just as King George III declared the American colonials to be a rebellion and not a new country.