Confederacy of the determined - (Southern heritage buffs vow "Confederate History Month")

WASHINGTON TIMES.COM ^ | APRIL 24, 2005 | Christina Bellantoni

[CHARLITE]

Southern heritage buffs vow to use the Virginia gubernatorial election as a platform for designating April as Confederate History and Heritage Month.

The four candidates have differing views on the Confederacy, an issue that has been debated for years in the commonwealth.

"We're not just a few people making a lot of noise," said Brag Bowling, a spokesman for the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the oldest hereditary organization for male descendents of Confederate soldiers. "This is not a racial thing; it is good for Virginia. We're going to keep pushing this until we get it."

Each candidate recently shared his thoughts on what Mr. Bowling called a "litmus test for all politicians." Lt. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine would not support a Confederate History and Heritage Month. Former state Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore would support something that recognizes everyone who lived during the Civil War.

Sen. H. Russell Potts Jr. and Warrenton Mayor George B. Fitch would support a Confederate History and Heritage Month. Many past Virginia governors honored the Civil War or the Confederacy.

In 1990, former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, the nation's first black governor, a Democrat and a grandson of slaves, issued a proclamation praising both sides of the war and remembering "those who sacrificed in this great struggle."

Former Govs. George Allen and James S. Gilmore III, both Republicans, issued Confederate History Month proclamations. In 2000, Mr. Gilmore replaced that proclamation with one commemorating both sides of the Civil War -- a move that enraged the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Gov. Mark Warner, a Democrat, has refused to issue a gubernatorial decree on either side of the Civil War.

Mr. Kaine, another Democrat, would decline to issue a Confederate History and Heritage Month proclamation if he is elected governor, said his campaign spokeswoman, Delacey Skinner.

[stand watie]

i wonder if YOU have the mental acuity/capacity to understand that Alexander H. Stephens was JUST one man & that he TOO had freedom of speech.

opinions are like belly-buttons, as everybody has ONE.

Stephens no more spoke for all of dixie, than i do.

free dixie,sw

[stand watie]

OK. well is it OK to assassinate any other country's president???

would killing SADDAM HUSSEIN be OK???

or HITLER for that matter???

free dixie,sw

[stand watie]

lincoln, the TYRANT, DID need his head examined.

had he had a functioning BRAIN, he would have let the CSA alone & traded with the new republic.

UNfortunately for EVERYONE, lincoln was NOT smart enough to do that. a MILLION people needlessly died because lincoln was a DUNCE & POWER-mad.

free dixie,sw

[stand watie]

EXACTLY!

free dixie,sw

[CHARLITE]

"I'm an Atlanta native and believe me, it never recovered, although it is being overwhelmed with yankees and yankee dollars these days."

I guess it's all a matter of whose perspective. My Wellesley College roommate and her husband are natives of upstate New York - Ithaca and Auburn in the finger lakes area. Due to his profession, they ended up in Atlanta and love it more than any of the 13 other cities where they lived throughout the USA.

They tell me that the entire Atlanta area is now being noticeably "invaded" by hispanics. They say that increasingly, all public notices are now being posted bi-lingually and that there is an explosion of hispanic influence in Georgia - especially in Atlanta and environs.

So as far as "The Old South," it isn't like it used to be in Atlanta...........and surely not in Virginia, either, from what my friends there tell me.

Char :)

[Heyworth]

Read the Texas Articles of Secession. Several reasons were listed.

Okay. Let's read it:

A Declaration of the causes which impel the State of Texas to secede from the Federal Union

The government of the United States, by certain joint resolutions, bearing date the 1st day of March, in the year A. D. 1845, proposed to the Republic of Texas, then a free, sovereign and independent nation, the annexation of the latter to the former, as one of the co-equal States thereof,

The people of Texas, by deputies in convention assembled, on the fourth day of July of the same year, assented to and accepted said proposals and formed a constitution for the proposed State, upon which on the 29th day of December in the same year, said State was formally admitted into the Confederated Union.

Texas abandoned her separate national existence and consented to become one of the Confederated States to promote her welfare, insure domestic tranquillity and secure more substantially the blessings of peace and liberty to her people. She was received into the confederacy with her own constitution under the guarantee of the federal constitution and the compact of annexation, that she should enjoy these blessings. She was received as a commonwealth holding, maintaining and protecting the institution known as negro slavery--the servitude of the African to the white race within her limits--a relation that had existed from the first settlement of her wilderness by the white race, and which her people intended should exist in all future time.Her institutions and geographical position established the strongest ties between her and other slave-holding States of the confederacy. Those ties have been strengthened by association. But what has been the course of the government of the United States, and of the people and authorities of the non-slave-holding States, since our connection with them?

The controlling majority of the Federal Government, under various pretenses and disguises, has so administered the same as to exclude the citizens of the Southern States, unless under odious and unconstitutional restrictions, from all the immense territory owned in common by all the States on the Pacific Ocean, for the avowed purpose of acquiring sufficient power in the common government to use it as a means of destroying the institutions of Texas and her sister slave-holding States.

By the disloyalty of the Northern States and their citizens and the imbecility of the Federal Government, infamous combinations of incendiaries and outlaws have been permitted in those States and the common territory of Kansas to trample upon the federal laws, to war upon the lives and property of Southern citizens in that territory, and finally, by violence and mob law to usurp the possession of the same as exclusively the property of the Northern States.

The Federal Government, while but partially under the control of these our unnatural and sectional enemies, has for years almost entirely failed to protect the lives and property of the people of Texas against the Indian savages on our border, and more recently against the murderous forays of banditti from the neighboring territory of Mexico; and when our State government has expended large amounts for such purpose, the Federal Government has refused reimbursement therefor, thus rendering our condition more insecure and harassing than it was during the existence of the Republic of Texas.

These and other wrongs we have patiently borne in the vain hope that a returning sense of justice and humanity would induce a different course of administration.

When we advert to the course of individual non-slave-holding States, and that a majority of their citizens, our grievances assume far greater magnitude.

The States of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa, by solemn legislative enactments, have deliberately, directly or indirectly violated the 3rd clause of the 2nd section of the 4th article of the federal constitution, and laws passed in pursuance thereof; thereby annulling a material provision of the compact, designed by its framers to perpetuate amity between the members of the confederacy and to secure the rights of the slave-holding States in their domestic institutions--a provision founded in justice and wisdom, and without the enforcement of which the compact fails to accomplish the object of its creation. Some of those States have imposed high fines and degrading penalties upon any of their citizens or officers who may carry out in good faith that provision of the compact, or the federal laws enacted in accordance therewith.

In all the non-slave-holding States, in violation of that good faith and comity which should exist between entirely distinct nations, the people have formed themselves into a great sectional party, now strong enough in numbers to control the affairs of each of those States, based upon the unnatural feeling of hostility to these Southern States and their beneficent and patriarchal system of African slavery, proclaiming the debasing doctrine of the equality of all men, irrespective of race or color--a doctrine at war with nature, in opposition to the experience of mankind, and in violation of the plainest revelations of the Divine Law. They demand the abolition of negro slavery throughout the confederacy, the recognition of political equality between the white and the negro races, and avow their determination to press on their crusade against us, so long as a negro slave remains in these States.

For years past this abolition organization has been actively sowing the seeds of discord through the Union, and has rendered the federal congress the arena for spreading firebrands and hatred between the slave-holding and non-slave-holding States.

By consolidating their strength, they hare placed the slave-holding States in a hopeless minority in the federal congress, and rendered representation of no avail in protecting Southern rights against their exactions and encroachments.

They have proclaimed, and at the ballot box sustained, the revolutionary doctrine that there is a "higher law" than the constitution and laws of our Federal Union, and virtually that they will disregard their oaths and trample upon our rights.

They have for years past encouraged and sustained lawless organizations to steal our slaves and prevent their recapture, and have repeatedly murdered Southern citizens while lawfully seeking their rendition.

They have invaded Southern soil and murdered unoffending citizens, and through the press their leading men and a fanatical pulpit have bestowed praise upon the actors and assassins in these crimes, while the governors of several of their States have refused to deliver parties implicated and indicted for participation in such offences, upon the legal demands of the States aggrieved.

They have, through the mails and hired emissaries, sent seditious pamphlets and papers among us to stir up servile insurrection and bring blood and carnage to our firesides.

They have sent hired emissaries among us to burn our towns and distribute arms and poison to our slaves for the same purpose.

They have impoverished the slave-holding States by unequal and partial legislation, thereby enriching themselves by draining our substance.

They have refused to vote appropriations for protecting Texas against ruthless savages, for the sole reason that she is a slave-holding State.

And, finally, by the combined sectional vote of the seventeen non-slave-holding States, they have elected as president and vice-president of the whole confederacy two men whose chief claims to such high positions are their approval of these long continued wrongs, and their pledges to continue them to the final consummation of these schemes for the ruin of the slave-holding States.

In view of these and many other facts, it is meet that our own views should be distinctly proclaimed.

We hold as undeniable truths that the governments of the various States, and of the confederacy itself, were established exclusively by the white race, for themselves and their posterity; that the African race had no agency in their establishment; that they were rightfully held and regarded as an inferior and dependent race, and in that condition only could their existence in this country be rendered beneficial or tolerable.

That in this free government all white men are and of right ought to be entitled to equal civil and political rights; that the servitude of the African race, as existing in these States, is mutually beneficial to both bond and free, and is abundantly authorized and justified by the experience of mankind, and the revealed will of the Almighty Creator, as recognized by all Christian nations; while the destruction of the existing relations between the two races, as advocated by our sectional enemies, would bring inevitable calamities upon both and desolation upon the fifteen slave-holding States. By the secession of six of the slave-holding States, and the certainty that others will speedily do likewise, Texas has no alternative but to remain in an isolated connection with the North, or unite her destinies with the South.

For these and other reasons, solemnly asserting that the federal constitution has been violated and virtually abrogated by the several States named, seeing that the federal government is now passing under the control of our enemies to be diverted from the exalted objects of its creation to those of oppression and wrong, and realizing that our own State can no longer look for protection, but to God and her own sons - We the delegates of the people of Texas, in Convention assembled, have passed an ordinance dissolving all political connection with the government of the United States of America and the people thereof and confidently appeal to the intelligence and patriotism of the freeman of Texas to ratify the same at the ballot box, on the 23rd day of the present month.

Adopted in Convention on the 2nd day of Feby, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one and of the independence of Texas the twenty-fifth.

So, in that document, we've got the words "Slavery," "slaves," or "slave-holding" mentioned 20 times. What are you claiming they were upset about?

[Old Mountain man]

Yes, for better or for worse, it has changed.

[TexConfederate1861]

I never said that slavery wasn't one of the causes...NOW...let's look at some parts you overlooked:

"By the disloyalty of the Northern States and their citizens and the imbecility of the Federal Government, infamous combinations of incendiaries and outlaws have been permitted in those States and the common territory of Kansas to trample upon the federal laws, to war upon the lives and property of Southern citizens in that territory, and finally, by violence and mob law to usurp the possession of the same as exclusively the property of the Northern States.

The Federal Government, while but partially under the control of these our unnatural and sectional enemies, has for years almost entirely failed to protect the lives and property of the people of Texas against the Indian savages on our border, and more recently against the murderous forays of banditti from the neighboring territory of Mexico; and when our State government has expended large amounts for such purpose, the Federal Government has refused reimbursement therefor, thus rendering our condition more insecure and harassing than it was during the existence of the Republic of Texas.

These and other wrongs we have patiently borne in the vain hope that a returning sense of justice and humanity would induce a different course of administration"

and AGAIN:

"The States of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa, by solemn legislative enactments, have deliberately, directly or indirectly violated the 3rd clause of the 2nd section of the 4th article of the federal constitution, and laws passed in pursuance thereof; thereby annulling a material provision of the compact, designed by its framers to perpetuate amity between the members of the confederacy and to secure the rights of the slave-holding States in their domestic institutions--a provision founded in justice and wisdom, and without the enforcement of which the compact fails to accomplish the object of its creation. Some of those States have imposed high fines and degrading penalties upon any of their citizens or officers who may carry out in good faith that provision of the compact, or the federal laws enacted in accordance therewith."

So let's summarize these OTHER grievances:

1. The Federal Government allowed Kansas Jayhawkers to attack Southern citizens

2. Did not protect the citizens of Texas from Mexicans & savage Indians, and refused to re-emburse the state government for the cost of doing what the US Government was supposed to be doing.

3. Refused to enforce the fugitive slave laws.

4. Allowed Abolitionist to stir up insurrections in the state.....

Seems that there were other reasons as well as slavery.

Apparently the Feds weren't living up to their obligations........

[4CJ]

You should be more than cognizant by now the same worn out spin defending your hero's position on slavery will not work with me and most other on here. Why do you even bother knowing this?

Because the others - including the lurkers - are NOT brainwashed and can make up their own minds. Someone has to refute your lies. Even the little ones about Davis ALLEGEDLY not being elected, or making the point about your racism towards Native Americans and Mexicans.

[4CJ]

It's not Just Atlanta, the Southern part of the state is teeming with hispanics. I think Georgia has the 3rd fastest growing hispanic population.

[4CJ]

Apparently the Feds weren't living up to their obligations........

In other words, Yankees had broken their promise and the contract. The seceding states were perfectly justified for abandoning a partnership that was violated by yankees.

[CHARLITE]

"It's not Just Atlanta, the Southern part of the state is teeming with hispanics. I think Georgia has the 3rd fastest growing hispanic population.",br>

Yep. That's what my friend just told me in an email. She was at her local hospital for a routine annual check-up, and she said that for the first time, all of the notices everywhere in the hospital are now in Spanish as well as in English..........even the instructions on the paper gown disposal recepticles!

[M. Espinola]

"Because the others - including the lurkers - are NOT brainwashed and can make up their own minds. Someone has to refute your lies. Even the little ones about Davis ALLEGEDLY not being elected, or making the point about your racism towards Native Americans and Mexicans."

"lies" Name one.

Is it a lie that you are still fighting for your 'lost cause' and continue re-fighting the Civil War? Myself & others don't have to utter one word relating to your comments, since each time you issue any they speak for themselves loud and clear.

"Racism"? LOL because I don't want the narcotics infested régime in Mexico taking over portions of our nation by the use of proxies thanks to NAFTA which you probably supported since you keep harping on admitting a 'Mexican 51st state'.

You take the cake calling anyone a racist chief sitting 'bull' the 2rd, when you repeatedly declare loony illusions for some sort of 'confederate victory'. It's time to enter the real world, act like a real American are extract yourself off the old plantation.

'Gone With The Wind'

Wouldn't be a riot is maybe 10.000 commie loving illegal aliens moved in the house next to yours while you were in the middle of one of those worn out 'The South will rise again' speeches.

You lost in 1865 and then again in 1965. It's time to forget-about-it.

[M. Espinola]

"OK. well is it OK to assassinate any other country's president??? would killing SADDAM HUSSEIN be OK??? or HITLER for that matter???"

Wacked out again? What is this time?

Were you so worried someone would knocked off Adolph before he plugged himself in the Bunker?

Hellooooo...what do you think we were doing when the U.S. Air Force bombed Saddam's palaces? Sending him aerial love notes?

[M. Espinola]

The proper spelling is "I" by the way Mr. Stand.

"i wonder if YOU have the mental acuity/capacity to understand that Alexander H. Stephens was JUST one man & that he TOO had freedom of speech. opinions are like belly-buttons, as everybody has ONE. Stephens no more spoke for all of dixie, than i do."

There is a slight difference between you and hard-core racist bigot Stephens. Unlike you he was the appointed 'Vice President' for the Confederates' thus when Stephens made a speech he did speak for your 'Dixie'. When you make a speech, it the same mumbo jumbo as always and everyone has a good laugh!

Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune, accused crooked Stephens of prolonging the war to satisfy his personal ambition!

Here's another picture of 'Handsome Harold', a poster for you

In November of 1860, before the Civil War Lincoln wrote a letter to Stephens pointing out: "You think slavery is right and ought to be extended; while we think it is wrong and ought to be restricted". (And you would rather support Stephens then Lincoln?? That says everything needed in your respect.)

By the way, Mr. Pro-Slavery-Stephens when the Civil War ended was bagged just like Davis & was imprisoned in Fort Warren, in Boston harbour. What a justified kick in the head for him, in the clink in the Hub! All his mouthing off about locking others in chains & triggering civil war finally caught him on the receiving end! (The rodent should have gotten a 20 year stretch, at least.)

[M. Espinola]

L"lincoln was NOT smart enough to do that. ...(L)lincoln was a DUNCE...."

A 'dunce' and 'not smart enough', wow? The dunce schlub was born in a log cabin and became President. He was not 'smart enough' to have eyes in the back of his head to stop a murdering madman too.

What is your testimonial Stand?

[mac_truck]

Jefferson Davis was nominated in committee (the Constitutional Convention) and was ELECTED Provisional President...Davis RAN for election and won the seat.

Yawn...ok chief how many VOTES did Jefferson Davis receive and whom did he BEAT to become ELECTED president of the confederacy?

[M. Espinola]

Good point regarding the election of Mr. Davis.

I wonder if there was a full scale media blitz? Soft money? Hard money? poll workers by the thousands? Signs everywhere? TV blitz..lol?, Non-profits kicking in donations? Lobbyists galore? Newspaper endorsements and campaign contributions even from overseas fat cats and supporting Kings & Queens? Was 'election day' a holiday? What was the popular and electoral vote breakdown state by state?

(continued....How many votes did Davis get out of New York, Rhode Island & Iowa for example? How many other certified candidates ran against old Jeffy, and from which political parties?

(continued ....Which newspaper got the scoop on election night on the 'winner'? Were Davis & Stephens from the same political party?

(continued....Was there ever a 'Dump Davis drive at the 'convention'? Were all convention delegates pledged to only the Davis/Stephens dream team?

Maybe the election slogans/posters/signs/poll handouts were:

'It's Cotton or Them!'

'Slaves for Davis/Stephens!

'Vote Early and Often!'

'It's Davis or Damned!

'Davis in 61!'

'Put Jeff in the White House!'

'Vote Cotton!'

'Dems for Davis!'

'Secession Forever!'

'Rebellionites for Jeff Davis!'

'Dumb Dumbs for Davis'

'Stephens for VP Slave Master!'

'Davis Dream Team (photos)'

'Rebels for Jeff!'

'Beat them there Yanks!'

'No 2nd Term!'

'Secessionists for Stephens!'

'CottonKings for Davis!'

'Rebel, Rebel, Rebel!'

'Pro-slavers for Stephens!'

'Dummies Dig Davis!'

'Daviscrats!'

The traditional expected spin shall be quickly forth coming from the 'chief' master for the promotion of the 'Lost cause & continued Civil War'.

For the next 'election' on this platform contributions are not tax deductible! :)

[fortheDeclaration]

I wish I had the issue #, etc. for you. I know that the article I read showed actual official documents, etc. to back up the claim. Even at that, you must at least give it the benefit of the doubt that it COULD have possibly happened.

Well, Non-Sequitur had the issue and linked me to it.

GOP had posted it a while back.

Capitan-Refugio, I believe does accept the validity of the papers.

However, the attacks that you and your Paleo-Confederate friends have been launching on Lincoln as being the author of the plot to kill Davis is not supported by the author of the article himself.

To be sure, there is no certain evidence tying Edwin Stanton to the Kilpatrick-Dahlgren plot. Only the fact of their February 12 meeting can be documented. Yet no other reasonable explanation meets the case. It cannot be imagined that Kilpatrick had the courage to carry this out on his own without sanction, and only Stanton could have filled such an approving role. It certainly cannot be imagined that the president countenanced political assassination and black flag warfare against civilians. Lincoln approved the capture of Davis, perhaps as a hostage for the release of Union prisoners, but nothing we know about the man suggests he would have gone beyond that.

The author believes that Stanton, not Lincoln may have talked about killing Davis.

And regarding Stanton, it is still only conjecture on his part.

[fortheDeclaration]

Think what you wish. We can argue this point till H*ll freezes over, and you aren't going to convince me, nor will I convince you. We have different ideas of what loyalty to one's country is. Robert E. Lee felt a higher duty to his home, so do I. The place where you are born, bred, educated, and nurtured should have the first claim of allegiance. That concept was very popular until the WBTS. But, believe as you will, and so will I.

Well, if I have to choose between George Washington and Patrick Henry, both men who stated that they wanted to be known as Americans and not Virginians, or Robert E. Lee, my vote goes for Washington and Henry.

Lee was a great man, who did a great deal in sparing the South further damage by acknowledging that the war was over and it was time for Southerners to consider themselves as Americans again.

Go ye and do likewise.