Civil War History - Secession and PoliticsWas it Slavery, or was it States Rights? Perhaps it was the election of Lincoln? What were the real reasons for Southern Secession and what were the political issues in this time of war? Find your answers here in the Secession and Politics Disussion.
The time for compromise has now passed, and the South is determined to maintain her position, and make all who oppose her smell Southern powder and feel Southern steel"
-- Jefferson Davis used these words in his inaugural speech on February 16, 1861
Someone please explain how he wished a peaceful seperation. THe facts don't seem to bear that out.
__________________ Few take the trouble to understand or to view the American scene with perspective. And we Americans love to find ourselves guilty of something. However, it is never I who am guilty, but those other Americans, the past or present government or the other political party. Americans almost never find other countries guilty. It is always ourselves or our fancied influence in other countries. Louis L'amour
Hal:
You are quite correct, I read both inaugurals and didn't see the statement. I have, however, seen it posted several times on other threads and can't exactly recall where or when the statement was made. IIRC, it was somewhere between the first declaration of secession and the first inaugural.
Someone will recollect and post it. Meanwhile, I'll do a little digging.
Contrary to the image the above misquote attempts to create, Davis was a reluctant secessionist, and made repeated attempts to secure peace both before and after separation.
These words sum up the stance he maintained till all hope was lost,
"We feel that our cause is just and holy; we protest solemnly in the face of mankind that we desire peace at any sacrifice save that of honour and independence; we ask no conquest, no aggrandizement, no concession of any kind from the States with which we were lately confederated; all we ask is to be let alone; that those who never held power over us shall not now attempt our subjugation by arms." President Jefferson Davis, 29 April, 1861
I took a look at both Inaugaral speaches and failed to find the original quote there. I apologize for making the error and endeavour to find the source of the quote. I do believe it a valid quote of Mr Davis and believe it goes a long way to show his thoughts and intentions.
__________________ Few take the trouble to understand or to view the American scene with perspective. And we Americans love to find ourselves guilty of something. However, it is never I who am guilty, but those other Americans, the past or present government or the other political party. Americans almost never find other countries guilty. It is always ourselves or our fancied influence in other countries. Louis L'amour
In a November 1858 speech he proclaimed his ardent devotion to Union then in almost the next breath advised "immediete preparations for our defence, so that in the event an Abolition President should be elected in 1860, he should never be permitted to take his seat." Later in the same speech he mentions the seizure of Washington. "...maintaining our rights and honor, even though blood should flow in torrents throughout the land."
__________________ Few take the trouble to understand or to view the American scene with perspective. And we Americans love to find ourselves guilty of something. However, it is never I who am guilty, but those other Americans, the past or present government or the other political party. Americans almost never find other countries guilty. It is always ourselves or our fancied influence in other countries. Louis L'amour
I should have given the source for the above exerpt. Jefferson Davis, Constitutionalist: his letters ppaers and speeches
__________________ Few take the trouble to understand or to view the American scene with perspective. And we Americans love to find ourselves guilty of something. However, it is never I who am guilty, but those other Americans, the past or present government or the other political party. Americans almost never find other countries guilty. It is always ourselves or our fancied influence in other countries. Louis L'amour
Even Davis' cabinet was dominated by reluctant secessionists. He worked hard to avert the crisis while a member of the US Senate, and had high hopes for peace. He made overtures towards Buchanan and Lincoln, which were rebuffed. Honor and independence were all he placed above peace. And I think rightly so.
This is a Davis quote more indicative of his actual views:
"Our present political position has been achieved in a manner unprecedented in the history of nations. It illustrates the American idea that governments rest on the consent of the governed, and that it is the right of the people to alter or abolish them at will whenever they become destructive of the ends for which they were established."
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