Davis

[johan_steele]

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.

[hawglips]

First of all, I believe his inaugural speech was on Feb. 18.

Secondly, are you sure Davis actually said that in his inaugural? I have read it a couple times, but don't recall that part being in there.

Hal

[ole]

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.

[hawglips]

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

Hal

[johan_steele]

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.

[johan_steele]

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."

[johan_steele]

I should have given the source for the above exerpt. Jefferson Davis, Constitutionalist: his letters ppaers and speeches

[hawglips]

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.

Hal

[hawglips]

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."

Hal

[ole]

Hal:
Davis was a complex man -- driven and reticent -- honorable and patsy. A dolt. A figurehead of a flawed idea. But a good man.

[unionblue]

Hal,

Davis's cabinet was DOMINATED by reluctant secessionists? Ain't that stretching the blanket a bit tight?

Unionblue

[unionblue]

Hal,

Could you please give the date of the quote Davis gave in your post#9? I would be curious to know if it was before, during or after the war.

Unionblue

[hawglips]

Hal,

Could you please give the date of the quote Davis gave in your post#9? I would be curious to know if it was before, during or after the war.

Unionblue

That quote is from his inaugural address.

Davis's cabinet was DOMINATED by reluctant secessionists? Ain't that stretching the blanket a bit tight?
Unionblue

Not at all. I'd encourage you to investigate. Of course, that goes against the image that pro-force-Unionists strive to paint of the CSA government.

Hal

[hawglips]

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.

I would be interested if anyone can come up with anything on this quote. I do realize that it is one that is widely passed around, falsely attributed to his first inaugural, but I would be quite interested to know if he did indeed say it, and what the context was.

Davis was quite consistent in his stance, which was peace at all costs save honor and independence.

Hal

[Secesh]

The source for the "quote" that started this thread is from Dunbar Rowland's " Jefferson Davis, Constitutionalist: His Letters, Papers and Speeches" (reprinted in "Jefferson Davis: The Essential Writings" by William F. Cooper, Jr.).

It is not an actual quote, but an account written after an impromptu speech given by Davis on his arrival at the train station in Montgomery, Alabama on the night of February 16, 1861.

Here is the account:

"President Davis, returning thanks, said that he was proud to receive the congratulations and hospitality of the people of Alabama. He briefly reviewed the present position of the South. The time for compomise, he said, had passed, and our only hope was in a determined maintenance of our position, and to make all who oppose us smell Southern powder and feel Southern steel. If coercion should be persisted in, he had no doubt as to the result. We would maintain our right to self-government at all hazards. We ask nothing, want nothing, and will have no complications. If other States should desire to join our Confederation, they can freely come on our terms. Our seperation from the old Union is complete. NO COMPROMISE; NO RECONSTRUCTION CAN BE NOW ENTERTAINED. (Tremendous applause.)"

[ole]

Thanks, Secesh.

Somebody always comes along who has an answer, and in this case at least, most gratefully received.

By the way, welcome aboard. You will find this a most interesting and stimulating group.
Ole

[ewc]

Davis did love the Union, as did JC Calhoun, but both loved the South more. Davis did attempt to treat with Buchanan, Douglas, & Lincoln. But he treated as a spokesman for the South who enumerated his demands to protect Southern Rights, which if could not be done, meant disunion. He was a conditional Unionist, and those conditions were Southern Rights first, Union second. His attempts to treat were undertaken by him from a postion where Southern Rights could not be touched, from there you yield, we'll talk. Thus with the conditional Unionists, and reluctant secessionists. It is true that fire-eaters did not set the tone in his Cabinet, yet the only Union first man was not Davis's choice- the Vice-president Stepehens.

Davis of course wanted peace, peace in the Union with the South dominant, and peace for his separate country. Only a fool would want war. But Davis knew enough to expect war, and prepared accordingly. No fool he.

Lincoln always wanted peace too. Neither could accept peace on the terms the other proposed.

[hawglips]

Secesh, sorry for my belated thanks for coming up with the source of mis-quote.

Thanks!

Hal

[Secesh]

hawglips: My pleasure; enjoyed scouring the book looking for it.

Unfortunately, the book I have (W.F. Cooper's) doesn't give any information as to who wrote the account or how much time had passed from the actual event and the writing of it.

As it stands, we can never know for sure how close this account is to what Davis actually said.

The impression I get is that Davis arrived into a very celebratory and emotion-charged atmosphere and his remarks seem to reflect that he was caught-up in the moment, as most of his prepared speeches (and even his letters) were much more restrained and measured than what he is reported as saying in the account in question.