Confederate History Month? CSA Pres Jefferson Davis Would Approve

by Karen Hatter | April 10, 2010 at 12:22 pm

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Noting the recent shrinking regional and demographic base representative of the Republican Party, with the majority being located in the southern United States, Martin Nolan, former Washington bureau chief and editor for the Boston Globe offers his observations regarding Republican Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell's proclamation naming April 2010 Confederate History Month.

He thinks the President of the Confererate States of America Jefferson Davis would be quite comfortable in today's GOP.

Older, angry whites form the Republican base. They are plentiful between the Potomac and the Rio Grande. In the Senate, 25 of 40 Republicans hail from below the Mason-Dixon line. Numbers in the House are similar.

The GOP caucuses are heirs of the Congress of the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis would feel at home. But if the Confederate leader came back today to reclaim his flock, the GOP would be a minor party.

McDonnell's honeysuckle ode to Confederate History Month was a classic gaffe. The governor did not make a mistake. He blurted the truth. Was the late Confederacy an admirable civic organization? A secret poll of GOP politicos would reply: "Of course. You got a problem with that?"

Republican officeholders scurry after Tea Party ralliers whose aim is "to take our country back." To where? To when? To the set of Gone With The Wind?

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YankeeJim

at 14:22 on April 10th, 2010

Topsy turvy. The old Southern Democrats were once the bigots, then the Civil War turned it upside down and the Republicans emerged as the leading bigots on a number of fronts -- anti-civil rights, anti-gay, anti-social programs, anti-healthcare, and they were against social security as well.

Jefferson Davis would have been comfortable with a gang of outlaws, armed to the teeth, in the name of his special club, probably the Knights of something, and it would not be of Columbus because he would have been against Catholics too.

Karen Hatter

at 15:00 on April 10th, 2010

Jim, what is most perplexing to me regarding the controversy surrounding the Confederate History Month proclamation is one has to do some extremely contorted mental gymnastics to arrive at a rationale that, firstly, slavery was not central to the reason why those calling themselves the Confederate States of America seceded, with each being desirous of maintaining slavery and second, that slavery was not significant enough to mention.

If the latter statement offered by Governor McDonnell is to believed, that is most disturbing.

YankeeJim

at 15:48 on April 10th, 2010

Karen, one thing that McDonnell can't be accused of is lack of transparency. He is had core bigot, hinding under the shroud of conservatism and with protection from the Grand Old Party.

Grace H

at 17:24 on April 10th, 2010

Satisfy my curiosity if you will--what was the latter statement or a near summation?

Karen Hatter

at 18:42 on April 10th, 2010

Hi, Grace.

Assuming you were addressing me, I was referring to the portion of the Governor's statement, when he initially responded to the proclamation's omission of the mention of slavery. He stated the proclamation focused on the things he found "most" significant, which one would reasonably conclude meant that slavery was not significant enough to warrant mentioning.

McDonnell said Tuesday that the move was designed to promote tourism in the state, which next year will mark the 150th anniversary of the start of the war. McDonnell said he did not include a reference to slavery because "there were any number of aspects to that conflict between the states. Obviously, it involved slavery. It involved other issues. But I focused on the ones I thought were most significant for Virginia."

The original proclamation read in part:

WHEREAS, Virginia has long recognized her Confederate history, the numerous civil war battlefields that mark every region of the state, the leaders and individuals in the Army, Navy and at home who fought for their homes and communities and Commonwealth in a time very different than ours today; and

WHEREAS, it is important for all Virginians to reflect upon our Commonwealth's shared history, to understand the sacrifices of the Confederate leaders, soldiers and citizens during the period of the Civil War, and to recognize how our history has led to our present; and

WHEREAS, Confederate historical sites such as the White House of the Confederacy are open for people to visit in Richmond today; and

Enslaved persons could/would not have been included among those referred to in the proclamation as " .... Confederate leaders, soldiers and citizens during the period of the Civil War".

There were nearly half a million enslaved persons of African descent in Virginia during the time Virginia was a part of the Confederacy.

Brushing off the dehumanization and brutality of their state of existence is unconscionable.

Jordan (not verified)

at 12:46 on April 11th, 2010

I can understand why he would omit slavery from his proclamation, if he was to announce "Confederate History Month" and celebrate such a thing, mentioning slavery in his proclamation would mean that "Confederate History Month" would involve celebrating slavery and aspects related to it, which is inhumane, immoral, and for lack of a better word stupid. The CSA is often considered and referred to as an entire nation of bigots, racists, and ignorant people and this even continues to this day, which in its entirety is untrue. The United States, as a whole, was responsible for slavery and the mistreatment and prejudice of countless races and immigrants. Yes, slavery was giant source of income in the south, but there were still slave states in the "Union" who utilized slave labor and because of their decision to stay in the "Union" that part of their history seems to be forgotten. As a citizen of the Commonwealth, I do not welcome this "Confederate History Month", even though I am proud of my southern heritage, because for quite a long time the South's reputation and that of the Confederacy, have been tainted by groups such as the K.K.K., and many others who use the CSA flag and memory to promote racism and prejudice. Its a sad thing really, that many of the early years of this country involved such hatred and theses thing shouldn't celebrated but rather remembered to show how far the United States has come as whole, and those individual citizens who fought (aggressively and passively ) to change it then and those continue to fight to make it better for future.

Karen Hatter

at 21:03 on April 11th, 2010

A very interesting observation, Jordan, and had the proclamation called for a celebration, including slavery would have been incongruous for the reasons you've raised.

Yet, if the alleged purpose was to learn of the historical significance and history of the Confederacy, slavery must be included as the enslaved provided monetary wealth and services as the war was waged.

In Virginia alone, at that time, there were about half a million enslaved persons of African descent, with many accompanying slaveholders onto the Confederate Army camp grounds to continue to provide services for the slaveholders.

Thousands of African Americans marched off to war for the Confederacy. Many accompanied their masters, and there were isolated instances throughout the war of these "body servants" as these slaves were called taking up arms when their masters went into combat.

Many other slaves served as laborers for the Confederate army. During the Atlanta campaign of 1864, for instance, Confederate Gen. Joseph Johnston used thousands of slaves to prepare fortifications as his army sparred with that of Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman.

Thousands more slaves served the Confederate army driving horsedrawn supply wagons. The Confederate fighting force was white, but much of its support was black.

The most appropriate way to handle this would have been to declare a Civil War History Month.