Jefferson Davis Hopes the "Oppressed South" Shall "Rise Again"

While he awaits trial for treason, Davis writes a close friend lamenting the "Radical" rule of the Republicans and the land of the southland.

A very early utilise of this now famous phrase

The expression "The due south shall ascent over again" is ane that everyone has heard, not merely in the southern states but throughout the entire nation. It has been used every bit a political slogan, a regional emblem, a football battle weep, and even...

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A very early use of this now famous phrase

The expression "The south shall ascension over again" is 1 that everyone has heard, not simply in the southern states but throughout the entire nation. It has been used as a political slogan, a regional emblem, a football game battle cry, and fifty-fifty been the championship of a 1950s song ("Save Your Confederate Money Boys, The South Shall Rise Once more"). However, the expression is not a recent one; its genesis dates back to the turbulent years directly following the Civil War.

In the late 1860s and early on 1870s southern Democrats began to gain more political strength as former Confederates were in one case again given the right to vote. During this time, across the South, people known to history as the Redeemers came into prominence. The Redeemers actively promoted a render to bourgeois Autonomous rule and opposed the Republican-led, federally-imposed local and country governments, which they saw equally corrupt and a violation of true principles. They were also dedicated to white dominance and sought to deny blacks whatever role in the new South. Many of the Redeemers were plantation owners and other wealthy elites who had lost ability and wealth during the Civil War, former Amalgamated soldiers and loyalists, and a wide variety of supporters. From 1868, they used violence, intimidation and fifty-fifty fraud to control or sabotage any ballot they could not influence, the goal being to reduce Republican voting and oust electric current officeholders. In 1868 alone, in that location were over 1,000 political murders in Louisiana, most of the victims existence freedmen. The motto and rally cry that the Redeemers adopted was "the Due south shall rise again," and this became something of a motto for the expanse, 1 that was at times used by candidates to stir up racial and regional confrontation. It has retained its currency into the 21st century.

Before the Civil War, Jefferson Davis seved as Secretary of the Navy nether President Franklin Pierce. While in this position he met and befriended America's first Assistant Secretary of State, Ambrose Dudley Isle of mann. During the state of war, Confederate President Davis appointed Mann as ane of the first Commissioners to Europe and Mann eventually gained the title of Amalgamated Commissioner for Belgium and the Vatican.

After Lee'due south surrender at Appomattox, Davis fled Richmond and was captured by Federal cavalry nigh Irwinville, Georgia on May 10, 1865. He was and then held at Fort Monroe on charges of treason against the Usa until May of 1867, when he was released on a $100,000 bail. The bail was posted by several prominent Americans, amidst them his wartime opponents Horace Greeley, Cornelius Vanderbilt and Gerrit Smith. Though a public trial was something Davis eagerly sought considering it would raise the issue of whether or non secession was actually illegal no less treasonous, information technology was long delayed. Meanwhile, he refused to apologize or consider ideas of a pardon.

In 1868, later spending time in New Orleans and Canada, Davis and his married woman traveled to Europe. He wanted to telephone call on Mann, who had moved to Paris after the war, but serious illness in his family unit prevented it. In this of import letter of the alphabet, Davis explains all that, mentions his own ill health (no dubiety worsened by the physical and mental strain of his confinement and abiding travels), and clearly describes his family's reduced straits and meager budget. He laments the delays in and inconveniences of his upcoming trial, which were in part the effect of the unavailability of Main Justice Salmon Chase, who was presiding over the trial after impeachment of President Andrew Johnson. Davis as well decries the "radical rule" of the Federal government, and with the U.S. presidential election of 1868 simply ahead, he doubts that New York Governor and Autonomous candidate Horatio Seymour can defeat the popular Republican candidate, U.S. Grant. This leads him to regret the condition of the South, wondering if it volition ever have the "life to rise over again."

Autograph Letter of the alphabet Signed, Waterloo, England, October nine, 1868 to Isle of mann. "My dear friend, I have long desired to write to you only having learned that you had changed your residence was at a loss how to address you, until I met our friend Senator [James A.] Bayard at London. Immediately thereafter I returned to Liverpool and learned that my son who was at school at this place was dangerously ill, and on my inflow here institute him then depression that for weeks we had more to fright than to hope. He is at present convalescent simply my wife is quite ill, probably consequent on fatigue and feet, and I have suffered from the illness which has afflicted this hamlet. You will I hope excuse the delay in announcing myself to you and believe that one of our dandy desires in Europe was to see you once more. It was my intention to leave France earlier this appointment but all of my plans take been disturbed for the causes already stated. The U.South. Court before which I am under bail to announced meets once more on the 23rd of November and unless notified that my presence is not required I shall have to be in Richmond, Va. at that time. My counsel expected to receive find dispensing with my omnipresence because the case would non be tried in the absenteeism of the excursion gauge, the Master Justice Chase, and information technology was well understood that he could not preside in the Circuit Court, because the term of the Supreme Court would commence in the ensuing week. Having still been compelled on the two onetime occasions to go to Richmond and when it was known there would exist no hearing, it may be that a like needless journey will again be necessary.

"Every bit soon equally the health of my family will permit it is our purpose to go out here, going in the beginning instance probably to Leamington, and after a brusque stay in that location I wish to go to French republic. My object is to locate my family in some good for you place where they may live at such small expense as our circumstances will permit, and where the children may have practiced schools accessible from their Female parent's lodgings. We have looked to y'all for information and advice. I need not say that the lowest rates consequent with comfort volition be accepted.

"The American newspapers have not recently encouraged the hope of Seymour'due south election, I cannot bear to contemplate some other four years of 'Radical' rule. Their crimes would probably atomic number 82 to a terrible reaction and their punishment would be more full and therefore more beneficial to the oppressed South, if it were possible to expect and then long and still have life to ascension again. Mrs. Davis presents to you her kindest remembrance…I am your friend, Jeff'north Davis."

The sentiment in this alphabetic character is overwhelming, with Davis feeling persecuted, impoverished, and powerless, even as his worst adversaries maraude through the south and ready to inaugurate Grant and his Republicans into the Execute Mansion. Moreover, considering the timing of this alphabetic character, the very language with which it ends is startlingly consistent with the rally cry of the Redeemers – "The southward shall rise again" – which raises some interesting potentialities. If Davis borrowed the expression from the Redeemers in composing this letter, that would tend to indicate that he was in sympathy with them and their programme. On the other paw, its use here may indicate that Davis himself had something to do with the phrase's origin. Although its exact genesis is non known, information technology is possible that some unknown person inside the Redeemers originated it.  Another scenario is that it was adopted from an early version of a quote that Jefferson Davis used in 1873, and which he borrowed from Thomas Carlyle: "Truth crushed to earth volition rising once again." Plus at that place is the intriguing possibility that the language of this very alphabetic character may have been published in southern newspapers at the time and resulted in creation of the phrase.

The Supreme Court eventually dismissed the charges against Davis, though his U.S. citizenship was only restored posthumously.

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