Jefferson Davis Hopes the "Oppressed Southward" Shall "Rise Once more"

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 use of this now famous phrase

The expression "The south shall rise again" is one 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 keepsake, a football battle cry, and even...

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A very early use of this now famous phrase

The expression "The s shall rise again" is one that anybody has heard, not only in the southern states but throughout the entire nation. It has been used as a political slogan, a regional emblem, a football battle cry, and fifty-fifty been the title of a 1950s song ("Salvage Your Amalgamated Money Boys, The South Shall Rise Once again"). However, the expression is non a recent one; its genesis dates back to the turbulent years directly following the Ceremonious War.

In the late 1860s and early on 1870s southern Democrats began to gain more political strength as sometime Confederates were over again given the correct to vote. During this time, across the South, people known to history equally the Redeemers came into prominence. The Redeemers actively promoted a return to conservative Autonomous dominion and opposed the Republican-led, federally-imposed local and state governments, which they saw every bit corrupt and a violation of true principles. They were besides dedicated to white dominance and sought to deny blacks whatsoever 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, old Confederate soldiers and loyalists, and a broad diversity of supporters. From 1868, they used violence, intimidation and even fraud to control or demolition any election they could not influence, the goal beingness to reduce Republican voting and oust current officeholders. In 1868 alone, there were over 1,000 political murders in Louisiana, well-nigh of the victims existence freedmen. The motto and rally cry that the Redeemers adopted was "the South shall rise again," and this became something of a motto for the area, ane that was at times used past candidates to stir up racial and regional confrontation. It has retained its currency into the 21st century.

Before the Ceremonious State of war, Jefferson Davis seved every bit Secretary of the Navy under President Franklin Pierce. While in this position he met and befriended America's get-go Assistant Secretary of State, Ambrose Dudley Isle of man. During the war, Confederate President Davis appointed Mann as one of the first Commissioners to Europe and Isle of mann eventually gained the title of Confederate Commissioner for Belgium and the Vatican.

After Lee'south surrender at Appomattox, Davis fled Richmond and was captured past Federal cavalry near Irwinville, Georgia on May 10, 1865. He was then held at Fort Monroe on charges of treason against the United States until May of 1867, when he was released on a $100,000 bond. The bond was posted by several prominent Americans, among them his wartime opponents Horace Greeley, Cornelius Vanderbilt and Gerrit Smith. Though a public trial was something Davis eagerly sought because it would heighten the issue of whether or not secession was really illegal no less treasonous, it was long delayed. Meanwhile, he refused to repent or consider ideas of a pardon.

In 1868, after spending fourth dimension in New Orleans and Canada, Davis and his wife traveled to Europe. He wanted to call on Mann, who had moved to Paris after the war, but serious affliction in his family prevented information technology. In this important letter of the alphabet, Davis explains all that, mentions his own ill health (no doubt worsened by the physical and mental strain of his solitude and abiding travels), and clearly describes his family unit'south reduced straits and meager budget. He laments the delays in and inconveniences of his upcoming trial, which were in part the result of the unavailability of Chief Justice Salmon Chase, who was presiding over the trial later impeachment of President Andrew Johnson. Davis too decries the "radical rule" of the Federal authorities, and with the U.S. presidential election of 1868 only ahead, he doubts that New York Governor and Democratic candidate Horatio Seymour can defeat the popular Republican candidate, U.Due south. Grant. This leads him to regret the condition of the South, wondering if it will ever have the "life to rise over again."

Autograph Letter Signed, Waterloo, England, Oct ix, 1868 to Mann. "My honey friend, I have long desired to write to you just having learned that y'all had changed your residence was at a loss how to accost 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 sick, and on my arrival here found him so depression that for weeks we had more to fear than to hope. He is now convalescent but my wife is quite ill, probably consequent on fatigue and anxiety, and I have suffered from the disease which has afflicted this hamlet. Y'all volition I promise excuse the filibuster in announcing myself to you and believe that one of our cracking desires in Europe was to encounter you again. It was my intention to leave France before this appointment merely all of my plans have been disturbed for the causes already stated. The U.S. Court before which I am under bond to appear meets once more on the 23rd of Nov 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 notice dispensing with my attendance because the case would not exist tried in the absence of the excursion gauge, the Chief Justice Chase, and it was well understood that he could not preside in the Circuit Court, because the term of the Supreme Court would commence in the ensuing calendar week. Having even so been compelled on the two former occasions to go to Richmond and when it was known there would be no hearing, it may be that a like needless journey will once again exist necessary.

"Equally soon as the health of my family unit volition permit it is our purpose to get out here, going in the kickoff instance probably to Leamington, and afterwards a brusk stay there I wish to go to French republic. My object is to locate my family in some healthy place where they may live at such small expense as our circumstances volition allow, and where the children may have adept schools accessible from their Female parent's lodgings. We accept looked to you for information and advice. I need not say that the everyman rates consistent with comfort will be accustomed.

"The American newspapers accept not recently encouraged the hope of Seymour's election, I cannot bear to contemplate another four years of 'Radical' rule. Their crimes would probably lead to a terrible reaction and their punishment would exist more full and therefore more beneficial to the oppressed S, if it were possible to wait so long and nonetheless have life to rise over again. Mrs. Davis presents to you her kindest remembrance…I am your friend, Jeff'northward Davis."

The sentiment in this letter is overwhelming, with Davis feeling persecuted, impoverished, and powerless, fifty-fifty as his worst adversaries maraude through the south and set up to inaugurate Grant and his Republicans into the Execute Mansion. Moreover, considering the timing of this alphabetic character, the very language with which information technology ends is startlingly consequent with the rally cry of the Redeemers – "The south shall rise again" – which raises some interesting potentialities. If Davis borrowed the expression from the Redeemers in composing this letter, that would tend to bespeak that he was in sympathy with them and their program. On the other paw, its utilise hither may betoken that Davis himself had something to do with the phrase'southward origin. Although its exact genesis is not known, it is possible that some unknown person within 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 rise again." Plus there is the intriguing possibility that the language of this very letter of the alphabet may have been published in southern newspapers at the fourth dimension and resulted in creation of the phrase.

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

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