Jefferson Davis Hopes the "Oppressed S" Shall "Ascent Over again"

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

A very early use of this now famous phrase

The expression "The south shall rise over again" is one that everyone has heard, not merely 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 utilise of this at present famous phrase

The expression "The south shall rise again" is 1 that anybody has heard, non only in the southern states only throughout the entire nation. It has been used as a political slogan, a regional emblem, a football boxing weep, and fifty-fifty been the championship of a 1950s song ("Save Your Confederate Coin Boys, The Southward Shall Rise Again"). However, the expression is not a recent ane; its genesis dates dorsum to the turbulent years directly post-obit the Civil War.

In the late 1860s and early 1870s southern Democrats began to gain more political forcefulness every bit former Confederates were in one case again given the correct to vote. During this time, beyond the Due south, people known to history equally the Redeemers came into prominence. The Redeemers actively promoted a return to conservative Democratic dominion and opposed the Republican-led, federally-imposed local and state governments, which they saw equally corrupt and a violation of true principles. They were also dedicated to white dominance and sought to deny blacks any office in the new Southward. Many of the Redeemers were plantation owners and other wealthy elites who had lost power and wealth during the Civil War, old Confederate soldiers and loyalists, and a wide variety of supporters. From 1868, they used violence, intimidation and even fraud to command or sabotage any election they could not influence, the goal being to reduce Republican voting and oust current officeholders. In 1868 alone, there were over 1,000 political murders in Louisiana, most of the victims beingness freedmen. The motto and rally weep that the Redeemers adopted was "the Southward shall ascension once more," and this became something of a motto for the area, one that was at times used by candidates to stir upwards racial and regional confrontation. It has retained its currency into the 21st century.

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

After Lee's surrender at Appomattox, Davis fled Richmond and was captured by Federal cavalry near Irwinville, Georgia on May 10, 1865. He was and so held at Fort Monroe on charges of treason against the U.s.a. until May of 1867, when he was released on a $100,000 bond. The bond was posted past several prominent Americans, amongst them his wartime opponents Horace Greeley, Cornelius Vanderbilt and Gerrit Smith. Though a public trial was something Davis eagerly sought considering it would heighten the effect of whether or non secession was actually illegal no less treasonous, it was long delayed. Meanwhile, he refused to repent or consider ideas of a pardon.

In 1868, after spending time 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, only serious illness in his family prevented it. In this of import alphabetic character, Davis explains all that, mentions his own sick health (no doubt worsened past the physical and mental strain of his confinement and abiding travels), and clearly describes his family'south reduced straits and meager budget. He laments the delays in and inconveniences of his upcoming trial, which were in part the outcome of the unavailability of Primary Justice Salmon Hunt, who was presiding over the trial after impeachment of President Andrew Johnson. Davis also decries the "radical rule" of the Federal regime, and with the U.Southward. presidential election of 1868 just ahead, he doubts that New York Governor and Democratic candidate Horatio Seymour can defeat the pop Republican candidate, U.South. Grant. This leads him to regret the condition of the South, wondering if it will ever have the "life to ascent again."

Autograph Letter Signed, Waterloo, England, October 9, 1868 to Mann. "My dear friend, I have long desired to write to y'all but having learned that you had inverse 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 identify was dangerously sick, and on my arrival hither found him so low that for weeks we had more than to fright than to promise. He is now convalescent but my married woman is quite sick, probably consequent on fatigue and anxiety, and I accept suffered from the illness which has affected this village. You will I hope alibi the delay in announcing myself to you and believe that one of our slap-up desires in Europe was to run into yous again. It was my intention to leave France before this appointment just all of my plans have been disturbed for the causes already stated. The U.Southward. Courtroom before which I am under bond to appear meets over again on the 23rd of November and unless notified that my presence is not required I shall have to exist in Richmond, Va. at that fourth dimension. My counsel expected to receive notice dispensing with my attendance because the case would not be tried in the absence of the circuit judge, the Principal 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 notwithstanding been compelled on the two former occasions to go to Richmond and when it was known there would be no hearing, it may exist that a like needless journeying will once more be necessary.

"As before long as the health of my family will let information technology is our purpose to leave here, going in the first instance probably to Leamington, and after a brusque stay there I wish to go to France. My object is to locate my family unit in some healthy identify where they may alive at such modest expense equally our circumstances will let, and where the children may accept skilful schools attainable from their Mother's lodgings. We have looked to y'all for information and advice. I demand not say that the lowest rates consistent with comfort volition be accepted.

"The American newspapers have not recently encouraged the promise of Seymour'southward election, I cannot bear to contemplate another four years of 'Radical' rule. Their crimes would probably lead to a terrible reaction and their penalty would be more than total and therefore more beneficial to the oppressed South, if information technology were possible to look so long and withal have life to rising once more. Mrs. Davis presents to yous her kindest remembrance…I am your friend, Jeff'n Davis."

The sentiment in this letter of the alphabet is overwhelming, with Davis feeling persecuted, impoverished, and powerless, fifty-fifty every bit his worst adversaries maraude through the south and prepare to inaugurate Grant and his Republicans into the Execute Mansion. Moreover, because the timing of this letter, the very language with which it ends is startlingly consistent with the rally weep of the Redeemers – "The south shall rise again" – which raises some interesting potentialities. If Davis borrowed the expression from the Redeemers in composing this alphabetic character, that would tend to indicate that he was in sympathy with them and their programme. On the other hand, its use hither may point that Davis himself had something to exercise with the phrase's origin. Although its exact genesis is non known, it is possible that some unknown person inside the Redeemers originated it.  Some other scenario is that information technology 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 will rise again." Plus there is the intriguing possibility that the language of this very letter may take been published in southern newspapers at the time and resulted in creation of the phrase.

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

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