(1) Proclamation by Bob McDonnell, Governor of Virginia (R), that April is Confederate History Month — Red emphasis added, drawing attention to a nice touch by the Governor at the end of this proclamation (descendents of Virginia’s slaves will appreciate it, perhaps).
WHEREAS, April is the month in which the people of Virginia joined the Confederate States of America in a four year war between the states for independence that concluded at Appomattox Courthouse; and
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
Update, added 7 April: WHEREAS, it is important for all Virginians to understand that the institution of slavery led to this war and was an evil and inhumane practice that deprived people of their God-given inalienable rights and all Virginians are thankful for its permanent eradication from our borders, and the study of this time period should reflect upon and learn from this painful part of our history…
WHEREAS, Confederate historical sites such as the White House of the Confederacy are open for people to visit in Richmond today; and
WHEREAS, all Virginians can appreciate the fact that when ultimately overwhelmed by the insurmountable numbers and resources of the Union Army, the surviving, imprisoned and injured Confederate soldiers gave their word and allegiance to the United States of America, and returned to their homes and families to rebuild their communities in peace, following the instruction of General Robert E. Lee of Virginia, who wrote that, “…all should unite in honest efforts to obliterate the effects of war and to restore the blessings of peace.”; and
WHEREAS, this defining chapter in Virginia’s history should not be forgotten, but instead should be studied, understood and remembered by all Virginians, both in the context of the time in which it took place, but also in the context of the time in which we live, and this study and remembrance takes on particular importance as the Commonwealth prepares to welcome the nation and the world to visit Virginia for the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of the Civil War, a four-year period in which the exploration of our history can benefit all;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert McDonnell, do hereby recognize April 2010 as Confederate History Month in our Commonwealth of Virginia, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.
(2) Background, analysis, and the Governor’s apology
(a) The Governor explains why he did this:
“… {this} 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.” (Washington Post)
This is consistent with his “use of a pledge written by the United Daughters of the Confederacy to open sessions of the House of Delegates. African Americans of the House were furious, refusing to participate. … {he} the salute last week, said he regards it as a ‘wholesome and healthy and patriotic’ message. He said the intent was not to be divisive, and urged members to take the salute’s words at face value.” (Washington Post)
(b) From the blog of the Washington Post:
Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) has quietly declared April 2010 Confederate History Month, bringing back a designation in Virginia that his two Democratic predecessors — Mark Warner and Tim Kaine — refused to do. Republican governors George Allen and Jim Gilmore issued similar proclamations. But in 2002, Warner broke with their action, calling such proclamations, a “lightning rod” that does not help bridge divisions between whites and blacks in Virginia.
(b) Comment from the blog of Matthew Yglesias at ThinkProgress:
Rich in PA: “It’s just a bump in the road. Look at Virginia’s demographics. Republicans will be history there pretty soon. Why McDonnell is trying to make it even sooner is beyond me, but as Peggy Noonan says, some things in life are just meant to be mysterious and you should keep on walking.”
(c) For those who believe the Civil War was primarily about the South’s belief in state’s rights, not slavery (links from comments in Yglesias article):
- Here is the text of Virginia’s ordinance of secession, along with those of the other Confederate States
- The “Cornerstone Speech” by Alexander H. Stephens (VP of the Confederacy), 21 March 1861
- Speech by George Williamson of Louisiana to the Texas Secession Convention, 9 March 1861 — To persuade them to join the Confederacy.
- Use of states rights then and now: “States’ Rights in Our Participatory Democracy“, Katrina vanden Heuvel, blog of The Nation, 5 April 2010
(d) Update — Statement by the Governor on 7 April:
The proclamation issued by this Office designating April as Confederate History Month contained a major omission. The failure to include any reference to slavery was a mistake, and for that I apologize to any fellow Virginian who has been offended or disappointed. The abomination of slavery divided our nation, deprived people of their God-given inalienable rights, and led to the Civil War. Slavery was an evil, vicious and inhumane practice which degraded human beings to property, and it has left a stain on the soul of this state and nation. In 2007, the Virginia General Assembly approved a formal statement of “profound regret” for the Commonwealth’s history of slavery, which was the right thing to do.
When I signed the Proclamation designating February as Black History Month, and as I look out my window at the Virginia Civil Rights Memorial, I am reminded that, even 150 years later, Virginia’s past is inextricably part of our present. The Confederate History Month proclamation issued was solely intended to promote the study of our history, encourage tourism in our state in advance of the 150th Anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, and recognize Virginia’s unique role in the story of America. The Virginia General Assembly unanimously approved the establishment of a Sesquicentennial American Civil War Commission to prepare for and commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the War, in order to promote history and create recognition programs and activities.
As Virginians we carry with us both the burdens and the blessings of our history. Virginia history undeniably includes the fact that we were the Capitol of the Confederacy, the site of more battlefields than any other state, and the home of the signing of the peace agreement at Appomattox. Our history is perhaps best encapsulated in a fact I noted in my Inaugural Address in January: The state that served as the Capitol of the Confederacy was also the first in the nation to elect an African-American governor, my friend, L. Douglas Wilder. America’s history has been written in Virginia. We cannot avoid our past; instead we must demand that it be discussed with civility and responsibility. During the commemoration of the Civil War over the next four years, I intend to lead an effort to promote greater understanding and harmony in our state among our citizens.
He also added a paragraph to the proclamation (shown as an update above).
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