We the People of the Confederate States of America

 

“The Confederate Constitution of 1861 is the manifestation of the Southerners’ better comprehension of the theory of our government. It is, indeed, a reactionary document; a reaction to inevitable changes that political, social, and economic forces were thrusting upon the U.S. Constitution, thereby transforming the community of States into a national community of individuals.  The emerging nationalism [in the United States] was not, they alleged, the nation of the mutual fathers of 1787. .

[and] the Confederate framers contended that they were seceding on behalf of the U.S. Constitution, not against it, their understanding of the U.S. Constitution was, in certain respects . . . rather that of the Anti-Federalists 

(e.g., Agrippa) and John C. Calhoun.  (The Confederate Constitution, DeRosa, pg. 17)

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“The Confederate framers careful tinkering with the US Constitution betrayed a suspicion of party and partisan politics that had become the norm by mid-century in America.  Civic virtue – the willingness to put the common good ahead of individual interests – was central to the ideology of republicanism that emerged from the Revolution.  Additionally, a deep distrust of politicians and a conviction that persons who wielded government authority must be carefully watched lest they expand their power at the expense of liberty was foremost in the framers’ minds.

“By 1860 Southerners were perhaps more receptive to anti-party ideas than other Americans.  The meteoric rise of the Republicans impressed upon Southerners the evils of party: in their eyes the Republican party was bent upon using government to promote the interests of the North by riding roughshod over the rights of the South. As such, it was a chilling reminder of the dangers posed by political parties.”  

 (An Uncertain Tradition, Hall & Ely, Jr., pg. 218)

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