OTD 165 YEARS AGO: The South Carolinians receive word that President Abraham Lincoln will attempt to resupply Fort Sumter, which prompts President Jefferson Davis to make a fateful decision.
Category: Politics
Some Thoughts for the President’s Consideration
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: Secretary of State William H. Seward meets with an intermediary to Confederate envoys and submits an extraordinary memo to President Abraham Lincoln offering to head the administration behind the scenes.
Provisions Are Very Nearly Exhausted
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: President Abraham Lincoln consults his cabinet regarding the fate of Forts Sumter and Pickens. With his ministers still divided as to what should be done, Lincoln comes to a fateful decision.
Seeking Friendship, Commerce and Navigation
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: Jefferson Davis prioritizes securing foreign recognition for the new Confederacy by appointing three commissioners for diplomatic missions to three influential European nations. Meanwhile, Federal military officers continue to resign to go South, and Confederate officials approach Robert E. Lee to do the same.
The Permanent Confederate Constitution
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: The Provisional Confederate Congress adopts a permanent Confederate Constitution. It closely resembles the U.S. Constitution but with key exceptions regarding states’ rights and the maintenance of slavery.
Under God, Our Vindicator
The Provisional Confederate Congress approves measures to establish a temporary government, develop regulations, and approve the president’s cabinet appointments. Congress also approves military measures and treasury notes to support the new Confederate nation. The design of the “Stars and Bars” is also recommended, symbolizing a blend of southern pride and nostalgia.