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Jefferson Davis

Jefferson Davis Quotes

Former President of the Confederate States of America

Jefferson Davis was the President of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. Born on June 3, 1808, in Kentucky, he was a soldier, politician, and statesman who played a significant role in American history. Davis served as a soldier in the U.S. Army before entering politics and becoming a member of the Democratic Party. He was appointed Secretary of War under President Franklin Pierce and later became the President of the Confederacy during the Civil War. Davis is a controversial figure in American history, with his leadership during the Civil War being both praised and criticized.

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All Civil War War Government Slavery Men States Country May People Ifs Made Law Political Should Slave Southern Together American Civil War Confederate Constitution

Famous Jefferson Davis Quotes

“If the Confederacy falls, there should be written on its tombstone: Died of a theory.”

War Historical American

Book:The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government, Volume 1

Source: The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government, Volume 1

“The authors of all our misfortune.”

War History Civil War Misfortunes American Civil War

Author:Jefferson Davis

“Our armies were in as much chaos in victory as theirs in defeat.”

War History Victory Army Chaos Defeat Civil War American Civil War

Author:Jefferson Davis

“I tried all in my power to avert this war. I saw it coming, for twelve years I worked night and day to prevent it, but I could not. The North was mad and blind; it would not let us govern ourselves, and so the war came, and now it must go on unless you acknowledge our right to self government. We are not fighting for slavery. We are fighting for Independence.”

Years War Self Government Night Fighting Saws Goes On Independence Slavery Blind Mad Acknowledge Twelve Self-government Avert

Author:Jefferson Davis

“The past is dead; let it bury its dead, its hopes and its aspirations; before you lies the future-a future full of golden promise.”

War Past Lying Promise Golden Civil War Aspiration

Book:Fiction Distorting Fact

Source: Fiction Distorting Fact

“The time for compromise has now passed, and the South is determined to maintain her position, and make all who oppose her smell Southern powder and feel Southern steel.”

Feels War Position South Smell Determined Compromise Civil War Southern Steel Powder

Author:Jefferson Davis

“Sir, it is true that republics have often been cradled in war, but more often they have met with a grave in that cradle. Peace is the interest, the policy, the nature of a popular Government. War may bring benefits to a few, but privation and loss are the lot of the many. An appeal to arms should be the last resort, and only by national rights or national honor can it be justified.”

Should May War Government Lasts Interest Loss Rights Policy Arms Honor Mets Benefits Graves Appeals Republic Justified Resorts Cradle

Book:The rise and fall of the Confederate Government

Source: The rise and fall of the Confederate Government

“Butler is branded a felon, an outlaw, an enemy of Mankind, and so ordered that in the event of his capture, the officer in command of the capturing force do cause him to be immediately executed by hanging.”

War Force Causes Enemy Mankind Events Command Civil War Capture Officers Outlaw Butlers Branded Felons

Author:Jefferson Davis

“A restitution of the Union has been rendered forever impossible.”

Has Beens War Forever Impossible Unions Civil War Restitution

Author:Jefferson Davis

“Pray excuse me. I cannot take it.”

War Praying Excuse Civil War Excuse Me

Author:Jefferson Davis

“I worked night and day for twelve years to prevent the war, but I could not. The North was mad and blind, would not let us govern ourselves, and so the war came.”

Years War Night Blind Mad Twelve

Author:Jefferson Davis

“Nothing fills me with deeper sadness than to see a Southerner apologizing for the defense we made of our inheritance.”

Made War Sadness Deeper Defense Civil War Apologizing Inheritance Southerner

Author:Jefferson Davis

“Your little army, derided for its want of arms, derided for its lack of all the essential material of war, has met the grand army of the enemy, routed it at every point, and now it flies, inglorious in retreat before our victorious columns. We have taught them a lesson in their invasion of the sacred soil of Virginia.”

Want Littles War Enemy Taught Materials Arms Lessons Mets Essentials Army Sacred Civil War Soil Retreat Invasion Columns Virginia

Author:Jefferson Davis

“The war...must go on till the last man of this generation falls in his tracks...unless you acknowledge our right to self-government. We are not fighting for slavery. We are fighting for Independence,and that, or extermination, we WILL have.”

Men War Self Government Lasts Fall Fighting Generations Goes On Independence Slavery Track Acknowledge Civil War This Generation Self-government Extermination

Author:Jefferson Davis

“Without doing injustice to the living, it may safely be asserted that our loss is irreparable; and that among the shining hosts of the great and good who now cluster around the banner of the country, there exists no purer spirit, no more heroic soul, than that of the illustrious man whose death I join you in lamenting.”

Men May War Soul Country Spirit Loss Shining Injustice Civil War Host Heroic Banner Clusters Irreparable

Author:Jefferson Davis

“For an enemy so relentless in the war for our subjugation, we could not be expected to mourn; yet, in view of its political consequences, it could not be regarded otherwise than as a great misfortune for the South.”

War Political Views Enemy Consequence South Expected Civil War Misfortunes Relentless Mourn Subjugation

Book:The rise and fall of the Confederate Government

Source: The rise and fall of the Confederate Government

“If you will not have it thus: if in the pride of power, if in contempt of reason and reliance upon force, you say we shall not go, but shall remain as subjects to you, then, gentlemen of the North, a war is to be inaugurated the like of which men have not seen.”

Ifs Men War Reason Force Subjects Pride Gentleman Civil War Contempt Reliance

Book:The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government (Complete)

Source: The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government (Complete)