Is Davis a Traitor: ?Or Was the Secession of the Confederate States a Constitutional Right Previous to the Civil War of 1861?

by Albert Taylor Bledsoe

Historian and constitutional scholar Albert Taylor Bledsoe considers whether the secession of the Confederate states was legal under constitutional law. The author poses the question: did Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederate States of America, commit treason by initiating the secession and thereby igniting the nation on a path to Civil War? Over the course of a lengthy analysis, Bledsoe justifies the actions of Jefferson Davis as lawful. Considering arguments both for and against Davis as a traitor, we are taken through a series of proposals that quote the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Federalist papers. Upon reading and explaining a multitude of passages, the author arrives at the conclusion that states can lawfully leave the Union if they so choose. Bledsoe goes further in his arguments, saying that the Founding Fathers may have envisaged the prospect for conflict and schism between the north and south.

Genres: History, American History, American, Nonfiction

148 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1907

About the author

Albert Taylor Bledsoe (1809–1877) was an American Episcopal priest, attorney, professor of mathematics, and officer in the Confederate army and was best known as a staunch defender of slavery.

Reviews

[Paul/Suzette Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite possible the most important book I’ve ever read.

[Bob Bingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshing antidote to the usual accounts of Daniel Webster's speeches, Joseph Story's commentaries, and the writings of the founders of the Constitution. Although written well over 100 years ago, it goes a long way in helping to understand what has happened to the U.S. and why. Dispels a lot of repeated errors and misrepresentations of the meaning of various clauses in the Constitution, specifically the "three fifths" clause.

[Raul · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book filled with inconvenient truths for the Yankee and their centralizing sympathizers. Secession was indeed a right before the War Between the States that started in 1861. Despite what you may have heard or read, the right remains so to this day. The arguments presented in this book have yet to be refuted. In fact, Davis was exonerated without ever having gone to trial. The opposition knew that they had no case against him especially following the publishing of this book. Put that in your corncob pipe and smoke it, yankee. ;)

[Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of the most important books I have ever read on this subject. Americans, ALL Americans need to face the facts that our government was founded by the States as sovereign nations in a loose confederation. The central government only had the powers granted to it by the sovereign States. Almost nothing that our behemoth federal government does today is constitutional or would have ever been agreed to by any of the founders, North as well as South of the Mason-Dixon. We desperately need to go back to the beginning and reevaluate and reexamine our beginnings, both good and bad.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is interesting to discover the number of other sources of information and thoughts that were neven taught or mentioned in 12 to 20 years of formal "education".

I cannot remember who said it but...an assertion [or a lie] put forth in one sentence can take volumes to refute. We must know all arguments and hope they are based on the facts before we can truly move forward.

[Gary Jarrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author presents historical data and analysis that is often missing in history books! Appears that the Republic's polics and politicians have not changed in our current environment!

[LadySnowAngel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating reading.