Jefferson Davis Quotes & Sayings

“Slavery existed before the formation of this Union. It derived from the Constitution that recognition which it would not have enjoyed without the confederation. If the States had not united together, there would have been no obligation on adjoining States to regard any species of property unknown to themselves.”

“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.”

“Never be haughty to the humble or humble to the haughty.”

“All we ask is to be let alone.”

“It was one of the compromises of the Constitution that the slave property in the Southern States should be recognized as property throughout the United States.”

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

“Every one must understand that, whatever be the evil of slavery, it is not increased by its diffusion. Every one familiar with it knows that it is in proportion to its sparseness that it becomes less objectionable. Wherever there is an immediate connexion between the master and slave, whatever there is of harshness in the system is diminished.”

“Neither current events nor history show that the majority rule, or ever did rule.”

“God forbid that the day should ever come when to be true to my constituents is to be hostile to the Union.”

“It is not differences of opinion; it is geographical lines, rivers, and mountains which divide State from State, and make different nations of mankind.”