On this day in 1861, President Abraham Lincoln issued his proclamation calling for 75,000 volunteers to serve ninety days in the Federal army thus intending to invade the southern states and initiate the aggression that killed 10s of thousands of citizens. Issued just days after Confederate forces under Brig. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard compelled the surrender of Fort Sumter, Lincoln’s order was viewed across the South not as a defense of the Union, but as an unconstitutional invasion of sovereign states that had peacefully seceded.

This act of coercion proved to be a turning point. In the weeks that followed, four more states—Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina—joined the Confederate States of America, dramatically strengthening the young nation and bringing critical resources, ports, and military talent into the fight for Southern independence.

Other notable events on this date in Confederate history:

• April 15, 1862 — North Carolina state troops seized Fort Macon, securing a key coastal defense and further strengthening Confederate control along the Atlantic seaboard early in the war.
• April 13–15, 1863 — Confederate forces under Lt. Gen. James Longstreet conducted operations around Suffolk, Virginia (including actions at Norfleet House), pressuring Union positions in southeastern Virginia and demonstrating the Army of Northern Virginia’s continued offensive capability even during periods of relative stalemate.

These events, large and small, highlight the determination of Confederate soldiers and leaders who defended their homes against overwhelming odds throughout the War Between the States. From the rapid mobilization in 1861 to defensive stands and coastal operations in later years, Southern forces repeatedly showed courage, ingenuity, and unwavering commitment to the principles of states’ rights and self-government.

Today we honor the Southern patriots—soldiers, sailors, officers, and civilians—who answered the call with honor and resolve. Their legacy of bravery and sacrifice remains a vital part of American heritage.

Deo Vindice.

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The post Today in Confederate History – April 15, 1861 first appeared on Confederate States of America.

In the final marches and engagements leading to Appomattox, the Confederate Battle Flag — the familiar red field with the blue saltire and white stars — remained a proud and visible symbol of the Southern soldier’s devotion. Color bearers carried these flags on wooden staffs, secured not with modern grommets, but with the traditional fabric sleeve and cotton ties that allowed the banner to fly and drape naturally with the breeze and the rhythm of the march.

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The post Today in Confederate History: April 9, 1865 – Lee Surrenders at Appomattox first appeared on Confederate States of America.

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The post Authentic 1862 Reenactor Cotton Confederate Battle Flag – Now Only $59.95 (Limited Stock) first appeared on Confederate States of America.

EXTRACTS AND SUMMARY OF PART OF A TREATISE ON  
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS; 
HISTORY, POWERS, AND MODES OF PROCEEDING. 
BY 
JOHN ALEXANDER JAMIESON, LL. D. 
LATE JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. 
Copyright, 1887, 
BY JOHN A. JAiLESON.

The Riverside Prea, Camtmdgt: Blectrotyped and Printed by H. 0. Houghton & Co.

Republic art tee populi; Populus nutem non omnie bominum coitus qnoque modo congregatiu, Be-i cactus multttudlnis luris con««ensu et utllltatis communione eociatus.
—— CICERO, de Repub. 

They that go about by disobedience to do no more than reforme the commonwealth shall find that they do thereby destroy it.
—— HOBBU, Uviatkan. 

REVISED, CORRECTED, AND ENLARGED. CHICAGO: CALLAGHAN AND COMPANY. 
1887. 

Updated by Vance J. Beaudreau, Chief Justice Constitutional Court, Confederate States of America

There are differences in the types of conventions such as shown:
2007
SPONTANEOUS CONVENTIONS
STATE AUTHORIZED CONVENTION
REVOLUTIONARY CONVENTIONS
REVOLUTIONARY CONVENTIONS IN ENGLAND
REVOLUTIONARY CONVENTIONS IN FRANCE
REVOLUTIONARY CONVENTIONS IN COLONIAL AMERICA
STRICTLY REVOLUTIONARY CONVENTIONS IN AMERICA
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS
RESTRICTIVE REVOLUTIONARY CONVENTIONS

Early history of government shows a patriarchal beginning.  But due to the extremely long life spans of men in those pre flood days, Patriarchal Government became large and tribal and politics or favoritism began to enter the scene. 
The civil laws of the Ten Commandments of Moses began a basis for a system of laws and statutes  whether tribal or otherwise and evolved as a foundation of Western law.  It could be argued that the ten Commandments are themselves patriarchal under God, but there are different interpretations possible opening the door for various forms of government.  Groupings of tribes made up national governments under Kings who were champions of the people.  

As common law began to enter the scene the idea of representative government developed which did not necessarily depend upon patriarchy or monarchy or which helped constrain the excesses of monarchy.  Much development of common law occurred in England.

SPONTANEOUS CONVENTIONS

SPONTANEOUS CONVENTIONS, such  as those voluntary assemblages of citizens, which characterize somewhat free communities  in advanced stages of civilization, having for their purpose  agitation or conference in respect of their industrial, religious,  political, or other social interests. These gatherings are at once  the effects and the causes of social life and activity, doing for  the State what the waves do for the sea: they prevent stagnation,  the precursor of decay and death. They are among the  most efficient manufactures of public opinion; or, rather, they  are public opinion in the making, —— public opinion fit to be the  basis of political action, because sound and wise, and not a  mere echo of party cries and platforms. Spontaneous assemblages,  for such purposes, of the masses of a people, betoken a  very high state of civilization, or instincts that are sure to develop  into it. To be possible, in perfection, as we see them  amongst us, freedom  must be ripe and well-nigh universal. But  when rulers and social institutions do not favor them, to the occurrence at all would be necessary a native passion for liberty  strong enough to break all chains, and which could be daunted  by no perils. We are prepared, therefore, to believe that it is  only our own race, here and in England, that has thus far successfully  vindicated the right of freely assembling. This right  was asserted in England as early as the twelfth century, history  telling us of the ” conventus publicos propria authorilate, or  voluntary meetings of the people, under the protection of the  common law. With some fluctuations, as the work of social  development proceeded, this right became more firmly rooted in  the parent soil, and from it a vigorous scion was planted in  America, which has exhibited a still stronger vitality, and now  overspreads the land. A common and most invaluable provision  of our constitutions, State and Federal, guarantees to the  people the right ” peaceably to assemble and petition the government  for a redress of grievances.  The right, thus expressed in the Declaration of Independence:   “When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another , and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”
            “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.  That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

For a most excellent view of the vicissitudes of this right under the English Constitution, see May’s Constitutional History of England, Vol. II. ch. ix. * Hinton’s  Hist. United States, Vol. II. pp. 324, 325. ‘ May’s  Const. Hist. Eng., Vol. II. ch. ix.

STATE AUTHORIZED CONVENTIONS

A State  Authorized  Convention may be called by the State to bridge  over a chasm   between two orders of things: an order that has expired or been extinguished or otherwise failing; and an order emerging, under the  operation of existing social forces, to replace it which is a part of the apparatus of revolution or change of some degree in concert with the existing State establishment.  Such Convention may be operating outside of the authority of the Legislature or the executive of the State and yet be effectively a “State authorized Convention.” such as State registered Political party conventions  or  to approve some new measure desired by the State establishment or some emergency thus being a Constitutional type convention. If  there is State franchise for the convention  it should be called a Constitutional Convention     It consists of  those bodies of men who, in times of political crisis, assume, have cast upon them, provisionally, the function of government.  They either supplant or supplement the existing governmental  organization.

REVOLUTIONARY CONVENTIONS

This third type of species of Conventions may be a Spontaneous Convention being a convention called by disgruntled people without State support (sort of a mutiny against the State) being a “Revolutionary Convention” not franchised by the State.  In short, a  Revolutionary Convention is simply a PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT.  
A characteristic of this type of convention  is that they are dehors (beyond) the law; that they derive their powers from  necessity and from  revolutionary force and violence;  that they are possessed, accordingly, to an  indeterminate  extent, depending on the circumstances of each case, of governmental powers: finally, that they are not subaltern (controlled) or ancillary to  any other institution whatever, but lords paramount of the entire political domain. 

To this may be added, that there are of no  definite numbers or organization, comprising sometimes one  and sometimes several chambers, and composed indifferently of  ex-officers of the government that was, of persons possessing  neither office nor the qualifications requisite for it, nor even for  the elective franchise, or of a mixture of all of these together,  as chance may have tossed them to the surface.  The general  purpose of the Revolutionary Convention, moreover, is to bridge  over a chasm  between two orders of things: an order that has  expired or been extinguished, or become intolerable to the people and an order emerging, under the  operation of existing social forces, to replace it. In short, a  Revolutionary Convention is simply a PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT.

Examples of the Revolutionary Conventions have been  numerous in the political history of the world, and becoming  daily more so.  Among the most famous and, for our  purpose, the most important, are those held in England in 1660  and in 1689 and in the Republic of Texas in 1861.

REVOLUTIONARY CONVENTIONS IN ENGLAND

A royal writ was absolutely necessary in a State that had been traditionally monarchal. In these alarming crises, and as the  last  and only resource for temporary government, as well as for providing the initial points of new organizations, Conventions  were summoned. That called in 1660 consisted of persons  elected by the several constituencies of the realm, as for a lawful  parliament, but elected illegally, on the recommendation of a  rump of the old Parliament, which had been dispersed by the  army under Richard Cromwell, and, for that reason, as Macaulay observes, more accurately described as a Convention, as  having been called without the royal writ.
The Convention of  1689, summoned by the Prince of Orange, afterwards William  III., on his accession by force to the throne left vacant by  James II., consisted of persons elected in a similar manner, on  the call of the usurping prince, issued at the recommendation  of the lords spiritual and temporal at the time in London,  forming a quasi House of Lords, and of old members of the  House of Commons, together with the magistrates of the city  of London, acting as a House of Commons. This Convention,  also, though made up of members chosen by the electors for  members of Parliament, in their several districts, was not styled  or considered a Parliament, because called by a person not constitutionally  authorized, acting on the advice of an assembly,  which, though regarded by the nation with a large measure of  the respect due to a Parliament, on account of the eminence  and former official station of its members, was yet without a  shadow of legal  authority. The proceeding was revolutionary,  and so universally admitted to be. Such were the two great English  Conventions, the models after which most subsequent bodies  of the same class have been formed or organized, both in this  country and in Europe, and of which, as we shall see, our Constitutional  Conventions are special adaptations or modifications.  They were Provisional Governments,—— the only governments  England had during the periods of their existence. And for our  purpose it will be interesting to note further, that the English  Convention of 1689, having taken steps, as a revolutionary body,  to settle the succession to the throne, passed a bill declaring  itself to be a parliament, and from that time acted as such in  conjunction with the king it had itself called to the throne.2  1 Macaulay, Hist. Eng., Vol. I. eh. i.  2 Id. Vol. II. ch. xL 

REVOLUTIONARY CONVENTIONS IN FRANCE

One of the best known examples of the Revolutionary Convention  is the National Convention, by which was effected  the bloody overthrow of the old feudal monarchy of France at  the close of the last century. Enough has been said, however,  to show the characteristic features of an institution, too often, as  we shall see, confounded with the Constitutional Convention, to  which we discus later.  l Palfrey’s Hist. New Eng., Vol. III.  pp. 587-589. 

REVOLUTIONARY CONVENTIONS IN COLONIAL AMERICA

Interesting examples of the Revolutionary Convention  are  found  in U.S. history. The first occurred in New England  simultaneously with the English Convention of 1689, its  assembling being the result, in part, of the same causes which  led to that, but, in part, of causes local to New England. Both, However, were called and composed in a similar manner, and  organized after the same model, that of 1660, convened at the  time of the Restoration.
The leading facts in the history of that held in New England  are as follows : 
Whilst the tyrannical acts of James II. were, in England, exciting  the discontents which finally led to his abdication, those  of Sir Edmond Andros, the Governor of Massachusetts, were  arousing the fiercest opposition in New England, against both  the colonial and the imperial administrations. It is believed  that as early as January, 1689, before the news of the landing  of the Prince of Orange in England had reached the colony,  arrangements had been made in the latter to rise against the  unpopular governor. So soon as that news arrived an outbreak  occurred. On the 18th of April, a ” Declaration of the Gentlemen,  Merchants, and Inhabitants of Boston and the country  adjacent,” was published, recounting their oppressions, and announcing  their purpose to “seize upon the persons of those few- ill men which have been (next to our sins) the grand authors of  our miseries.” The governor and the magistrates and crown  officers adhering to him, were accordingly thrown into prison ;  the castle was occupied by colonial  militia, and an English frigate,  lying in the harbor, was forced to surrender.’
On the day  following this revolutionary outbreak, the leaders in the movement  with twenty-two others, whom they now associated, formed themselves into a Provisional Government, under the name of a ”  Council for the Safety of the People and Conservation of the  Peace.” Feeling the weakness of their position, since they ”  held their place neither by deputation from the sovereign nor ‘ by election of the people,” and hesitating to set up again the  charter, ” formally condemned by the King’s courts,” ” they decided  to call a Convention, to consist of two delegates from each  town in the jurisdiction, except Boston, which was to send four.”  This Convention met on the 9th of May, and attempted to put  i’Sue  133, pnit.  1 Palfrey’s Hist. New Eng., Vol. III.  pp. 574-587. 
A charter of government (a royal writ or declaration or constitution) may have been in force, but meeting with opposition from the magistrates,  steps were taken to call a second Convention with ”  express instructions from their towns.” Fifty-four towns sent  delegates to this latter Convention, the large majority of them  with instructions to insist on the resumption of the charter.  After two days’ debate, the governor and magistrates, chosen at  the last election under the charter, were prevailed upon “to assume  the trusts committed to them, and, in concert with the delegates  recently elected, to form a General Court,” or Legislature, ” and  administer the colony, for the present, according to the ancient  forms.” 
 Two days after this revolutionary government was established,  a ship arrived from England with the news that the revolution  there had succeeded, and bringing orders to the authorities to  proclaim King William and Queen Mary.  The Convention, organized as above stated, by which this  revolution was effected, was evidently of the species we have denominated  Revolutionary Conventions. It rested for its warrant  upon necessity, and sought its ends through force. It was a  government, intended to supplant another government, and not  merely a political institution designed to be subservient to a  government conceived of as existing in full activity. 
Thus the Revolutionary Convention became domesticated  in America. Since this first appearance, there have been  numerous others, a few during the colonial condition, but most  of them in the course of our two great civil revolutions, those  of 1776 and 1861. As we shall see subsequently,  most of the organizations, by which, under the names of ” Provincial  Conventions,” or ” Provincial Congresses,” the first of  those revolutions was consummated, and all of those by which  the late secession movement [of the Confederacy] was carried through, were strictly  Revolutionary Conventions.
 
One of the best known examples of the Revolutionary Convention  is the National Convention, by which was effected  the bloody overthrow of the old feudal monarchy of France at  the close of the last century. Enough has been said, however, to show the characteristic features of an institution, too often, as  we shall see, confounded with the Constitutional Convention, to  which we now pass. 
l Palfrey’s Hist. New Eng., Vol. III.  pp. 587-589. 

STRICTLY REVOLUTIONARY CONVENTIONS IN AMERICA

The Revolutionary Convention of 1776 dissolved the royal writ of government of King George of England and formed a common law Provisional Government called the Confederacy of the United States of America.  It resulted in an horrific war with England launched by King George of England and after the United States won the war they were granted a royal writ of independence and peace by King George of England, a document of subservience itself.
The current CSA is a restoration of an occupied  CSA Government via Constitutional Convention  methods.  The original Confederate States of America was the result of a Revolutionary Convention to dissolve an existing writ of a Government referred to as the “Union” and form a new government of several Southern States.  This resulted in an horrific war launched by Marxist Dictator Abraham Lincoln of the Union of the United States against the Southern States Confederacy.  No writ of independence and no peace treaty was ever signed. 

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS

The last species of the Convention is the CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. It differs from the last preceding, in  being, as its name implies, constitutional; not simply as having  for its object the framing or amending of Constitutions, but as  being within, rather than without, the pale of the fundamental  law; as ancillary and subservient and not hostile and paramount  to it. This species of Convention sustains an official relation to  the State, considered as a political organization. It is charged  with a definite, and not a discretionary and indeterminate, function.  It always acts under a commission, for a purpose ascertained  and limited by law or by custom. Its principal feature,  as contradistinguished from the Revolutionary Convention, is,  that at every step and moment of its existence, it is subaltern(controlled),  it is evoked by the side and at the call of a government preexisting  and intended to survive it, for the purpose of administering-   to its special needs. It never supplants the existing organization of ;  It never governs. Though called to look into and recommend  improvements in the fundamental laws, it enacts neither them  nor the statute law; and it performs no act of administration.  As John Randolph said in the Virginia Convention of 1829, it is  called as counsel to the people, “as a State physician, to propose  remedies for the State’s diseases.” But it is a physician  whose ministrations are confined to the extraordinary maladies  requiring a fundamental change in the Constitution, not to those  constantly recurring but petty disorders which demand the interposition  of the ordinary legislature. 
It is apparent that institutions, whose definitions thus  mutually exclude each other, cannot be the same, however similar the names by which they are popularly known.  But it may happen, (instances will be hereafter mentioned in  which it has happened,) that the Constitutional Convention   may, by usurpation, assume one or more of the powers of the  Revolutionary Convention ; or that the latter may exercise those  of the former. How, in such a case, is the usurping body to  be classed ? This question is one of great importance, but is  susceptible of a ready answer.   It is gratifying to be able to identify the distinctions herein made between Constitutional and Revolutionary Conventions by the authority of a  judge of the South Carolina Court of Appeals, in an opinion delivered upon  the hearing of the so-called allegiance cases. See the opinion of Mr. Justice  O’Neall, 2 Hill’s S. C. R., 222.

REVOLUTIONARY CONVENTIONS IN EARLY AMERICA.

A charter of government of sort being in force [a royal writ, a declaration or a constitution], but meeting with opposition from the magistrates,  steps were taken to call a second Convention with ”  express instructions from their towns.” Fifty-four towns sent  delegates to this latter Convention, the large majority of them  with instructions to insist on the resumption of the charter.  After two days’ debate, the governor and magistrates, chosen at  the last election under the charter, were prevailed upon “to assume  the trusts committed to them, and, in concert with the delegates  recently elected, to form a General Court,” or Legislature, ” and  administer the colony, for the present, according to the ancient  forms.” *  Two days after this revolutionary government was established,  a ship arrived from England with the news that the revolution  there had succeeded, and bringing orders to the authorities to  proclaim King William and Queen Mary.  The Convention, organized as above stated, by which this  revolution was effected, was evidently of the species denominated as Revolutionary Conventions. It rested for its warrant  upon necessity, and sought its ends through force. It was a  government, intended to supplant another government, and not  merely a political institution designed to be subservient to a  government conceived of as existing in full activity. 
Thus the Revolutionary Convention became domesticated  in America. Since this first appearance, there have been  numerous others, a few during the colonial condition, but most  of  them in the course of our two great civil revolutions, those  of 1776 and 1861.  Most of the organizations, by which, under the names of ” Provincial  Conventions,” or ” Provincial Congresses,” the first of  those revolutions was consummated, and all of those by which  the late secession movement was carried through, were strictly  Revolutionary Conventions. 

Review of a Strictly Revolutionary Convention  in Texas

TEXAS  SECESSION  FROM  THE  FEDERAL  UNION AND RE-STAFFING OF THE GOVERNMENT
Summary of Highlights by Vance J. Beaudreau, July 28, 2005

President Sam Houston of the Republic of Texas was a key factor in getting the Republic of Texas to join the union as a State on February 19, 1846 during 1845.  Many Texans, however, opposed joining the union, but President Houston prevailed.  Years later, Houston became a Governor of the State of Texas.  

When South Carolina pulled out of the union in December 1860 due to the election of Marxist Abraham Lincoln, Texan began insisting for Texas to secede as well, but Governor Houston stonewalled the requests of the people.  This prompted a Texas Supreme Court Justice to contact a few of his friends around the State and suggest that they organize a Constitutional Convention.  This they did.  On Jan.29, 1861, Delegates to a Texas Constitutional Convention voted 96.2% for secession.  Three days later, on Feb. 1, 1861, the Texas Constitutional Convention then voted 95.4% for a formal ordinance of secession repealing and annulling the Texas annexation laws of 1845 and they sent delegates to Montgomery, Alabama to participate in  establishing the Confederate States of America.

Shortly after the Feb. 1, 1861 vote for a formal ordinance of secession the Constitutional Convention became a Revolutionary Convention formed a Committee of Public Safetywhich ordered the forced removal of 2,800 federal troops in Texas and the seizure of all Federal property.  The Constitutional Convention adjourned Feb. 4, 1861 after calling for a public referendum.  The Texas Legislature refused to interfere with the Constitutional Convention recognizing them as the ultimate political power in the State and the Legislature turned the State house over to the Convention.

On Feb. 23, 1861, Texas Citizens in a public referendum, ratified secession by a vote of  75.8%.

On March 5, 1861, the Secessionist Revolutionary Convention reassembled and took further steps in the process of transforming their State government from a State of the Federal Union into a State of the Confederacy.  A new 1861 Texas Constitution* similar to the Constitution of 1845 was written and all State officials were required to take an oath of loyalty.   Governor Sam Houston, refused the oath so the Constitutional Convention declared his office vacant and removed Houston as Governor.  His office was filled by Lieutenant Governor, Edward Clark who did sign the loyalty oath to the Confederate State of Texas.

Between 1861 and 1865 Texas supplied 115,000 troops to the Confederate Army and Navy and the Federal Union never won a significant battle in Texas.

*Article I. — Bill of Rights. Section 1, 1861 Texas Constitution as also in 1845 Constitution.
“All Political power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their benefit; and they have at all times the inalienable right to alter, reform, or abolish their form of government, in such manner as they may think expedient; and, therefore, no government or authority can exist or exercise power within the State of Texas, without the consent of the people thereof previously given; nor after that consent be withdrawn.” 

This is how it was with a State that had been a fledgling nation of its own which had a voting population of about 210, 830 at the time of this Constitutional Convention when this small group of men (177) effectively fired Governor Sam Houston and changed the State from the Union to the Confederacy.  The Constitutional Convention ratified their actions with a public referendum where a majority supported secession.  (75.8% which was well in excess of a majority vote.)

Fortunately for us, we do not have to take those steps as they were taken by our forefathers and need not be done again.  All that is needed is for a responsible group of C.S.A. Registered Citizens to meet in a Constitutional Convention to re-staff the existing Texas Confederate State government.  A majority of the eligible voters (C.S.A. Registered Citizens) would be required to elect, re-staff the empty Governmental offices and pass resolutions for government authority and actions.  The actual number therefore of affirmative votes required depends upon the total number of eligible voters.  To be reasonably representative, voters should come from various parts of Texas.  A minimum, for appearance sake then, would be between 25 and 50 voters.

While that sounds small, consider the Gideon number of 300 is needed to achieve success.  That works out to about 15-20 per State and 5-19  per Territory.  These are the valiant and the wise similar to those the Lord had Gideon pick to defeat the invading nation of the Midianites and their army of 135,000 troops.  With that many in each State and territory we can re-staff the CSA State and Territorial Governments legally.  Then, we can build upon this by adding thousands of Citizens.

There is a limit to the amount of irrigation a farmer should put on land preparing for the planting of an orchard.  Eventually, he must plant at least a few trees and then irrigate those and take care of the land keeping the weeds down.  He can then add more trees later more easily.  Such is the case with the re-staffing of our State Confederate Governments and then with the resurrection of our national Confederate States of America.  We can do it with 300 valiant men.

(See the Texas Senate Resolution #526 dated March 30, 1999 regarding the Confederacy 
RESTRICTIVE REVOLUTIONARY CONVENTIONS

Restrictive  Revolutionary Convention is what the delegates from the current Confederate States have called for. That is the Convention is restrictive to C.S.A. Citizens only and it  is revolutionary because the States holding such Convention will be re-staffing their still existing Confederate State Governments under the occupation of fictitious Federal States also called satellite states.  It is possible for this revolution to proceed without  military hostility culminating in a Constitutional Convention of the States’ delegates resulting in the re-staffing of the national C.S.A. Senate and the Constitutional resurrection of the Confederate States of America with goals of gaining a suitable peace treaty with the United States of America including trade and possible security agreements. Because there can be much economic and civil turmoil in the meanwhile an intrim govrnment has been ordered by the Constitutional Court and is now in place subject to fulfillment of the plan of liberation.

We must Avoid adopting the Federal Union establishment of political party limitations or other non jurisdictional rules, etc.
As part of Reconstruction the Federal Union established rules making it nearly impossible for third parties  to enter the political field.  They are supposed to register and be controlled by the Federal election code. In 2000 A.D. the Southern Independence Party was established and we organized State SIPs in some 10 states and registered with the Satellite States involved.  We did not register with the Federal Election Board because we were not entering into any Federal elections.
It soon became obvious that we were not going to have 10 or 15 years required to become a force in the political party fashion, but 7 states sent delegates to Jackson Mississippi where they authorized the formation of the Constitutional Court and they elected Justices thereto as well.

CHRONOLOGY OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS LEADING TO THE CREATION OF THE FEDERATION OF STATES AND THE RESTORATION OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA.

1  March 4, 2000, New Braunfels, Texas – Hotel Faust
The First Caucus of the Southern Party of Texas, in New Braunfels
under Jerry Baxley with the SPEC and Madison Cook with the SNC

1  May 6, 2000 – A Constitutional Convention was held in Bryan, Texas to Approve a new Southern Party Constitution to be presented at the national Convention of the Southern Party to be held in Charleston, South Carolina for ratification.

2  June 10, 2000 – State Convention of the Southern Party of Texas held a Second Constitutional Convention adopting the Southern Independence Party (SIP) Constitution.  This was to be offered in our own Convention if Texas got thrown out of Baxley’s Convention which we had heard might occur.

3  July 4, 2000 Third Convention of the Revolutionary species occurred where the FEDERATION OF STATES Formed to promote the SIP, Southern Independence Party, nationally to the various Southern States to replace the Southern Party of Jerry Baxley..   Legal creation of the FEDERATION OF STATES and its Trust by Carole Moore, Chairwoman of Independent Southern Party of Arkansas and Dennis Joyce, Chairman of the Southern Party of Texas in Atoka, Oklahoma.   Meeting was witnessed by Vance J. Beaudreau who served as secretary.  Dennis Joyce was named as National Chairman.

4  July 27-28, 2000 Birmingham, Alabama- Wynfry Hotel.   Fourth Constitutional Convention and First National Constitutional Convention of the Federation of Statespromoting the Southern Independence Party held in Wynfry Hotel in Birmingham two days prior to the public National Convention of the SPA.  Mississippi and Florida were present and joining the Federation.

5  May 10-11, 2001, Jackson, Mississippi, The Edison Walthall Hotel Fifth Constitutional Convention and Second National Convention of the FEDERATION OF STATES.  The Round Table of State Chairmen (Federation Councilors) present included, Vernon Ray White of Mississippi, Joe Gresham of Kentucky and Vance J. Beaudreau of Louisiana.  Mick Hubbard of Alabama, Carol Moore of Arkansas, Kenneth Mead II of Missouri, Dennis Joyce of Texas and Nathan Jesse Blue Forrest of Virginia attended by telephone.  The CONSTITUTIONAL COURT of the Federation of States was established and Vance Beaudreau, Dennis Joyce, Kenneth Mead II, Joe Gresham and Nathan Jesse Blue Forrest were elected as Justices and Nathan Forrest was elected as Chief Justice.

6  May 12, 2001, Jackson, Mississippi, The Edison Walthall Hotel – During the Sixth Constitutional Convention, an ORGANIZING CONVENTION OF THE SOUTHERN INDEPENDENCE PARTY (National SIP) was held with two Delegates from each Federated State being invited.  The Delegates voted to accept the Constitution of the Southern Independence Party and CERTIFIED it for the Ratification Process which would require the assent by six (6) of the eight (8) Federated States.  It was ratified by seven States. the purpose of the Federation of States was to bring to pass the restoration of the Confederate States of America.

The Confederate States of America is not a political party, but a Government which never surrendered and which has no peace treaty with the occupying nation, the United States and therefore still existed in a dormant stage.

The CSA is not bound by laws and rules established by the Occupying nation, the U.S.A. since they lack jurisdiction over the territory of the South who did not surrender nor sign any treaty with the Federal Union.

The Constitutional Court decided early in the struggle that a representative number  required  for  liberation should be based upon the Gideon  number of 300 men of Gideon type divided up for the States according to their apportionment.  For Florida for example the number is 30 which is 75% of the 40 needed for a representative  in each of the Senatorial districts.  These goals are admittedly spiritual in nature, but are a solid basis for representative Revolutionary Conventions.  See Judges 7:1-22, in particular, and Judges 8:10.

On November 1,2006 the Constitutional Court ordered the establishment of the Office of Registration to begin a program of registering citizens to restore the government of the Confederate States of America.

On August 25, 2007 the Constitutional Court ordered the Congressional 1861 C.S.A. Acts 24,26, 29, 43 & 48 observed as organization of Thirteen States and 10 Territories was underway with citizen enrollment working towards their respective Gideon numbers to hold State Constitutional Conventions.

A series of Court Orders followed for the organization of an interim provisional Government for the national Confederate States of America and a Security Council was organized followed by a Department of Defense, a Department of War, a State Department, a Confederate Intelligence Bureau, a Department of Justice, and a Treasury Branch were established to prepare for a Convention of Confederate States to re-staff the Senate and fulfill the plan of liberation.

Buy Texas history flags at USPatriotFlags.com.

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The Confederate Battle Flag, often called the Southern Cross or Rebel Flag, stands as a powerful symbol of Southern heritage, embodying resilience, pride, and the storied history of the Confederacy. For those embracing their identity as a modern Confederate, celebrating Southern culture with authenticity and style is key. One of the most iconic ways to express this pride is by flying a high-quality Confederate Battle Flag from US Patriot Flags. Drawing on the rich history detailed in The Story of the Confederate Battle Flag and the legacy of leaders like General P.G.T. Beauregard, this guide explores how to honor Southern traditions while displaying your flag with respect and Southern charm.

1. Understand the Flag’s Historical Significance

The Confederate Battle Flag, designed by William Porcher Miles and championed by General P.G.T. Beauregard after the First Battle of Manassas in 1861, was created to distinguish Confederate troops from Union forces in the chaos of battle, as detailed in The Story of the Confederate Battle Flag. This flag, featuring a blue diagonal cross with white stars on a red field, became the Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia, not the national flag of the Confederacy. As noted in the biography of General P.G.T. Beauregard, Beauregard’s concern over the similarity between the Confederate “Stars and Bars” and the U.S. flag led to the creation of this iconic design, first sewn by women like Constance Cary using silk from their dresses.

The flag’s emotional weight is captured by Union Major General Chamberlain at Appomattox in 1865, who described Confederate soldiers “tenderly folding their flags, battle-worn and torn, blood-stained, heart-holding colors.” For many today, it represents Southern heritage and the virtues of persistence and loyalty, as Rev. Randolph Harrison McKim declared in 1904: “We must forevermore consecrate in our hearts our old battle flag of the Southern Cross—not now as a political symbol, but as the consecrated emblem of an heroic epoch.” Yet, its complex history can evoke strong emotions. As a modern Confederate, display the flag with knowledge and sensitivity, focusing on heritage and unity, as Beauregard did in his post-war efforts toward reconciliation.

2. Choose a Quality Confederate Battle Flag

To express Southern pride, select a durable, American-made Confederate Battle Flag from US Patriot Flags. These flags honor the craftsmanship of the original prototypes sewn in 1861, which used vibrant silk in shades like pink due to limited red dyes, as noted in The Story of the Confederate Battle Flag. US Patriot Flags offers a range of options:

•  Material Choices: Choose double-stitched nylon for outdoor durability, polyester for affordability, or cotton for a historical look.

•  Sizes and Styles: Select 3×5 ft. flags for home display or smaller versions for vehicles or events. Variants like the Confederate Naval Jack or state-specific flags (e.g., Texas or Louisiana) add a personal touch.

•  Historical Variants: Explore designs like the reversed-color Taylor Battle Flag used in the Trans-Mississippi region, reflecting the diversity of Confederate flags.

Purchasing from US Patriot Flags supports American artisans and comes with a 365-day satisfaction guarantee, ensuring your flag is a proud emblem of heritage.

3. Display Your Flag with Southern Flair

Flying the Confederate Battle Flag is a bold statement of heritage, and doing so with Southern style enhances its impact. Here are ways to integrate it into your lifestyle:

•  Home Display: Mount your flag on a sturdy pole in your yard or hang it on your porch, paired with Southern elements like a rocking chair or mason jar lantern. Display it properly, as soldiers did under Beauregard’s orders in 1861, to honor its battlefield legacy.

•  Vehicle Pride: Use a car flag or sticker for road trips or tailgates. Smaller flags from US Patriot Flags are ideal for this purpose.

•  Heritage Events: Bring your flag to Civil War reenactments or Southern festivals, where its historical significance, tied to leaders like Beauregard, shines. Learn more about the Confederacy’s formation at The Founding Day of the Confederate States of America.

•  Complementary Symbols: Pair your Battle Flag with other historical flags, like the First National Confederate Flag, to reflect the Confederacy’s early days in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1861.

Keep your flag clean and untattered to honor the soldiers who carried it, as described in historical accounts of its reverence.

4. Live the Southern Lifestyle

Being a modern Confederate means embracing the South’s timeless traditions beyond the flag, inspired by the vision of the Confederacy’s founders, as outlined in The Founding Day of the Confederate States of America. Incorporate these cultural elements:

•  Southern Hospitality: Host gatherings with dishes like cornbread, gumbo, or peach cobbler, echoing the community spirit of the delegates in Montgomery who formed the Confederacy in 1861. Share stories of your Southern roots, reflecting the camaraderie noted by Chamberlain after Appomattox.

•  Music and Culture: Celebrate Southern music, from gospel to country, which carries the spirit of the South’s resilience. Bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd once embraced the flag’s imagery, connecting it to cultural pride.

•  Historical Engagement: Visit battlefields like Manassas, where Beauregard secured victory in 1861, or join reenactment groups to honor the soldiers who carried the Battle Flag. Explore Beauregard’s role in this victory at General P.G.T. Beauregard.

•  Community Connection: Engage with heritage organizations to connect with others who share your pride, continuing the legacy of figures like Robert Barnwell Rhett and Howell Cobb, who shaped the Confederacy’s founding.

5. Navigate Controversy with Respect

The Confederate Battle Flag’s complex history, as detailed in The Story of the Confederate Battle Flag, can spark debate. Approach discussions with grace, emphasizing its role as a symbol of heritage and the virtues McKim described: loyalty to the South’s heroic past while being “truer and better citizens of the United States.” Highlight its creation under Beauregard to solve battlefield confusion at Manassas, and draw inspiration from his post-war efforts toward racial reconciliation in Louisiana, as noted in his biography.

Conclusion

Embracing your identity as a modern Confederate is about celebrating the South’s heritage with pride, style, and respect. By flying a high-quality Confederate Battle Flag from US Patriot Flags, you honor the legacy of leaders like General P.G.T. Beauregard, who shaped its creation, and the delegates who founded the Confederacy in 1861. Pair this display with a vibrant Southern lifestyle—hospitality, music, and community—to keep the South’s spirit alive. As McKim said, “We must forevermore cherish the sacred memories of those four terrible but glorious years.” Learn more about Beauregard’s contributions at General P.G.T. Beauregard and the Confederacy’s origins at The Founding Day of the Confederate States of America. For further flag history, visit US Patriot Flags.

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On June 1, 1861, the Confederacy suffered its first officer casualty when Captain John Quincy Marr was killed in action at the Battle of Fairfax Court House, Virginia. Leading the Warrenton Rifles, Marr was fatally struck during a surprise encounter with Union cavalry. This brief but poignant engagement marked the first land battle of the Civil War resulting in death—foreshadowing the heavy cost of the conflict ahead.

General Robert E. Lee Assumes Command

One year later, on June 1, 1862, General Robert E. Lee officially assumed command of the Army of Northern Virginia, following the wounding of General Joseph E. Johnston at the Battle of Seven Pines. Lee’s ascension marked a turning point in Confederate fortunes. Under his command, the army would achieve a series of daring victories that earned Lee admiration both within the South and among his adversaries.

Battle of Cold Harbor Begins

On June 1, 1864, the initial clashes of the Battle of Cold Harbor began near Mechanicsville, Virginia. Confederate forces under General Lee engaged Union troops commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant. Though the full-scale assault would follow days later, the early encounters laid the groundwork for what became one of the war’s bloodiest—and most lopsided—battles. Lee’s defensive tactics again stalled Grant’s advance, preserving Richmond for a time.

John Bell Hood Appointed to Army of Tennessee

Also notable in Confederate command history, June 1 marks the formal appointment of General John Bell Hood as commander of the Army of Tennessee in 1864. Though controversial for his aggressive style and physical limitations following earlier battlefield wounds, Hood’s leadership became pivotal during the latter stages of the war in the Western Theater. His appointment reflected the Confederacy’s urgent need for boldness in the face of increasing pressure from Union advances.

Reflection

June 1 stands as a symbol of both sacrifice and leadership in the Confederate story—marked by the fall of its first officer, the rise of Robert E. Lee, and the bloodshed at Cold Harbor. Each event reveals a different facet of the Southern struggle: from bold beginnings to costly defense and desperate command shifts. These moments echo the turbulent heart of a nation fighting for its vision of sovereignty.n Confederate history, marking both the first officer’s death in combat and the rise of General Lee’s command. These moments highlight the sacrifices and leadership that shaped the Confederacy’s military endeavors.

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Additionally, on May 30, 1861, Confederate forces raised the scuttled USS Merrimack at the Gosport Naval Yard in Norfolk, Virginia. This vessel would later be transformed into the ironclad CSS Virginia, playing a pivotal role in naval warfare. American Civil War Forums

These events underscore the strategic challenges and adaptations faced by the Confederacy during the Civil War.

The post May 30th Confederate History first appeared on Confederate States of America.

The First Guns of War

Beauregard emblazoned his name into history when he commanded the Confederate bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861—an action that ignited the Civil War. Ironically, the Union commander defending the fort, Major Robert Anderson, had been Beauregard’s artillery instructor at West Point. It was a moment of deep personal and national symbolism.

Beauregard and the Birth of the Confederate Battle Flag

One of General Beauregard’s enduring contributions to Confederate iconography was his instrumental role in the creation of the Confederate battle flag. Following the First Battle of Bull Run, Beauregard expressed serious concern over the similarity between the Confederate national flag—the “Stars and Bars”—and the U.S. Stars and Stripes, particularly amid the smoke and chaos of battle. Alongside General Joseph E. Johnston and Congressman William Porcher Miles, Beauregard helped design a new field banner to distinguish Confederate troops. The result was the now-familiar Southern Cross, featuring a bold diagonal blue saltire with white stars on a red field.

The first prototypes were sewn by women visiting Beauregard’s army using silk from their personal dresses. These earliest flags carried shades of pink rather than crimson, giving them a uniquely delicate appearance. Though initially informal, Beauregard’s persistence in promoting the design led to its widespread adoption. Over time, it became the defining symbol of the Confederacy on the battlefield and not just for his army, but for the South as a whole.

While stationed in winter quarters, Beauregard continued to advocate bold military strategies, including an invasion of Maryland aimed at the rear of Washington, D.C. His plans were rejected, and tensions with Confederate leadership escalated. He clashed with Commissary General Lucius B. Northrop over supply shortages and drew the ire of President Jefferson Davis by publicly criticizing decisions he felt hindered his army’s potential, particularly after Bull Run. Despite the friction, Beauregard’s legacy in shaping the Confederate war effort—and its most enduring banner—remains indisputable.

Victory at First Manassas

Just months later, Beauregard achieved his greatest tactical success at the First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) in July 1861. Alongside General Joseph E. Johnston, he delivered the South its first major battlefield victory, electrifying the Southern public and bolstering morale. His knack for battlefield coordination and use of railroads to shift troops rapidly marked him as a military innovator.

A Mind for Strategy, A Heart for the South

Although brilliant, Beauregard’s tenure was not without friction. He often clashed with Confederate President Jefferson Davis over strategy and seniority. Nevertheless, he continued to serve loyally in pivotal roles, including at Shiloh, Corinth, and later defending Charleston, South Carolina—where his skill in fortifications and defensive warfare prolonged Confederate control of the vital port far longer than expected.

Post-War Patriot and Reformer

After the war, Beauregard promoted civil rights and worked for racial reconciliation in Louisiana, a position that surprised many of his contemporaries. He served as a railroad executive and advocated for modernization in the South, proving that his vision extended beyond the battlefield.

Beauregard’s Legacy

P.G.T. Beauregard remains a symbol of Southern resilience, ingenuity, and complexity. From Fort Sumter to his calls for unity in Reconstruction-era Louisiana, he was a man of action, thought, and purpose. His legacy endures not only in monuments and memorials but in the very narrative of a people who once rose to chart their own course in American history.

Let us remember him not just for the battles he fought, but for the enduring spirit of defiance and dignity he carried through every chapter of his life.

General P.G.T. Beauregard – Profile

Birth name	Pierre Gustave Toutant-Beauregard
Nicknames	Little Black Frenchman, Little Frenchman, Little Napoleon, Little Creole, Bory, Felix, Hero of Fort Sumter
Born	May 28, 1818, St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	February 20, 1893 (aged 74), New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Buried	Tomb of the Army of Tennessee, Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Allegiance	United States, Confederate States
Service / branch	United States Army, Confederate Army
Years of service	1838–1861 (U.S.), 1861–1865 (C.S.)
Rank	Brevet Major (U.S.), General (C.S.)
Commands	Army of the Potomac, Army of Mississippi
Battles/wars	Mexican–American War: Contreras, Churubusco, Mexico City, Chapultepec Civil War: Fort Sumter, First Bull Run, Shiloh, Corinth, Charleston Harbor, Petersburg, Bentonville
Alma mater	United States Military Academy (BS)
Spouse(s)	Marie Antoinette Laure Villeré (m. 1841; died 1850), Caroline Deslonde (m. 1860; died 1864)
Children	3
Signature

The post General P.G.T. Beauregard: The Grand Strategist of the Confederacy first appeared on Confederate States of America.

Here are ten key differences that separate the two foundational documents:

1. Sovereignty of States
   The Confederate Constitution begins by stating that “each State acting in its sovereign and independent character” established the new government. This places primary authority in the individual states, unlike the U.S. Constitution’s “We the People,” which implies a more unified national identity.
2. Presidential Term Limit
   The Confederate President served a single, non-renewable six-year term. This was intended to reduce political entrenchment and prevent the executive from becoming too powerful.
3. Line-Item Veto
   A major power not granted to the US President, the Confederate President could strike out specific portions of appropriations bills, allowing for greater control over government spending. A sort poke in the eye and refinement to the Yankee constitution.
4. Explicit Protection of Slavery
   While the U.S. Constitution avoided using the word “slavery,” the Confederate document openly protected the institution and banned any laws that would impair it in Confederate territories.
5. Cabinet Members in Congress
   The Confederate government permitted cabinet officers to also hold seats in Congress, encouraging direct communication between branches but blurring the separation of powers.
6. Ban on Protective Tariffs
   The Confederate Constitution expressly forbade protective tariffs, reflecting Southern priorities favoring low taxes and free trade.
7. Limited Federal Internal Improvements
   Federal funding for internal improvements such as roads and canals was restricted unless they were deemed absolutely necessary for inter-state commerce, further strengthening states’ control over infrastructure.
8. Sound Money Provisions
   The Confederate government was limited in its ability to issue paper currency. There was a preference for a metallic standard, aimed at preventing inflation and promoting economic stability.
9. Amendment Process
   Like the U.S. system, amendments required a two-thirds majority in Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states. However, the Confederate process had no provision for constitutional conventions, limiting the pathways for change.
10. Direct Mention of God
    The Confederate preamble contains the phrase “invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God,” a religious invocation absent from the U.S. Constitution.

These distinctions underscore the ideological goals of the Confederacy: a decentralized government, limited federal authority, and the legal entrenchment of slavery. While the Confederate Constitution mirrored much of the U.S. framework, its changes reflect the stark political and cultural divides that led to the Civil War.

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You can read the full Confederate Constitution here.
For historic flags from the era, visit our Confederate Flag Collection.

The post 10 Key Differences Between the U.S. and Confederate Constitutions You Never Knew first appeared on Confederate States of America.

What Makes a Flag “Cool”?

A flag isn’t just a piece of fabric—it’s a symbol of identity, history, and defiance. Whether it’s flown from your front porch, displayed in a man cave, or taken to rallies, a truly cool flag commands attention and sparks conversation. The best flags tell a story, and for many, that story is one of independence, heritage, and a rebellious spirit.

The Rebel Spirit Lives On

If you’re looking for a cool flag that represents freedom and rebellion, the Confederate and Southern heritage flags at USPatriotFlags.com cool flags are exactly what you need. These flags are more than just historical artifacts; they symbolize resilience, heritage, and the fighting spirit of the past. Among the top picks are:

• Classic Confederate Battle Flag – The instantly recognizable red field with the blue St. Andrew’s cross is one of the most famous symbols of the South.
• Bonnie Blue Flag – A powerful symbol of Southern independence and pride.
• Gadsden Flag (Don’t Tread on Me) – A historic warning against tyranny and a rallying call for personal freedom.
• The Southern Cross Variants – Various versions of the Confederate flag that showcase different interpretations of Southern heritage and pride.
• Rebel-Themed Novelty Flags – Combining the spirit of the Confederacy with modern designs, perfect for showing off a fearless attitude.
• Ukrainian Trident Flag Controversy – This flag has ruffled some feathers but it is definitely in the category of Cool Flags! The Tryzub has stood for rebellion against tyranny for centuries.

Cool flags are Not Just for the History Buffs

Cool flags aren’t just about historical significance. Many people collect and fly flags simply because they look amazing and represent something meaningful to them. Whether you’re into the rugged, battle-worn aesthetic or just want a flag that stands out, these designs are guaranteed to turn heads.

Plus, the high-quality craftsmanship of flags from cool flags ensures they last through tough conditions, whether you’re flying them outdoors or displaying them indoors.

Where to Find the Best Cool Flags

If you’re searching for badass flags that showcase both heritage and rebellion, check out the full selection at cool flags. There, you’ll find a diverse range of cool flags to fit every taste, from classic Confederate battle flags to unique rebel variations that celebrate history with bold colors and striking designs.

No matter what your style is, one thing is certain—flying a cool flag is about making a statement. Whether it’s honoring your ancestors, celebrating Southern heritage, or just showing off a flag that looks awesome, there’s something for everyone in the cool flags collection.

Check out the full collection today and find the perfect flag to showcase your spirit!

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