Jefferson Davis, Never Tried for Treason

Jefferson Davis's statue on Monument Ave. in Richmond came down last night. Good. We do not honor traitors against our nation who lead rebellion's against our duly elected federal government.

This news item led me to explore more the life history of Davis. Found that a jury panel of 12 white and 12 black men was assembled in 1867 for the purpose of trying Davis for treason. The trial never happened, and by Christmas 1868 Pres. Andrew Johnson declared amnesty for all involved "in the late rebellion" for the sake of "reconciliation" of North and South and Davis was released a free man in early 1869.

I find this picture intriguing. Here, in the former capital of the confederacy, men (yes, it's gendered--shame!) of both races, equally divided, posed for a photo with hands of mutual respect and affection placed on one another, rubbing shoulders seemingly with no concern for "propriety" of the "racial etiquette" which would be harshly reimposed under Jim Crow shortly after.

Had this picture remained the norm, and had the rebels been tried, convicted, served their terms, did their penance, and REAL reconciliation of the races been the focus (rather than of the regions), that statue of Davis might've never gone up in 1907 and symbolized the returning reign of White Supremacy for well over a century.