Dixie tradition kept alive in Brazil enclave[Confederate immigrants]

The Washington Times ^ | 02 Oct 2007 | Anton Foek

[BGHater]

AMERICANA, Brazil

Now well past 90, Judith MacKnight Jones is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, the illness that robbed her of all of her memory, her most precious asset.

She has been lying here for the past 11 years, covered by a patchwork blanket, made from pieces her great-grandmother brought from the United States between 1865 and 1885, after the Confederacy lost the Civil War.

Unable to speak or remember now, her book "Soldado Descanso" ("Rest Soldier") is written in Portuguese, but soon will be translated into English, as the publisher thinks Americans should know about the proud history of Confederate immigrants settling in Brazil, finding a new home here but maintaining many of the traditions they brought from Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, the Carolinas and Georgia.

Her daughter-in-law, Heloisa Jones, said patchwork is only one of the values the Americans have brought.

This blanket is not just any patchwork, she said, "these pieces are very old and reflect a valuable tradition," she said.

"Over a century old and symbolizing our heritage, the flight from our homelands, it is extremely important to keep it that way. I teach my children and grandchildren the American values our ancestors have brought with them. And I expect them to teach their children and grandchildren the same," she said.

Every spring, hundreds of the descendants of the soldiers who lost the war against the North go to the cemetery they call O Campo. They party and meet dressed in traditional costumes, staging shows, singing Southern songs like "When the Saints Come Marching In" or "Oh Susannah," playing banjos and blowing trumpets, the men eventually getting drunk on home-brewed beer.

[BGHater]

Tradition is strong in Americana, Brazil, and surrounding towns, where American values are abundant but where the immigrants have learned about Brazilian values as well. Books are an important source of information about the migration of U.S. Confederate soldiers and their families to Brazil after the war. The title, in Portuguese, translates to "Rest, Soldier."

Some classics:

She said Northerners are welcome but still frowned upon. If, for example, the U.S. ambassador or consul-general from Sao Paulo visits and is a Northerner, he probably will be received differently than if he were from the South.

Mrs. MacKnight-Jones writes that she learned from her parents not to name Abraham Lincoln by his name, but only as "that man."

[Red Badger]

...for example, the U.S. ambassador or consul-general from Sao Paulo visits and is a Northerner, he probably will be received differently than if he were from the South.

Same here...........LOL!!!....

[wideawake]

It must have been a great consolation to her defeated ancestors that in Brazil they were still able to enjoy the precious right to own other people for another 23 years - until the party was ruined once again.

[-=SoylentSquirrel=-]

No need for you to be hateful.

[popdonnelly]

Slavery hasn’t been American since 1865. That’s a very good thing.

[353FMG]

I still remember when the country was populated by Damn Yankees and F**king Rebels. Yet, even with the mock animosity between the two groups, there was more national unity than what we have now. Nobody was concerned about diversity and multiculturalism.

[DirtyPigpen]

You are so right. That is the only reason Southerner’s stood up to the US Gov’t in 1862. At least they got another 23 years.

[Red Badger]

We all got along very well until someone from “outside” started something.............

[RedMonqey]

Spoken like a pair of truly poor-mannered, ill-bred yankees...

[DirtyPigpen]

Don’t include me!!! I forgot the sarc on/off tag.

[AppyPappy]

Another 23 years of mortal sin.

[Andy'smom]

What an interesting post!

[Riverman94610]

Its a legitimate question to ask the emigres about their policy on slavery while in Brazil.
Most pro-Confederates swear the Civil War was about State’s Rights,not slavery or white supremacy.In fact,they often brag about the free blacks who fought on the Southern side.
OK,fine.Then should we assume that those who migrated to Brazil had no slaves and,more likely,had a number of black freedmen WITH them as they built this new settlement?

[dynachrome]

Maybe you could invite some of these guys to one of the re-enactments

[wordsofearnest]

Bless your heart!

[PeaRidge]

Southerners did not stand up to the US government in 1861 over slavery. They did not need to.

On March 2, 1861, the 2d session of the Thirty-sixth U.S. Congress, passed a constitutional amendment that would prohibit the Constitution from ever being altered in its protection of slavery which had been affirmed in the Dred Scott decision.

This was a Northern effort, drafted by Congressman Thomas Corwin of Ohio. It was immediately endorsed by President James Buchanan, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, and on March 4, 1861, Republican President, Abraham Lincoln of Illinois, hurried to endorse it in his first inaugural address.

It therefore enjoyed bipartisanship support and the backing by two Northern born and bred Presidents.

The congressionally ratified 13th (also known as the Corwin Amendment) said the following:

“No amendment shall be made to the Constitution which will authorize or give to Congress the power to abolish or interfere, within any state, with the domestic institutions thereof, including that of persons held to labor or service by the laws of said state.”

“I have no objection to its being made express and irrevocable,” would be Lincoln’s response in his first inaugural address, March 4, 1861.

So, who was wanting slavery protected after all?

[AppyPappy]

Many Southerners viewed the ownership of human beings to be a basic human right. My ancestors did. However, these were different times. Indentured Servitude was still in practice which is a basic form of slavery. Slaves could buy their freedom and owners were expected to honor that right.

Slavery was practiced in the US until the 1940’s. We just called it different names. The real crime was the practice of oppressing people based on their skin color. Slavery was part of that oppression.

[kalee]

recent unpleasantness ping

[Squantos]

CW Ping !!

[RedMonqey]

Thank you kindly.