Webmaster's Note: This commentary is written in response to an article written by Dr. Grady McWhiney entitled, Jefferson Davis - Our Greatest Hero and subsequent commentary posted on Southern Heritage News and Views.

Nelson Waller brings up a very good point. One that needs to be addressed and disseminated as widely as possible.

As a sidebar, some of you may recall the lady from Virginia (Erenestine Harrison) who started petitions to rename two schools in Hampton, VA, that were named to honor Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis. Georgia activist Billy Bearden (a Virginia native and alumnus of Jefferson Davis middle school) opened a correspondence with her and together with many others persuaded her that Lee was worthy of the honor, however Ms. Harrison remained temporarily unsure about President Davis. A group of us continued correspondence with Ms. Harrison until she finally agreed that Jefferson Davis was also worthy of the honor as a great American. Ms. Harrison withdrew the petition to change the school's names. Unfortunately, many people gain a wholly distorted view of Davis, Lee and Southern Heritage in general and then fail to do the research and homework that Ms. Harrison did to arrive at the truth.

What I will do here is convey some random knowledge of the question of Jefferson Davis and slavery. A much more comprehensive thesis could be done with with source research, bibliography, etc. Some of these points would obviously surface in greater detail and would certainly serve to aid other defenders of Davis and the South when future inevitable attacks are made on their character.

Most of Jefferson Davis' public references to slavery were associated with the rights of the states and people under the 10th Amendment. He seldom addressed slavery in and of itself except as a constitutional issue.

He held private beliefs that slavery would end in a reasonable time, as it was ending in most parts of the world. One of his big concerns was the "property" aspect and just compensation to the owners for those emancipated.

He had further concerns with the release of millions into a society with little or no means to provide their own shelter, food, clothing, medical and elder care.

For the reasons above, and more, he advocated and supported Manumission, a process whereby a current slave could be awarded a share project from which he could earn money. This money would be held in escrow until an agreed amount could be paid for Free Man status.

While history has not greatly extolled the results of Manumission or gradual emancipation, it was quite widely adopted, and the numbers of Free Men were growing as a result. In fact, there were more black Free Men in the South than the North at the outbreak of hositilities (due largely to northern state black codes and their tendency to "sell them South"). In European nations and colonies, slavery was abolished with gradual emancipation without any war whatsoever, allowing for owner compensation and the education of the people to become freemen. Slavery didn't end in Brazil (a Portuguese colony) until 1888.

There is much more to be found of Mr. Davis' public and governmental positions. In virtually every case, they revolved around constitutional principle and the solutions either defined or left to the states and the people by The Founders. [ See his memoirs, The Rise And Fall of the Confederate Government by Jefferson Davis. ]

The other side of the question is the private side. This is the least known and publicized. In order to paint President Davis as some sort of barbarian, great distorions have been published. Worse, the real Davis has been carefully ignored.

Those interested in a little research are invited to study the Brierfield Plantation in Mississippi, owned and operated by Jefferson Davis. Beyond what Davis wrote or said on the issue, it's revealing to see what Davis actually did regarding slavery.

Some of the highlights you will find:

The Brierfield overseer was a black man, James Pemberton.

The slaves themselves maintained their social order at Brierfield. A judicial system was developed whereby any slave brought up on criminal charges would be tried by a panel of other slaves. Mr. Davis could not intervene other than to reduce a sentence.

All slave families at Brierfield were kept together. A nursery and early grade school was developed for slaves (contrary to existing law). Slave families were assigned land to farm on their own time to accrue their own money.

Provision were made for religious education. Mr. Davis arranged a special section of his own church for the slaves, who attended regularly. It was not uncommon that he sat with them during services.

The Davis family took great interest in the well being of all of the slaves on the plantation. It is said that President Davis knew everyone by name, including the children.

Little known and conspiculously missing from most published work on the subject is the fact that Mr. Davis paid for higher education for some of the slave children at Brierfield. He arranged for James Pemberton's son to attend an Ivy League University.

Then, there is the story of Jim Limber. This particular story has been more widely told, particularly in the South. Few Northerners know the story. It began in Richmond, where he was President of the Confederacy. One day, while riding in their carriage from a function, Mr. and Mrs. Davis came upon a group of black boys beating another younger one.

They broke up the melee and sent the marauders packing. They placed the beat up boy, Jim Limber, in the carriage and took him to the Confederate White House. There, he was cleaned up and attended to. He was given his own room. Over several days he became friends with the Davis children, and began taking meals with the family.

As time went on, Jim Limber became very close with the children and Mr. and Mrs. Davis. Since he was a free orphan, they executed a legal custody arrangement.

Jim Limber did everything the family did. He was with the family at the capture of President Davis at Irwinville, Georgia. He was separated from the family by their federal captors amid great anquish by the Davis children. Jim Limber was never heard from again. While in prison at Fortress Monroe, President Davis wrote the commander of the U. S. Army in the area inquiring of Jim Limber. It should be further noted he offered to pay for his keep and schooling. There was never a reply, official or otherwise. The Kennedy brothers, in their book WAS JEFFERSON DAVIS RIGHT?, tell the Jim Limber story and provide a photograph of him.

So, Nelson and all, this is just a little off the top of an old head. There is much more for good scholars and researchers to do. Unfortunately, we don't have enough publishers who want to reveal the truth. Most are satisfied to see the distortions and myths accepted in lieu thereof.

Perhaps your query and this and other responses can arouse some interest.

Related Links
Was Jefferson Davis Right?
by James Ronald Kennedy & Walter Donald Kennedy (Pelican Press)

The Papers of Jefferson Davis

The Case for the Confederacy - by Joseph Sobran

Slavery in Perspective - by Joseph Sobran

Happy Birthday, Mr. President - J.A. Davis

Jefferson Davis' Funeral Train - Calvin Johnson

Jefferson Davis - Our Greatest Hero - Dr. McWhiney