Thursday, March 1, 2012

What was THE only Confederate Territory of America?

1st Question: How many states were in the Confederate States of America?
2nd Question: How many territories were in the CSA?
3rd Question: Did Arizona really want to be part of the CSA?

At the end of 1861, the first provisional Congress of the Confederate States of America met. The seal and flag of the CSA had 13 stars which include the 11 states who officially voted to secede from the Union (VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, Al, MS, TN, AR, LA, and TX) as well as MO and KY who never seceded but had factions in them that were pro-CSA.

So the Confederacy that most of us know about is this:
But something odd happened down in the southwestern part of the US, in the New Mexico Territory. That territory was the only region in the "South" that the Confederate States of America could try to claim. But things were already brewing in that territory, back in 1854. Governing large territories like New Mexico can be difficult as populations are spread out. The populous town of Tucson was far the capital, Santa Fe, and without governmental support. Therefore, New Mexico wanted to create a separate territory. They petitioned Congress to act but nothing was done.

Several version of how to divide New Mexico were created. The New Mexico Legislature wanted a north-south border at the 109 deg W meridian. The people around Tucson pushed for an east-west border at the 33 deg 45 minute line from California to Texas. But these suggestions were not accepted by the US Congress. As the Civil War began, frustration with the federal government had been on going for at least 10 years. In Mesilla, they voted to seceded from the US and join the CSA. Their "Ordinance of Secession" lists their greivances: failure to provide protection against savages, denied them the right to form a government to administer laws, and loss of mail service. But official recognition from the CSA would take an invading Confederate army lead by John Baylor to remove Union forces near Mesilla. On August 1, 1861, Baylor proclaimed the area of New Mexico south of the 34th parallel as the Territory of Arizona for the Confederate States of America. It was proclaimed by Jefferson Davis, President of the CSA, on February 14, 1862. 

The US Congress attempted to invalidate the CSA claim to this territory by creating its own Arizona Territory in February 1863 by dividing New Mexico along the 109th deg W meridian. This effectively split the CSA's territory in half and not recognizing it. There were no delegates from Southern states to block its creation. 

The CSA Arizona territory would collapse with Union troops moving back into the area in 1862, the CSA government would flee from Mesilla to San Antonio. However, it did keep its Congressional Delegate. It would "officially" disappear with the collapse of the CSA at the end of the Civil War. 

The Confederacy had hoped to reach California and gain access to its resources and an outlet to the Pacific Ocean. While this plan was not successful, Arizona should be remembered with the other 13 states as being part of the Confederacy as show in this map:

But this odd link with the Confederacy does not stop there. The people of the Arizona Territory were allowed to join the Union as a state with their enabling act in 1910. While forming their state constitution, one contentious topic was the ability of voters to recall judges. The Arizona state constitution with this provision was approved by delegates (on party lines) and the territorial voters. But it was vetoed by President Taft in 1911. By December 1911, an amended state constitution without the judge recall clause was approved. Arizona was then approved for statehood. Apparently, some Arizona settlers hoped to be admitted into the Union on February 12th which was the birthday of President Lincoln who had help create the territory in 1863 (almost 50 years prior). However, Taft was apparently "busy". Internet searches indicate he spoke about the need for national parks,visited the Essex Troop Armory in Newark, NJ, and spoke at a Lincoln Day dinner of the NY Republicans (discussed the dangers of the Progressive movement). Anecdotally, Taft did not want to sign the proclamation of statehood on the 13th as it was bad luck. Therefore, it was signed on February 14, 1912, and Arizona became a state. Rebelliously, these new citizen restored the recall of judges into their constitution in November 1912. 

As for this link with the Confederacy? The date of statehood (February 14, 1912) is fifty years to the day that President Davis proclaimed its existence as a territory of the CSA. An accident, I'm sure...

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