The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-18
1" DIXIE. 4"
and its Associations.

Aeteuce ano correspondence, sought op1n-
ions as to the origin of the term Dixie, and
and the reasons for the acceptance of the
familiar air known by this name as the
national air for the confederate states.
This investigation has not been confined
to any class OF our citizens, nor TO any
state. and have been quite entertained by
the replies given to my inquiry.
A theory for which l find many advo-
Gates, is that the term Dixie, in It's appli-
/ cation to the south, was derived from
Mason and Dixol's liue-the name Dixon
having beer abbreviated and used in
relation to that portion of the United
States lying south of the line.
This theory, think, will scarcely be sus-
| tanned by investigation into the facts.
Mason and Dixon's line, though often err
roneously supposed to be, Is not in reality
the line which, during the existence of
slavery, divided the slave states OF the
| union from the free states. The only line
of division ever fixed between the two SEQ
lions was that cited as 500 30 of latitude in
the famous Missouri compromise, accepted
by congress in the year 1921. Mason and
Dixon's line is the parallel of latitude 40, ,
| separating Pennsylvania and Maryland. It
was drawn by two distinguished English
mathematicians, Charles Mason and Jere-
mlah Dixon, who were commissioned by the
| British government TO determine the exact
and Maryland, in order to settle the dis
putes rife among the bordermen of these
| states. Evidently, the drawing Of this line
had no connection whatever with the
slavery question. The survey was begun in
| the year 1853, and was discontinued in De-
| cember Of the year 1867, thirty six miles of
| the projected line still remaining 20 be run.
The Indians forbade further advance
with the work, and, no alternative
! being left, the two surveyors returned to
England. Later, Mason came apain to
| america, and in 1887 died near Philadel-
| phla Dixon remained in England and died
at Durham in 1777.
In the year 1S49 there existed in Mary.
land feeling of uncertainty regarding the
limits between Pennsylvania and the north
east portion of Maryland, the stone mark
ing this section of Mason and Dixon's line
having disappeared. A desire was mani
Tested by Maryland for a revision of the
original survey. Commissioners were APP
pointed by the states OF Delaware, Penn
sylvania and Maryland, aud Col. James D.
Graham of the United States typographical
| engineers was called to their aid. In all
important points the work OF Mason and
Dixon was corroborated.
In giving this brief history of Mason and
Dixon's line, have been careful to omit
nothing that could, in any way. bear upon
| the subject under discussion. From the
facts presented, l can gather no evidence
justifying the belief that Dixie, the name
given our southern states, is an abbrevia-
ton of the name of a man who was never
| in any way identified with our people, ex
cept for short period in the capacity of
| a surveyor, so long ago as the middle of the
| eighteenth century.
II the term originated in this way, it
really seems that an abbreviat;on Of Mason
| would be far more appropriate, for Mason
4 / ,oh -nefl 10 1aaH -
| his life. among our people. There is much
| diversity of opinion as to the exact time of
the origin OF the sppellatioR "Dlxie land"
As will appear later, the indications are
| that the term "Dixie," as we'll as the song,
must have come into existence at some time
| between the year 1Sl9-when there arose
| the political agitation resulting later In the
Missouri compromise'-andt the beginning
| Of the civil war in 1861.
During the period mentioned, there ex-
| listed feelings of intense bitterness between
| the south and north on account Of the iasti-
| tuition Of slavery.
The Missouri compromise prohibiting
slavery in all states except Missouri, north
| of So 80 of latitude, was accepted by con-
gress only after a prolonged aud hea ted
contest. In 1919 the territory of Missouri
presented her application for admission into
the union. The north desired to make the
prohibition of slavery in this new state the
condition upon which the state should be
received into the union. The south con-
tended hotly against such action on the
part Of congress, declaring slavery to be
one Of the rights under the constitution
with which congress had not the liberty 60
interfere. Il became evident that neither
section would succeed in carrying its point.
therefore the Missouri compromise, advo-
Gated by Henry Clay, was presented TO
congress. q,
Until this compromise was accepted
discussion prevailed, and the downfall of
the union seemed imminent. The passage
OF the bill, apparently. dissipated all dan
ger of disruption. But bitterness smoldered
III the hearts of the people. and gradually
intensified until again breaking out. in the
year 1850, IN more vlrulent form than
ever before. At this time the United States
had but recently wrested from Mexico a
large area Of unsettled land. California,
New Mexico and Utah were then territories.
Congress had refused to extend the line of
latitude 369 30 to the Pacific ocean. As a
result of this condition, the old issue-the
restriction Of slavery in the territories and
states-was again before the people. In the
halls of congress, and throughout the union
the widest turmoil prevailed. The Will
mot proviso," the compromise measures"
of 1850, and the various questions
arising out of both, formed the basis
for discussions of the most violent nature.
With such statesmen in the legislative halls
as Daniel Webster, Henry Clay and CAL
houn; and, from our own state of Georgia,
Alexander Stephens, Robert Toombs and
Howell Cobb it is not strange that the en-
tire country became aroused and listened
breathlessly to their burning words
This momentous crisis in the affairs of
the nation, though at times giving promise
of peaceful climax, finally eliminated in
the civil war of 1861.
Slavery then was the leading topic of the
times.
The minstrel companies, always counting
public sentiment, doubtless introduced
during this exciting period the slave
song, Dixie" throughout the southern
Familiar Songs aud Those@ Who
Made Them"-published by Oliver Ditson
& Co., a prominent music house, find the
statement that the original words of the
song of "Dixie," written in negro dialect,
we're composed by Dan Emmett of Bryant's
Ministries, and were first sung in New York
In 1850. This writer also declares that the
name of the composer Of the Dixie melody
Is unknown.
From the same book append the follow
ing extract:
1.-The only version of the famous song of
Dixie which has the least literary merit,
is the original one we give, written by Gen.
Albert Pike 1t is worthy Of notice that
the finest Puritan lyric we have was writ
ten by an English woman, Mrs
Hemans, and the most famous, if
not the finest southern war song was writ