The other baggage of Confederate symbols: anti-Mexican sentiment
Teresa Van Hoy: Let’s examine also the Confederacy’s feelings about Tejanos and Mexicans.
Published 12:00 am, Saturday, August 15, 2015
... Miss Sallie Smith’s speech is instructive. On April 20, 1861, this belle was chosen to bestow a Confederate flag — hand-sewn by the fair maidens of Marshall in East Texas — upon the new regiment of Confederates the morning they marched off to war.
Surprisingly, Miss Sallie’s speech targeted “Mexicans” more than Yankees ...
Miss Sallie’s sentiments were well-received by her contemporaries. The local newspaper, the Marshall Republican, praised her and reprinted her address in full; the organizing committee wrote to thank her and request a copy; a soldier transcribed it into his field journal ...
The leading sponsor of Miss Sallie’s flag dedication was Elkanah Greer. In 1845, Greer had served in Jefferson Davis’ regiment fighting in Mexico; by 1859, he became grand commander of the Knights of the Golden Circle in Texas; and in February 1860, he had offered Sam Houston mounted troops to invade Mexico ...
http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/commentary/article/The-other-baggage-of-Confederate-symbols-6444433.php