What in Tarnation is Dixieland?

Some folks say that Dixieland is everything south of the Mason Dixon line. Taken like that, you get all the states listed on the right. But whoa! Maryland? Up there under Pennsylvania?

Historically, Maryland was a slave state, which means that it's economy was set up like old-time Dixieland. But equally historically, Maryland officially aligned with the Union in the War Between the States. My vote is kick it out. Click here to read a Maryland Belle's Defense of Maryland as a Dixieland State"

Kentucky and Missouri are also on shaky ground. They didn't exactly join the Union, but they failed to secede from it either. Both the Union and the Confederacy claimed them, and the citizens within willywallied in both directions. I'd say divvy them up. Give Missouri to the Yankees. It only borders one Dixie state unless you count Kentucky. Missouri obviously prefers to keep company with the likes of Kansas, Illinois, and Iowa.

Using those same standards, we'll keep Kentucky, since its nestles cozily against Virginia and Tennessee. Besides, you can tell by listening to a Kentuckian talk that he or she belongs with Dixie.

My personal Dixieland includes only the cotton states. To me, if it ain't cotton, it ain't Dixie. But that knocks Virginia out -- and everyone knows that Virginians are big on being a part of Dixieland. I wouldn't want to duel a Virginian. So we'll keep Virginia.

Some say that Dixieland includes only the states that fought for the Confederacy. If Dixieland is all about the War Between the States, then I suppose that is correct. I'd like to think there's more to Dixieland than what happened in the 1860s. However, if I get that liberal, I'll have to reconsider my stand on Maryland. And that would hurt.

--Bo Dixie

A MARYLAND SOUTHERNER SPEAKS UP

Dear Bo:

I have read your declaration that you attempt to provide only accurate historical information and your disclaimer about "hysterical opinion." And, while you are certainly entitled to your opinion that you would rather not consider Maryland part of Dixie, you should at least base such an ignorant opinion on accurate information. To wit: Maryland did not remain loyal to the Union. Maryland was "occupied" by Union forces with their guns trained on the City of Baltimore. Her governor was under house arrest and those elected members of the legislature who favored secession -- which comprised a majority -- were jailed.

Additionally, even a cursory review of the voting pattern of both the citizens and the legislature clearly establish Maryland's ties to the South and Her predisposition towards joining the Confederacy. In the election preceding the war, Maryland's election returns were similar to those in the other states of the upper South (Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee). Moreover, the last action of the properly elected legislature with regard to the issue of secession was to past a resolution to cast her lot with that of Her sister state of Virginia.

In short, Maryland is geographically, historically, and philosophically a Southern state, despite bordering on the north and being every so slowly "occupied" once again by Yankee infiltrators. However, Her heart belongs -- now, as then -- to Dixie. To quote from the State song ("Maryland, my Maryland"): "huzzah she spurns the Northern scum."