Blog

The Return of We the People: Betsey

6/8/2026

Parents

8/13

How do we know about Betsey Johnny?
Sort of how we know things about you.
Okay.
As far as we know, you are from Indiana.
So we can say Betsey is from Mississippi.
Born into slavery Gus.
Mom and dad.
Parents.
When was Betsey born, estimated?
Varina was born in 1826.
Betsey is probably younger than Varina Johnny.
Why?
Malleability.
Not much younger Yank.
Compatibility.
Varina was 18 when marrying Davis in 1845.
Okay Reb.
Estimate Betsey at, what, maybe 16 in 1845?
That would mean she self-emancipates in her mid-thirties.
Sounds fair.

Washington DC

A Crazy Baldhead Johnny.
One of the craziest.
No doubt.
The first years of the Davis marriage were not copacetic.
Say more.
Jeff was under his brother Joseph's thumb.
And Varina?
She saw that and let Jeff know.
Ouch.
And when Jeff went to Mexico for the war, he made his brother Joseph her guardian.
In case he died?
Right.
When did Varina and Betsey get to DC?
In 1849.
In time for President Taylor's death.
Davis was then a US Senator from Mississippi.
And they are in DC until 1861?
Only a few short trips to Mississippi … and a vacation to the White Mountains.
New Hampshire: Betsey?
No.
What was in New Hampshire?
A friend of Jeff’s from West Point.
Betsey?
A summer in DC.

Honor

Where?
On loan, working somewhere.
Not alone Johnny.
Not alone.
The Davises left DC in 1861.
Some of the last Southerners to leave.
Betsey with them?
Someone was helping Varina with a sick Jeff, three children and whatever baggage Yank.
They went to Mississippi?
By train, where Davis soon received news he was elected President of the rebellion.
Davis then to Alabama?
Montgomery, and likely James Dennison with him.
Someone Johnny.
Betsey and Varina soon follow.
Betsey witnessed all that?
Yes.
You always try to honor me Reb.
You do the same to me Gus.
Let's do the same with Betsey and James.
Jeff and Varina?
We’ll see.
Ready Yank?
To the door …

*Next up: 15 June (part 9/13) The Return of We the People: thirty Thousand.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner / Support the US Constitution

The Return of We the People: Betsey and Varina

6/1/2026

Riddles

Part 7/13

A goddess Johnny.
There are more.
This ain't the one?
There are two and two more.
Riddler.
House of riddles Gus.
Why we’re here.
I think so too.
We talked of Betsey and the men in her life.
Jeff and James.
What of Varina?
Loaded question Yank.
How did Varina and Betsey meet?
Mississippi.
Betsey running was their ending I imagine.
It was.
What does the record say about their beginning?
Betsey is just always there.
When did Varina and Jeff meet?
Married in 1845.

Taylors

Johnny, did Varina own slaves?
No.
Have money?
No.
Land?
No.
What then?
Intellect.
Jeff was married before … to a Taylor.
Sarah Taylor.
Daughter of the future President Zachary Taylor, right Johnny?
Who threatened to hang his former son-in-law for treason.
Hot potato!?
In the spring of 1850.
Taylor died that summer.
Some say Jeff did it.
Proven?
Not yet Gus.
Interesting.

Wonderment

Varina was at President Taylor’s deathbed.
Doing what?
Comforting her friend Margaret, the grieving First Lady, Jeff’s former mother-in-law.
Where’s Betsey Reb?
Someone was at Varina's beck and call?
Betsey.
Someone rode in the carriage with Varina?
Betsey, or whoever was in the servant slave role, acted as an aide-de-camp.
Jeff became US Secretary of War in 1853 Gus.
Varina was cabinet level.
So too Betsey.
And Varina had full access to DC.
From 1850 until ‘61 Yank.
And there stands Betsey.
Betsey was there when Varina had her first child.
Endearing.
Betsey was there when the same child died of sudden illness two years later.
Consoling.
Crying too.
Crying too.
Wonderment Yank.
That's a riddle, ain't it.
How would Betsey feel toward Varina?

*Next up: 8 June (part 8/13) The Return of We the People: Betsey.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

The Return of We the People: Betsey and James

5/18/2026

James Pemberton

Part 6/13

A bust.
For sure.
The owner of people.
How many Johnny?
Hundreds over the 30 years.
Davis owned James and Betsey?
Yes with a correction clarification.
Go.
Betsey self-emancipated with James Dennison.
Sign said James Pemberton.
Yet James Pemberton died in 1852.
Tough to run in 1864.
Right Yank.
Who was James Pemberton?
Jeff’s personal servant, slave, from 1829 until ‘52.
Twenty-three years.
Served Jeff’s father before that.

James Dennison

So James Dennison was Jeff’s servant slave after Pemberton died.
Now we enter new ground like your story Gus.
You said something was similar between me and Betsey and James.
Did.
What?
You all participated in events people wrote about.
So we can know me from the history of the 99th Indiana Volunteer Infantry.
That and the war.
And for James and Betsey it was being a part of this place.
More part of the Davis household.
It is 1852 and James Dennison started … where are they at then?
Mississippi.
Then DC?
From 1853 until 1861 Gus.
DC from the eyes of James and Betsey.
Then Mississippi and Alabama and here in Virginia.
Same James Dennison?
Seems so.
Jeff was kind of stern.
Apparently James knew how to handle him.

Gospel

Betsey Johnny.
Varina's servant slave owned by Jeff.
Married to James?
Yes.
What did that mean, two enslaved in marriage?
Part of that humanness we talked about.
Say more Reb.
If in a long term relationship, that would possibly promote the interests of the owner.
Slave children.
Better behavior.
Less dissent.
More rights.
The Davis enslaved in Mississippi were freed by The Emancipation Proclamation, January 1863.
Correct Gus, and the Yankee army burned the Davis plantation in the same year.
So all their Mississippi friends and family were already free, by proclamation and war, by the time James and Betsey did the Someday walk.
Yes.
Feel like singing Johnny?
Do.
“I have read a fiery gospel, writ in burnished rows of steel.”
“As ye deal with my contemners, so with You my Grace shall deal.”

Next up: 1 June (part 7/13) The Return of We the People: Betsey and Varina.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

The Return of We the People: Rebels and Yankees

5/11/2026

Health

Part 5/13

… Rebels Gus.
Festive ones.
We didn't fight all the time.
I never saw ya party.
Just fight.
Is that Varina?
Yes, and she would say they are being kind.
She looks fine.
Exactly.
She didn't think so?
Who does?
Jeff on the left.
Kindness again.
Looks young.
And healthy.
Davis wasn't?
He had four healths Gus.
Okay.
Davis was either sick, getting sick, recovering from sick, or just fine.
Sick call type.
He would be weeks bedridden.
Uhhh …

Soldiers

Here are some Yankees Gus.
Dashing.
The best.
The colonnaded steps.
Yanks took over the building.
How Johnny?
Richmond's mayor went looking for someone to accept the city’s surrender - and for help with the fires.
Who did the mayor find?
The XXVth Corps.
Never heard of them.
A corps of Black soldiers formed in December 1864.
Black soldiers captured Richmond?
And helped put out the fires.
Good Lord Johnny.
The XXVth was commanded by a white German immigrant, Godfrey Weitzel.
Heard of him.
Western campaigns Yank.
Mississippi River.
West Point before that.

Time

Evacuated April 2nd 1865.
Varina left earlier, Jeff that day.
When did Godfrey the Immigrant and the Black XXVth arrive?
Morning of April 3rd.
Davis babies born here.
Two.
And they lost a five year old.
Fell off a ledge and died that day.
Confederate and personal.
Yes.
And self emancipators.
Beginning in May 1862.
I wasn't even a soldier yet.
And no Lincoln Emancipation Proclamation yet.
William took the Someday walk.
Freedom seeker.
James and Betsey are mentioned.
Right.
What do you know about them?
They’re kind of like you Gus.
Interesting - is that Davis?

Next up: 18 May (part 6/13) The Return of We the People: Betsey and James.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

The Return of We the People: Emancipate Yourself

5/4/2026

Hobbes

4 of 13

… Whoa Reb?!
What?
That.
It’s a ship shaft.
No, that side door.
For servants - it’s part of the tour Gus.
Is a servant a slave?
Getting precise.
The two words get slid together.
They do.
What is the distinction Johnny?
A servant slave gives up the right to kill a master.
And a slave never does.
According to Hobbes.
Calvin N. Hobbes?
Thomas Hobbes Gus, in a book called Leviathan.
Sounds Biblical.
Secular tome.
What does the servant get for not killing?
What do you think?

Someday

Something.
Like?
It would vary Johnny.
It did.
Humanness.
More liberty, more security, less violence.
Something.
Wouldn't work otherwise Yank.
Did servants run from here?
Yes.
From that door?
I suppose - I'm Johnny remember?
Duh.
One can say for sure people thought about it.
Start to imagine it.
Lincoln declared it.
So a Someday door.
Someday.

Numbers

Who did?
James and Betsey to name two Gus.
Ran from here?
January 8th in that year of your's.
“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery.”
“None but ourselves can free our minds.”
James and Betsey had to free themselves inside.
Like Bob sings of Yank.
What We the People need.
A free mind begins within.
None but ourselves.
Can end the Usurpation.
We got the numbers Johnny.
Napoleon said that was essential.
Nearly 350 million of us.
Against 435 of them.
Thus The Return.
Of We the People.
Let's continue.
This way Yank …

Next up: 11 May (part 5/13) The Return of We the People: Rebels and Yankees.

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

The Return of We the People: Steps and Doorways

4/27/2026

Portal

3 of 13

Got a sign Gus.
Quite a name.
Marketing.
Starfish House wasn't working?
Stingray.
Right.
During the war it was called the Executive or President’s Mansion.
It’s old.
Like us.
The sign Johnny.
Built in 1818.
As a home.
Then Executive Mansion.
Until April 1865.
Then Yanks moved in.
Then a school Reb.
Then a museum.
And now what is it?
Portal.
Davis stepped here.
Lincoln stepped here too Gus.
Some of his last.
True.

Context

So that doorway saw a lot.
Part of being a portal.
Robert E. Lee?
Yes.
Mosby?
Maybe.
Why maybe?
Blur, you know Yank, too many particulars.
Davis had an office?
Here as well.
Let's go inside.
Maybe we see the visitor’s center first?
See Charlie?
There are things inside that best have some context.
Like what?
Context.
There are goddesses.
Good guess.
I took the one on the sign as a hint.

Virginia

The Roman Virtus Gus.
Virtus is on the Virginia flag.
Virtue kills a tyrant.
Mortal combat as virtue Johnny.
According to Virginia.
Understandable not using the Virginia story you told me.
Another Roman story.
Father slays daughter to keep her from being enslaved.
Virginius and Virginia.
That would be a tough image to put on a flag Reb.
Especially in a slave state.
You mentioned goddesses.
I did.
Where?
Visitor's center first.
After you.
It’s around back.
To the left?
Follow me.
Okay …

Next up: 4 May (part 4/13) The Return of We the People: Emancipate Yourself

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

The Return of We the People: Bob and Elbridge

4/20/2026

Jeff and Varina

2 of 13

Jeffy Johnny.
And Varina.
Sounds like Marina.
Correct.
Grapes of wrath.
Say more Gus.
“Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”
“He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.”
Grapes of wrath.
The oppressed.
The enslaved.
We the People.
The hymn is about freeing the oppressed, about ending slavery.
Davis thought God was on his side.
Don't we all?
What's on your mind Yank?
Bob and Elbridge.
Go on.
Why them two?

Bob

We met them both along the way.
Bob in Berryville.
Elbridge in DC.
Yet why them two Johnny?
Bob was singing Misty Morning.
We only heard him.
In a cemetery with Johnny Rebs.
Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
Then again in Berryville Gus.
Bob told us about rights in the 1960s.
And you represented Yanks in the 1860s.
Til ‘64.
The Wretched of the Earth, Marley taught us that too.
More like taught you Reb.
You get it: it's about the oppressed.
Grapes again.
We are war signs Gus.
Soldiers.
Bob soldiers too.
For peace.
In our way, so did we.

Elbridge

And Elbridge?
Gerry found us Gus.
We were in DC.
Viewing the original Constitution.
And this colonial dude walks up.
Asking what we know about the smudge.
Kind of a Knowbody.
Kind of.
I thought Elbridge was a prop Johnny, like part of the show.
Tour guide even.
Then he starts in on you: “I can't believe you killed him over something I did.”
That was the beginning.
And now Elbridge supports the thirty Thousand.
‘Merican.
Gerry wants his due Reb.
Gerry wants to be known.
For more than ‘mandering.
What a hoot.
Elbridge.
Step to the left Gus.
Sure.

Next up: 27 April (part 3/13) The Return of We the People: Steps and Doorways

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

The Return of We the People: Usurpation Day 2026

4/9/2026

1 of 13

Stop!
Sure.
Is this Richmond Reb?
It is.
And it’s Usurpation Day 2026?
April 9th Yank.
Elbridge would love this.
Marley too.
Bob.
Right.
This gray building doesn't look like the other ones.
Stingray is the color.
Stingray?
Yeah.
It’s gray Johnny.
Charlie said it’s called Stingray, rolled eyes included.
Who's Charlie?

Tour guide.
Of what?
The Stingray building.
When did you tour this Johnny?
Last Usurpation Day.
We spent that in DC.
With Bob and Elbridge.
On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
Bob sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic.
Unforgettable.
Elbridge told us an eyewitness account of 9 April 1792.
The chief contemner himself.
That's when.
You just went poof without saying so?
After we smoked.
Bob's smoke.
Right … and I poofed.
To recon.
Richmond.
And thus Charlie.
And another chief contemner.
Charlie?

Jefferson Davis.
Jeffy?!
This is where he lived during the war.
Stunned Reb.
Okay.
That the backdoor?
Front, the back is collonaded, to the right.
Odd.
Garden area, privacy.
Makes sense.
Street smells too Gus.
Horse manure.
All kinds.
Clean today.
Let's cross the clean Richmond street Yank.
On Usurpation Day 2026 Reb.
“So the world shall be His footstool,”
“And the soul of Time His slave,”
[In unison] “Our God is marching on.”

*Next up: 20 April and The Return of We the People: Bob and Elbridge.

Posted by Bryan W Brickner

Reb and Yank and Baudrillard: The Return of We the People

1/30/2026

#1
That was something Johnny.
Washington DC has changed.

#2
It is a creation of The Usurpation.
The Usurpers, Yank, they get it now.

#3
They get the necessity.
Of a constitutional Republic.

#4
And that's the news Reb.
Where to now Yank?

#5
Richmond.
On to Richmond …

#6
A law made outside the law is never a law (at all).
See Hubbard v. Lowe 1915: “That an unconstitutional statute is not a law at all is a proposition no longer open to discussion.”

Posted by Bryan W Brickner

Usurpation Day 2024: Nine Truths

4/9/2024

The thirty Thousand and Article the first of the Bill of Rights

Nine truths in honor of the truth that is Usurpation Day, 9 April 1792.

Four about the 435:
1. Constitutional Convention: No.
2. The Federalist Papers: No.
3. Ratified: No.
4. Constitutional: No.

Four about the thirty Thousand:
1. Constitutional Convention: Yes (Article I).
2. The Federalist Papers: Yes (55-58).
3. Ratified: Yes (all 50 states).
4. Constitutional: Yes.

And the ninth truth: Surrender to the Constitution.

Welcome home,
Bryan

Posted by Bryan W. Brickner