Va. Governor Sorry for Not Mentioning Slavery in Confederate History Decree

After proclaiming April Confederate History Month in Virginia, Gov. Bob McDonnell went into apology mode Wednesday. It seems that in honoring the "sacrifices" of Confederate soldiers and other southerners during the Civil War, McDonnell neglected to mention the issue that started the conflict -- slavery. When the criticism started rolling in, the first-term governor acknowledged he made a "major omission" and apologized "to any fellow Virginian who has been offended or disappointed."

McDonnell said he initially left out references to slavery because he wanted to touch on issues most "significant" to Virginians in a document designed to promote tourism in the state, the Washington Post said.

McDonnell phoned personal apologies to former Virginia Gov. Doug Wilder -- the nation's first elected black governor -- and Del. Kenneth Cooper Alexander, chairman of the state's Legislative Black Caucus. McDonnell added language to his proclamation saying slavery was "an evil and inhumane practice that deprived people of their God-given inalienable rights, and all Virginians are thankful for its permanent eradication from our borders."

In a separate development on Thursday, a group called the Constitutional Sovereignty Alliance (or CSA) said its Virginia chapter would hold a "sovereignty march" on April 15 -- tax deadline day. A news release said the states' rights marchers would begin in Richmond and travel through Fredericksburg and Prince William County, winding up in Washington.