What does Mr Davis mean when he says that South Carolina not come to court in sack cloth ashes?

In context, Mr. Davis is referring to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. When he stated that South Carolina should "not come to court in sack cloth and ashes," he meant that the state should not come to court acting as if it was sorry for its past actions and pretending to have changed its ways, but rather should come to court prepared to defend its position and actions.