The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-07 00:00:00

TDB SOUTHERN CONFEDERATION.

INAUGURATION OF MP. JEFFERSON DAVIS.
MONTGOMERY, FEB.IB.
The inaugural ceremonies to-day were the
grandest pageant ever witnessed in the South.
There was an immense crowd on Capitol-hill, con-
sisting of a great array of the beauty, military, and
citizens of the different States.
Mr. DAVIS commenced precisely at 1 o'clock. He
said—Gentlemen of the Congress of the Confede-
rate States of America, friends, and fellow-citkens,
—Called to the difficult and responsible statrdV of
chief executive of the Provisional Government
which you have instituted, I approach the dis-
charge of the duties assigned me with an humble
distrust of my abilities, but with a sustaining con-
fidence in the wisdom of those who are to guide and
aid me in the administration of public affairs, and
an abiding faith in the virtue and patriotism of
the people. Looking forward to the speedy estab-
lishment of a permanent Government to take the
place of this, and which, by its greater moral and
Physical power, will be better able to combat with
the many difficulties which arise from the conflict-
ing interests of separate nations, I enter upon the
duties of the office to which I have been chosen
with the hope that the beginning of our career as a
confederacy may not be obstructed by hostile oppo-
sition to our enjoyment of the separate existence
and independence which we have asserted, and
which, with the blessing of Providence, we intend
to maintain. Our present condition, achieved in a
manner unprecedented• in the history of nations,
illustrates the American idea that Governments rest
upon the consent of the governed, and that it is the
right of the people to alter and abolish Governments
whenever they become destructive to the ends for
which they were established. The declared compact
of the Union from which we have withdrawn was
to establish justice, insnra domestic tranquillity,
provide for the common defence, promote the gene-
ral welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity, and when, in the judg-
ment of the sovereign States now composing this
Confederacy, it has been perverted from the pur-
poses for which it was ordained, and ceased to
answer the ends for which it was established, a
peaceful appeal to the ballot box declared that so
far as they were concerned the Government created
by that compact should cease to exist. In this they
merely asserted the right the Declaration of Inde-
pendence of 1776 defined to be inalienable. Of the
time and occasion of exercise they as sovereigns
were the final judges, each for itself. The impartial
enlightened verdict of mankind will vindicate the
rectitude of our conduct, and He who knows the
hearts of men will judge of the sincerity with
which we laboured to preserve the Government of
our fathers in its spirit. The right solemnly pro-
claimed at the birth of the States, and which has been
affirmed and re-affirmed in the Bills of Rights of
the States subsequently admitted into the Union
of 1789, undeniably recognises in the people the
power to resume the authority delegated for the pur-
poses of government. Thus the sovereign States
here represented proceeded to form this confederacy,
and it is by the abuse of language that their act has
been denominated revolution. They formed a new
alliance, but within each State its go'vernment has
remained ; the rights of person and property have
not been disturbed. The agent through whom they
communicated with foreign nations is changed, but
this does not necessarily interrupt their interna-
tional relations. Sustained by the consciousness
that the transition from the former Union to pre-
sent confederacy has not proceeded from a disregard
on our part, of our just obligations, or any failure
to perform every constitutional duty; moved by no
interest or passion to invade the rights of others;
anxious to cultivate peace and commerce with all
nations ; if we may not hope to avoid war, we may,
at least, expect that posterity will acquit us of hav-
ing needlessly engaged in it. Doubly justified by
the absence of wrong on our part, and by wanton
aggression on the part of others, there can be no
cause to doubt that the courage and patriotism of
the people of the Confederate States will be found
equal to any measures of defence, which s•on their
security may require. An agricultural people, whose
chief interest is the export of a commodity required
in every manufacturing country, our true policy is
peace and the freest trade which our necessities will
permit. It is alike our interest and that of all those
to whom we would sell and from whom we would
buy, that there should be the fewest practicable re
strictions upon the interchange of commodities.
There can be but little rivalry between ours and any
manufacturing or navigation community such as the
north-eastern States of the American Union. It
must follow, therefore, that mutual interest would
invite good will and kind offices. If, however,
passion or lust of dominion should cloud the judg-
ment or inflame the ambition of those States,
we must prepare to meet the emergency, and
maintain, by the final arbitrament of the sword,
the position which we have assumed among
the nations of the earth. We have entered upon a
career of independence, which must be inflexibly
pursued through many years of controversy with
our late associates of the Northern States. We have
vainly endeavoured to secure tranquillity and ob-
tain respret for the rights to which we were en-
titled. As a nteessity, not a choice, we-have re-
sorted to the remedy of separation, and henceforth
our energies must be directed to the conduct of our
own affairs end the perpetuity of the confederacy
which we have formed. If a just perception of
mutual interests shall permit us peaceably to pur-
sue our separate political career, my most earnest
desire will have been fulfilled. But if this be
denied us, and the integrity of our territory and
jurisdiction be assailed, it will hut remain for us,
with firm rezolve,• to appeal to arms, and invoke
the blessing of Providence on a jest cause. As a

consequence of our new condition, and with a view
to meet anticipated wants, it will be necessary to
provide a speedy and efficient organisation of the
branches of the Executive Department having
special charge of foreign intercourse, finance, mili-
tary affairs, and postal service. For purposes of
defence the Confederate States may, under ordinary
circumstances, rely mainly on their militia, but it
is deemed advisable, in the present condition of
affairs, that there should be a well-instructed, dis-
ciplined army, more numerous than would usually
be requii•el on a pout) establishment. I also sug-
gest that, for the protection of our harbours and

commerce on the high seas, a navy adapted. to these

objects will be required. These necessities have
doubtless engaged the attention of Congress. With

a constitution differing only from that of our

fathers in so far ES it is explanatory of their weL

known intent, heed from sectional conflicts, which

have igterfered with the pursuit of the genera]

'welfare, it is not unusual to expect that the States

from whisii we hive recently parted may seek to
:unite their fortunes with 'Ours under:the
,GOvern-
nie4 We IPe'insiiiiifet 'or this 'your eliristitu-
lion niakcaadequate Provision ; but beTorid" this,
if I mistake 'riot, the ju4gment and will of the
people are that. .union "'with the States - from

which Pity have separated is neither practicable
nor desirable. To inereise the power, develope the

resources, and promote the happiness of a confede-
racy it
,•is requisite there should be so much of
homogeneity that the welfare of every portion
It(tnki beitiie Om of the whole. Where this does not
ex 4t-aidigcliii" sitre engendered which must And
should'reefiii 1 '
to preilern sep
desire arzttion. Actuated'sofely by a
our own welfare,
our own rights and to promote
ex; the separation of the Confederate
States haansdl7
ollowmeaarked by no aggression upon
others, ,
Snit by no domestic convulsion.
Our industrial' pur
cultivation of our
fields
received no check, the
and even should we be s_n progresses
l as heretofore,
be no considerable diminution
in war there would
the staxles which have constituted
the production of
w'hictillie)ccrtnereialVeria has
sted our experts, in
less than:' `This commonourscarcely interest of pro-
ducer 14c.,0,c9nsurner can only be intercepted . by an
exterior force which shoulA obstruct ruct its . transmis-
sion toloreign,markets—a course of ,
coeuuct which
would be iletrituental- to manufacturick and ..L
. ,
niercialinteresfs abroad.' Should reason gni.l..°l, -
Lac toe_
action oftbe Government'from which 'Ave ihavc
separated,. a, policy 60 detrimental to the civilised
world, the Northern States included, could not; be'
dictated by even a stranger desire to inflict injury