The Shreveport weekly news. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1861-1861, 1861-05-13
Message OF President Davis.

pleasing Outy " stuAouAcc w wv
that the constitution framed for tn,
establishment ola permanent Govern
ment Of the Confederate States of
America has been ratified by the sew
eral conventions of each Of those
States which were referred to, TO in
aUguTate the said Government in It's
full proportions and upon its own
substantial basis Of the, popular will. /
1t only remains that elections
should be held for the designation of
the officers to administer it.
There is every reason to believe
that at no distant day other States
Identified in political principles and
community OF interests with those |
which you represent, will join this
G ntederacy, giving to its typical
constellation increased spleador--to
lis government OF tree, equal ana
sovereign States, wider sphere OF
u5e.l, a3ss, and to the friends Of con-
slitu-i9-.&f lbeity greater security
.0e - ACRIMONIOUS and perpetual ex-
-l.s-5Ce.
l. waa not, however, for the pur-
nose = m&.llag ,hls announcement
arz- haze deemed it my duty to
.4.lTc Se goa al an earlier day than
tt * d by yourselves for your
meeting.
~ e,laration ofwar made against
5.-s Goa. -.,r"cy, by Abraham LIN
CON, PRESIDENT of the United State
III Ills proclamation, issued on he l5,i
day OF he present month, renders /.
necessary, in my Judgment, that you
should convene at the earliest practi-
BILE moment to devise .-ie measures
necessary for the defence of the coun-
try.
The occasion is. indeed, an extra
ordinary one. 1t justitics me i'll Civ
ing prlef review OF the relations
heretofore existing between us and
the States which now unite in war
fare against us, and a succinct state
ment Of the events which have result
ted to the end that mankind may pass
Intelligent and impartial Judgment
on our motives and objects.
During the war waged against
continent, a common danger impelleo
them to Il close alliance. and to til,
formation of a Confederation by til,
terms of which the colonies, styling
themselves States, entered severai!l
ing q firm league OF friendship viii
each other for their common defence
the security of their liberties, AM
their mutual and general welfare, bind
ing themselves to assist each othe
against all force offered to, or attack
made upon them, or any of them oil
occount of religion. sovereignty, trade
or any other pretence whatever.
In order to guard against any mis-
construction of their compact, tn
several States made an explicit dc
claration in a distinct article-tha
each State retain its Sovereignty
freedom and independence, and ever
power of jurisdiction and right whic
is not by this said Confederation e,
pressly delegated to the L Eited State
in Congress assembled under this COZ
tract Of alliance.
The war of the Revolution was SUI
cessfully waged, and resulted in II
treaty of peace with Great Britain
1888, by the terms of which the sew
raj States We're each by name recoI
nized to be independent.
The articles of confederation co
tanned clause whereby all alter
tons were prohibited, unless confirl
ed by the Legislatures of every Sta
after being agreed to by the Consres
and in Obedience to this provisio
under the resolution Of Congress
the slst of February, 1857, the sev
raj States appointed delegates tor
purpose of revising the articles of CO
Federation, and reporting to Congre
and the several Legislatures such
terations and provisions therein
shall, when agreed to in Congre
and confirmed by the States, reno
the Federal constitution adequ;
to the exIgoncies of the Governlne,
and the preservation of the Unit
1t was ly the delegates chosen
The several states under the reso
tlon gust quoted, that the CONSTITUTE
ri iA; United States was formed
1897, .Al. submitted TO the seve
se,.tes Tor ratification, as shown
the seventh article, which is in tn
words: The ratification Of the &C
VEN ions of nine States shall be su
eient for the establishment of t
constitution between the States
ratitying the same"
I have italicised certain words
the resolutions just made for the P
pose of attracting attention to
singular and marked caution W
which the States endeav ored in ev
possible form to exclude the idea t
the separate and independent SO,
einntv Of aach State was mer,