Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-09
Review Of the Message Of Jefferson Davis
The New York Times says of JEFF. Davis's

movement--snd its next, TO throw upon the
Government Of the United States the re-
sponsibility Of the impending war. This Is
certainly double task of extraordinary diff
fculty&one 10 which Mr.. Davis Is manifestly
unequal. That he should think 1t necessary
at this late day, after each Of the seeding
States has gone over the whole ground in ex.
cuse its own Secession, is somewhat sim
eular, and indicates possibly q suspicion on
his psrt that the case is not yet quite free
from doubt.
Mr.. Davis quotes clause from the original
league of the old Thirteen States, formed be
fore the Revolutionary War, and intended |
solely to combine their strength for that con-
test, the clause declaring that leach State |
retains its soUerdqnty, freedom aud iude- (
pendence" He seeks TO show that the pre-
else object expressed in this clause was |
secured in the Federal Constitution su0se- |
quently formed; and for this purpose he
quotes from the resolution OF Congress
providing for the Convention, clause which
says that it was to be held: q
For the sole and express purpose of Tevis
ing the articles of Confederation, and report
ipp to Congress and the several Legislatures
such alterations and provisions therein as
shall, when agreed TO in Congress, and con-
fyn1ed by the States render the Federal Con-
stitution adequate to the erigencieS of Gov
erhmeat and TIE presJvdtion Of the Union"
Mr.. Davis conveniently overlooks the last
| lire of this clause. He fasteus attention
| uyon the fact that the Constitution was to be
! "copfTmed by the States" but he neglects
the ether part which is equally conspicuous
and far more important, namely, that this
| Constitution, when thus confirmed, was to
| be adequate 10 The ezigencies of the Govern
| meHt dEd THE PRESERVATION OF THE UNION"
This strikes death blow at his theory that
the States might destroy the y Union, after the
| Constitution was adopted. The foremost OBJ
ject of that instrument was to preserve the
Union; and the people are now resolved to
test the question whether it is adequate TO
chat object or not. 90
Mr.. Davis proceeds to justify the rebellion
| of the South, because the North was grow
ing the most populouR, wealthy and power
full section, and that the political majority
would always control the affairs of the ma
ton. This argument would clearly justify
any minority in taking up arms against the
successful majority. .a.f =
Mr.. Davis next proceeds to show that Pres.
ident Lincoln commenced the war upon the
South. On this point, however, he is slightly
inconsistent. He at first alleges the attempt
TO provision Fort Sumter as the initial act of
war-and atterward ascribes that event TO the
| proclamation whichfo followed the seizure ofthe
fort. Mr.. Davis either forgets that Sumter
was bombarded by his orders, or else he fails
to see that bombarding fort is an act of
war. In either case, he will scarcely mislead
any considerable number even of his own
people, into the belief that President Lincoln
commenced the war in which we are now
engaged. 90 .r
Mr.. Davis enumerates various acts on the
part of the National Government which JUS
tify the rebellion of the Southland among
them, of course, are the enactment of fishing
bouniies and tariff laws. But the chief
source of injury and danger is the hostility
| la1 H. N1aar Ia =. Al,a
States to the institution of slavery as it ex-
lists in the Southern States. Mr.. Davis dwells
at length on this subject, talks much of the
non.rendition OF fugitive slaves and makes
the usual false charge that the Northern
States intend to interfere with and overthrow
the domestic Institutions of the South. He
forgets that the States that have engaged in
this rebellion are States that never lost fugi.
tive slaves at all and that the very first
leaders in the revolt have openly declared
that TIE matter Of slavery was enly pretext
through which to accomplish a movement
fully determined on thirty years ago. a.5
Mr. Davis can not close his review of the
unjust acts of the Government of the United
States without referring to a late proclams-
ton of Mr.. Lincoin, announcing blockade
of the ports of the seeded States, and threat
ening to- punish as pirates all persons who
shall molest any vessel of the United States
under letters of msrque from the Confederate
States Government. This blockade ia de-
! clared by b1r. Davis to be 'tmere paper
4 blockade" which is contrary to the law O
) nations; from which statement he doubles:
desires his own subjects to derive the com
Portable conclusion that foreign nations viii
not regard it. A forlorn hope, he will soor
discover. With reference 10 the threat O
hanging his privateersmen as pirates, Mr.
Davis is evidently incensed. He says sucl
act will be contrary TO the usages of civil
lied nations, and will inaugurate war O
. externnination on both sidesn This is no
a very alarming view for us to take, inas
much as the United States, having create
agencies of destruction, and double the pop
8 ulation of the ConfederatesJ will eyidentl
!, survive, while the latter will be totally des
=. troyed. ~. - - --.--.. ,,
4 We are informed by the message that MI
Davis has sent three Commissioners abroa
to wait upon the following Governmentsa an
9 ask q recognition of the Independence of tn
Confederate States, and make with ther
/, treaties of amity and commerce. to wit
q England, France, Russia and Belgium. Som
may be surprised to find Spain omitted an
a Belgium included in the number of those fol
: eign States whose favor is most desired b
4 the Confederate States. Without yenturin
4 on anexplanation in regard to Spain, we wi
suggesttbat Belgium is somewhat noted fc
the extent and excellence of its manufactul
u of gtir-bdrrets-a commodity that the Coz
. federates are just now in special need of.
n [ The State OF Virginia dsmention in tn
y connexion as a foreign Government vii
which he, through Mr.. A. H. Stephens, hi
lust concluded q convention of amity, whic
" Is probably to result in a closer union. NJ
Davis furthermore encourages his Congre
ID by saving he has nsatisfaetoryJ assurance
as that athe whole Of the slayeholding Stat
n. of the late Union will sin q few week
: unite their fortunes with the Southern Go
/ fedeIacy. We venture the opinion that
two cases, at least, Mr., Dayis's expectatio
Of will not be realized. S..a 7
es The policy indicated at the former sessi
1u of the Confederate Congress, for renderil
ur the navigation Of the Mississippi river FRI
m has been put into execution by the Treasu
he Department. {" Free transit has been secur
All 4 for vessels and merchandise passing throu
n. the Confederate States" We will not qu'
le, ton the word Of Davis on this point, t
ls i refer for further information TO, the Dan
a. i Webster, which arrived at this city yest
az day; having been chased away from the moi
81. ! Of the Mississippi river, which she was abe
M entering, by certain Confederate pirates
: board of the Nm. II Webb.
ce, II is only after plodding through all tn
re | subjects, that Mr.. Davis comes TO that,
by consideration Of which he tells his Congf
iii | in the beginning is the sole object Of
ma calling them together, tolwit; hs PrOVid
I'd Sf means jor iks dsfsiss of DIs eotlatry. n
ad tthis portion Of the message is most imp
sn tantSwe present it in his own words:
lld1H gitUnder POur act authorizing q loan, n
chi Dosals were issued, inviting subscriptlI
Elf ! for Sc, 900 900, and the call was answered
IlI 1 ihs prompt : subscription Of more Il
,tiIsl So COO 600 By our own citizens, and no
lsd single bid was made under par. The "a
IRE development Of the purposes of the Presid
are Of the United States 10 invade our soil, 9
ne, tOre our forts, blockade our ports, and vi
re, war Rgainet us, inunced me 70 oirect I
tif the entire subscription should be accept
.ve Ii will now become necessary 10 raise me
ok, to much larger amount, TO defray the
| r Ind