Shreveport daily news., 1861-05-09
Message Of President Davis.

pleasing duty to announce to you
that the constitution framed for the
establishment ofa 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
augurate the said Government in it's
full proportions and upon it's 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
Confederacy, giving to its typical
constellation increased splendor-to
its government of free, equal and
sovereign States, wider sphere Of
usefulness, and to the friends of con-
stitntioual liberty greater security
for its harmonious and perpetual ex-
istence.
1t was not, however, for the pur-
pose of making this announcement
that l have deemed it my duty to
convoke you at an earlier day than
that fixed by yourselves for your
meeting.
The declaration of war made against
this Contcderacv, by Abraham Lin
coin, President of the United States
in his proclamation, issued on the 9th
day Of the present month, renders it
necessary, in my Judgment, that you
should convene at the earliest practi-
bic moment to devise the measures
necessary for the defence of the coun-
try
The occasion is, indeed, an extra
ordinary one 1t ,justiiies me in Civ
ing brief review of the relations
heretofore existing between us and
the States which now unite in war
fare against us, and succinct state
ment OF the events which have reSul-
ted to the end that mankind may pass
intelligent and impartial Judgment
on our motives and objects.
During the war wagrd against
Great Britain by her colonies on this
continent, a common danger impeilcd
them to a close alliance, and to the
formation of Il Confederation by the
terms Of which the colonies, styling
themselves States, entered Sevcrally
into a firm league Of friendship with
each other for their common defence.
IL At 81, L,
their mutual and general welfare. bind
ing themselves to assist each other
against all force offered to, or attacks
made upon them, or any of them on
occount OF religion sovereig trade,
or any other pretence whatever.
In order to guard against any mis-
construction Of their compact, the
several States made an explicit de
claration in distinct article-that
each State retain its sovereignty,
freedom and Independence. and every
power of jurisdiction and right which
is not by this said Confederation ex-
pressly delegated to the United States
in Congress assembled under this con-
tract Of alliance.
The war Of the Revolution was sue
cesstully waged, and resulted in the
treaty of peace with Great Britain III
1893. by the terms Of which the seve-
raj States We're each by name recog
nized to be independent.
The articles of confederation con-
tanned Il clause whereby all altera-
tons were prohibited, unless confirm
ed by the Legislatures of every State
after being agreed to blythe Congress,
and in obedience to this provision,
under the resolution of Congress Of
the 2lst of February, 1877, the seve-
raj States appointed delegates for the
nurpose of revising the articles of con-