Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1861-05-22
wRsslCR or THE PRESIDENT
To ,he special session Of ,hs eens~
Csa.sasd as usa,ssn'er'' A'ass'Aa' ~
nriI jDth, 1861,

IA is my pleasing duty 10 announce n"
vo,, that the Constitution framed for the
Establishment Of a permanent government.
for the Confederate States has been. .faiheu
by Conventions in each OF Hose states 10
which il MAS referred, To lnaugnraie tho
government in its full proportions aud up
on its own substantial basis ot The popular
will, il only remains that elections be he,a
for ihc Delegation ~ she "iheers 10 ad-
mlnislef 90. ..
There is every reason % believe lhal AZ
no distant iay, o'hrr States idsEhlri d"
1 rslit.s'i FilIalple llii seqNpnltlA " l'.
lere7is 0ilh those Wbiel }W lfP't''N' W. +,
iuin this Nnulederacyi giving ln lialA pcal
constellation Increased splehIof-T" N9
goyeru.urut OF nee, equal ahd s'NaIrltn
states wider sphera 1T useiulpesf -hni
lo tl.e friends of constitutional liberty a
greater security for ils harmonious aud
perpetual existence.
Ii was moi, however, for the purpose OF
making this announcement that l have
deemed Il my duty TO conyoke yon at an
earlier day than that fixed by yourselves
fol your meeting. The declaration of war
made against this Confedcracyb by Abraham
Lincoln, the President OF the United States,
In his proclamation issued on the fifteenth
day Of tho present month, rendered Il nee.
essary, In my judgment, that You should
convene at tho earliest practicable le.moment,
to devise the measures necessary for the
defense Of the country.
The occasion is indeed an extraordinary
one. II justifes me In brief review OF
tho relations heretofore existing between
us and the States which now unite In war
fare against us, and in succinct state
ment Of the events which have resulted In
this warfare; TO the end that mankind
may pass intelligent and impartial jndg-
ment on its motives and objects.
During the war waged against Great
Britain by her colonies ON this continent,
n couimon danger impelied them 70 CLOSE
alliance, and to the formation OF ,ohicuc-
ration, by the terms OF which the colonies,
styling themselves States, entered "serrd"y
into firm league oil iriehdship WIN cuch
other for their common defense, the securi.
ty their liberties, and their mntual ana
general welfare, binding themselves 10 as
sist each other against nll force offered 10,
or attacks made upon them or any OF them,
on account of religion, sovereignty, trade
or any other prctense whatever.
In order to guard against any miscon-
structon Of their compact, the several
States made expliah declaration, in dis
tinct article, that "edch State retdinsits SOW
creignty, freedom and independence, and
every power, jurisdiction and right which
is not by this Confederation expressly dele
mated to the United States in Congress as
semblcd."
Under this contract of alliance, the war
of the revolution was successfully waged,
and resulted in tho treaty. of peace with
Great Britain in 1888, by the terms Of
which the several States were each 6y name,
recognized to be independent.
The articles of confederation contained
clause whereby all alterations were pro-
hibitcd, unless confirmed by the Legsla-
tsircs oferery State, after being agreed ts,,Ppv'
the Congress; and in obedience to TINS pro-
vision under the resolution or Congress OF
the Dist February 1887 the several States