The Placer herald., 1861-03-09
Inaugural Address of Jefferson Davis, Pro.
visional President Of the Southern
CnnfederacV.

c.otos of America. was inaugurated at Mont
1omery. Alabama, on yesterday february 18TH.
ssm immense crowd assembled on Capitol Hill,
Consisting of great array of ladies. military,
md citizens of different States. The ceremonies
"ro snoken of as the grandest pageant ever wit
ossnd at the S, nth. The following is the Inau-
ural AS telegraphed to the Sacramento Union:
.contlcmen of the Congress of Confederate
states of America, friends and fellow citizens:
.Called to the difficult and responsible station
Of Chief Executive of the Provisional Govern
ment which you have instituted, | approach the
discharge of the duties assigncd me with an
humble distrust of my Abilities but with sus-
tniniup confidence in the wisdom of those who
nrc t( guide and aid me in the administration of
nubc affairs, and an abiding faith in the virtue
and patriotism Of the people. Looking farward
to the speedy establishment of Il permanent Gov
crnment to take the place OF this. and which by
it's greater moral and physical power will be bet
tor able to combat with the many difficulties
which arise from the conflicting interests of sep
nratc nations, enter upon the duties of the
office to which l have been chosen with IA hope
that the beginning of our career rs IL Confederu-
cy may not be Obstructed by hostile opposition
20 our enjoyment Of the separate existence and.
Independence. With the blessing OF Prov dcncc.
we intend to maintain our present condition
Achieved in manner unprecedented in the his
tory Of nations, it ilustr: tes the American idea
that Governments rest upon the consent of the
TO altar and abolish Governments whenever they
lrcomc destructive 10 the ends for which they
were established. The declared compact Of the
Union from which we have withdrawn was to cs-
tablsh justice, insure domestic tranquility. pro-
vide for the common defense. promote the grncr-
nj welfare. and secure the blessings Of liberty
to ourselves and our posterity; and when in
the Judgment Of the sovereign States now com
prising this Conlcdcracy. it has been perverted
from the purposes for which it was ordained. and
ceased to answer the ends for which it was estab-
lished, IL peaceful appeal to the ballot box declar-
ed that. SO far as they were concerned. the Gov
crnment created by that compact should cease to
exist. In this they merely asserted the right
which the Declaration OF Independence of l176
defined to be inuienable. OF the time and the
occasion Of its exercise they sovercigns. they
were the final judges each for itself. The impair
tial cnli ghtcncd verdict Of mankind. will vindi-
cate the rcctitude of our conduct and lie who
knows the minds of men will Judge OF the SINGER
ity with which we laborcd to preserve the Gov
crnmcnt of our fathers in its spirit. The r2l,t
solcmnly proclaimed at the birth OF the States
and which has been affirmed and rcaflirmrd in The
Bill of Rights OF the States subsequently admit
ted into the Union of 1889, un'lcniaby rccog
nizcs in the people the power to resume the au
thority delegated for the purpose OF Government.
Thus the sovereign States here represented Vlo.
cccd to form this Uoncdcracy. and it is by III"
abuse OF language that their act has been de-
nominated It|olUtloi. IIlty loIHlcu IL NJ" az
lialc", but within each State its Government has
been retained. The rights of persons and prop
erty have not been disturbed. The agent through
which they communicated with fore ign powers is
changed. but this does not necessarily interrupt
their international relations. Sustained by The
cons4 iousncss that the transition irom the former
Union to the present Cont, ucracy has not pro
cceded from disregard on onr part of our just
ob cations any failure tU perform every con
situtional duty; moved 10y no interest or passion
toinvadc therlghs OF others; anxious to cultivate
pcucc ana commerce with all nations. if we may
not hope to avoid war, we may ut Least expect
that postcrity will acqu us Of having nccdlcssly
engaged in it. Doubly justified by the absence OF
wrong on our part, and hy w..nton ng-rcsSionS on
the part OF others. there can be no to doubt
the courage and patriotism Of the pt oplc OF tn"
confederate States will he lonnd equal to ahy
measures OF defense which soon their country
may require. An agriculture! pcopr. whose
chief interest is the export of n commodity r"-
quircd IN every IN .nufac u!lng country. our trn"
policy is peace, and the trccs which our ncccasi-
ties will permit 1t is alike our interest and
that of all tn, Sc from whom we would buy. that
there should be the ftwcs practicable restrictions
upon the Interchange Of commodities. ih'r.
Gun be but little rivalry between ours and ANY |
manuG,c uIng or nayi eating community; such rs ,
the free States Of the American Union. II must. !
therefore follow thc;efrom that mutual interest
would invite good will and kind Offices. II how
ever. passion or lt-l OF NOinlliiOn SHOlM CitItt
the judgment or influence the action of those
States We must prepare to meet the emergency
md ma ntain by the final arbitraincnt OF the
sword, the position which We have as um"d
among the nations Of the earth. We have entered
upon career Of independence which must be in
ncxhly pursued. Through many years of con
trOvcrsy with our late associations and Northern
States. we have vainly cndcayorcd TO secure tran
guilty and obtain respect Tor the rights to
which We We're entitled; as n necessity. not a
choice we have resorted to the remedy OF sep
araton, and hcncetOrth our energies must he dl-
recteJ to the condition of oar own affairs ald the
perpctuity of the Con nfcderacy which we have
formed. If just perception of mutual interests
shall permit us peaccably to pursue our separate
political career, my most earnest desire VIII
have been fulfilled; but if this be denied MS and
the integrity OF territory and juris'li tion ne
nssaed, it will but remain for us. with firm res
outons. to appeal to arms, and invoke the bless
ing OF Providence on a Just cause. AS consr-
qucucc of our new condition, and with IA view to
meet anticipated wants. it will be necessary to
provide speedy and efficient organization ot the
branches of the Executive Department having
special charge of foreign intercourse. finance.
military affairs and postal service. For purposes
of defence, the Confederate States may. under or
dinary circumstances. rely mainly upon their
militia: but it is deemed advisable. in the present
condition OF affairs. that there should be a well
Instructed and disciplined army, more numerous
than would usually be required on peace cs-
Enlistment. | also suggest that for the protec-
ton of our harbors and commerce on the high
seas. u navy adequate to those objects will be re-
quircd. The necessities have doubtless engaged
the attention Of Congress. With a Constitution
differing only from that of our fathers in SO far
MS it is explanatory Of their we'll known intcnt
free from sectional conflicts, which have inter
Tered with the pursuit of the general welfare
it is not usual to expect that the States from
which we have recently parted may seek to unite
their fortunes under the Government we have in
stituted. For this your Constitution makes ade-
quate provision. But beyond this, if mistake
not, the Judgment and will of the people are that
tLilu L.yn