White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1861-04-11
INAUGURAL ADDRESS or Ippn
DAVIS.

DAVIS.
JefFerson Davis. President, Of III. r.,
Tolerate States Of America. was in.uou
rated at Montgomery. Alabama. an 81.
18th Of February. The following i, ,hs
inaugural address in full '
Genaemsn Of the Consre.s ofM. r.,
fsIerats States of Amsriea: Frisnd. w.,
fellow eitiaens-called to the d;as .",.
and responsible station of Chief FIs.n
tive Of the provisional Government vbich
on hare instituted. I approach the d;.
charge Of the duties assigned me with A.
humble distrust Of my abilities. bnt III
a sustaining confidence in the wisdom -
those who are to guide and aid NJ. in n.
administration of public affairs, and A.
abiding faith in the nature and patriotism
OF the people. H
Looking forward to the speedy .,,,h.
li.hment of permanent, Goverumsp, >,
take the place Of this. and which bv i.
greater moral and physical power will \.
better able 10 combat with the manv 5T
ticulties which arise from the eopA;c,;n,
interests Of separate nations, l enter upoo
the duties Of the office to which b,v.
Leen chosen. with the hope that the bs.
ginning Of our career a. . confe,,s,.,,
may not be obssructed BY hostile opno.;.
tion to our enjoyment of the separate eI.
istence and independence. With n.
blessing Of Providence we intend to main.
tain our present condition-achieved in
manner unprecedented in the history ~
nations. it illustrates the American ;ds.
that governments rest upon the cop.en,
of the governed. and that it is the rich,
of the people to altar and abolish gov.
ernments whenever they become d.s,Iuc,.
i've to the ends for which they were e..
tabli.hsd.
The declared compact Of the Union
from which we have withdrawn, was to
establish service. insure domestic tran.
guilty. provide for the common defence.
| promote the general welfare and secure
the blessings Of liberty to ourselves and
our posterity. and when in the judgment
of the sovereign States now comprising
this confederacy. it has been perverted
from the purposes for which il was
ordained. and ceased to answer the
emil for which it was established,
peaceful appeal to the ballot box
declared that 40 far a. they were concern.
ed, the Government created BY that com.
pact should cease to exist. In this they
merely asserted the right which the De.
claration Of Independence. Of l776. de.
fined to be inalienabls of the time anil
occasion of its exercise. They are sov.
ereigrs. they were the final judges. each
for itself The impartial. enlightened
verdict of mankind will vindica,s the
rectitnle of our conduct, and He who
knows the hearts of men will jndge Of ths
sincerity with which we lsbored to pre-.
serve the Government of our fsthsIs in ito
spirit The right solemnly proclaimed
at the birth Of the States. and which has
heaR affirmed and re affirmed IN the bill
of rights of the States. subsequently ad.
mit,ed into the Union Of 1889, und-n..
bly, recognizes in the people the power to
resume the authority delegated for the
purpose of government.
Thus. the Southern States here repre-.
sentej proceeded to form this Confedsra-
cy. and it is by the abuse of Language
that their act has been dcnominaied rev.
olu,ion. They formed . new alliance.
bat within each State its government
has been retained: the rights of persons
and property have not been disturbed.
The agent through which they commu-
nicated with foreign powers. is changed.
but this does not necessarily interrupt
their international relations. Sustained
by the consciousness that the transition
from the former Union to the present
Confederacy has not proceeded from .
disregard on our part Of just obligations.
or any failure to perform every eonstltu.
iional duty-moved by no interest or
passion to invade the rights Of Others
anxions to cultivate peace and commerce
with all nasions-if we may not hope to
avoid war, we may at least expect ihst
posteri,y will acquit us of~having need.
lessly engaged in it.
Doubly justified BY the absence OF
wrong on our part, and by wanton sg-
gression on the part of others. there can
be no cause to doubt the courage and
patriotism of the people of the Confsdsr.
ate States. They will be found equal to
any measures of defense which soon their
country may reqnire.
An agricultural people. whose chief
interest is the export Of commodity 70.
quired in every manufacturing country.
our true policy is peace. and tho ireess
which our necessities will permit. II 10
alike our interest and that Of al those
from whom We would buy. that there
should be the fewsst practicable rsssric-
tions upon the interchange Of commod''
ties. There can be but little rivalry be.
tween ours and any manufacturing or
navigating community. auch - the free
States Of the American Union. II muss.
therefore. follow therefrom that mutsai
interests would invite good will and kind
Offices.
II. however. passion or lust Of dom,n'
len sheald Close the judgment, or ishs.
saes the action Of thoss States, us mast
prspars 10 mest the emergency. sad NAM
tain By ths 6nsl srbisrsment OF the sword,
the position which We have assumed
among the nations of the earth.
Z. We have entered upon career OF IN