The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-02-26
NO. 74S.
MIR. DAVIS INAUGURAL As PRESI.
DENT OF TIE SOUTHERN CONFED.
ERACY.
MONTGOMERY. Feb. ls.

q MosTGoMERY, Feb. ls.
II TIE inaugural cercmonics to- day were tho
u grandest pageant ever witnessed in the South.
;, Thtre wa, an immense crowd on Capitol Hill,
consisting o. great srrsy Of beauty, military
i and citizen. of the different States. Mr.. D..
!, ,is commenced precisely at ] o'clock. He
= said:
r Gentlemen ofAe Congress Of the Canftd
c Grated States of america.
FRIENDS AND FELLOW CirizENs:-Callsd
Y 10 the dificul, and respor sihe station of Chief
;. E&ccu,vn Of Provisional Government which
i you hnvr instituted, Iapproach the discharge
: Of the duties assigned me with an tumble
| distrrst of my abilities, but with sustaining
confidence in the wisdom Of those who are 10
: guide and aid me in the administration of
, public faith and an abiding faith in the ,r.
= tue aud patriotism Of the people, looking for
p ward to the speedy establishment Of perma.
nent government TO take the place Of this, ,aud
which by j, it's greater moral and physical
power will be better able TO conba with tho
many difficulties which arise from the conflict.
ing interests Of seperate nations. / enter up
on the duties of the Office 10 which | have
been chosen, with the hope that the begin.
ming &c orr career as Confederacy r'ny ~o'
enjoyment Of the seperate existence and in
dependence. with the blessing of Providence,
which we have asserted, and which with the
blessing of Providence, we intend TO main
tair. Our present condition, achieved in
manner unprecedented in the history Of na
tions, illustrates the American idea that gov
crnments rest upon the consent ofthe govern
mcut, and that it is the light Of the people to
Il. Ill. .l,a,k
ccomc destructive TO the euds for Which they
were established.
The declared compact Of the Union from
which we have witbdrawn was TO establish
Justice ensure domestic tranquility, provide
for the common defense. promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessings Of liberty to
ourselves and our posterty; and when in The
Judgment of the sovereign States now COM
/ p'ising the Confederacy it has been perverted
from the purposes for which It was ordained,
and ceased to answer the ends for which it
was, established, a peaceful appeal to the bal
lot toX declared that, so lar as they were
pact should cease to exist In this they
merely asserted the right which the Declara-
ton Of Independence Of 1915 defined 10 be
"ina ienablhe." OF the time and occasion Of
its exercise, they as sovertigns verthc the fiual
judges, each for itself The impartial, en-.
lightened verdict Of mankind will vindca'c
the rec,i'ud, Of our conduct, and H who
knows the Eears Of men will Judge Of the
sincerity with which we abored to preserve
the Government Of our fathers in its spirit.
TIE right soIcmnly proclaimed a, tho birth
of the States, and which las been affirmed
and re affirmed in the bills Of rights Of tho
States subsequently admitted into the Union
Of 1889, Immediately recognizes in the people
the power TO resume the authority delegated
for the purpose Of government. Thus the
-vercigu States fere represented proceeded
to form this Confcderacv. and il is bv the a
tuso of language that their act has been de-
nominotod revolution Thev formed new
alliance, hut within each States lis govern
nenr has been retained. TIC riGht Of per-
son and property law not been disturbed.
Tho agent through wtoi. they communicated
with foreign nations is changed, tut this does
no necessarily interrupt 'heir international
rclat ons. Sustained by the Consciousness
that the transition from The former Union TO
the present Confclcracy has not proceeded
from a disregard on our part Of our great oLli-
cations, or any failure TO perform every con.
sttuiional duty: moved by no interest or pas
sion to invade The rights of Others anxious TO
cultivate peace and commerce with al nations,
! we NAV not hope to avoid war, we may az
least expect t'at postority will acqut US Of
having nrcdle,>ly engaged III IT,
Doublv justoficd by tie absence Of wrong
on our part and 10y wanton aggression on tbe
par Of others, there can be no cause to doub;
the courage and patriotism Of the people Of
,hc Confedera,ed States vii! be fou: d equal
- ,c Jofoyao which tlr
security may require.
Our agricultural people, whose chief inter
ct is the export of a commodity required in
every manufacturing coantry, onr true policy
i, peace aud 'hc frcca>t trade wLicE our ncces-
tiles will permit 1t is alike our interest, and
that Of all those fIom whom We would buy,
th;t there should be the fewcst practicable
restrictions u'on the Interchange of commodi-
ties. There ran be but little rivalry between
ours and any manufacturing or navigation
community. such as the FREQ States Of Amer
lean Union Ii must therefore follow there.
from that mutual utcrest would invite good
will and Iii i oiiices II bowoycr, rassion or
lust If dominion cloud tho judgment for in
namc the ambition Of those States, We must
prepare to meet the emergency and maintain
hy the the final arbtramctt Of the sword, tho
position which we have asa cl among the
nations Of the earth. We ave entered upon
career of independence which must be in
fexib'y pn,,ucd through many years Of cor
troversy. but a. cur late associates and
Northcrn States may have ,ainly endeavored
to secure tranquility and obtain respect for the
rights To which we were entitled as neccssi.
", not choice, We have resoricd 10 the remc'
DIV of n separation. and hencefolth our encr.
gics must he directed 10 the condition Of our
own affairs, and the property OF the Confed
eracv which We have formed.
IL just perception Of mutual interests
shall permit us poaccably TO pursue ou' sepcr
ntc political career, my most earnest desire
will have been fulfilled; but if this be denied
rs, and tho irlcSrtv Of our territory aud ju.
risiiction be assailrd, it will but remain for
us with firm rsolve to appeal to arms, and
invoke the blessing of Providence on iir''
cause
As consequence Of our new condition aud
with a view to meet anticipated wants, il will
be necessary to provide = speedy and efficient
of tLn brapches of tho Eyncu i've