Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-05-08
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.
10 the Special Session Of tie Congress Con-
renM at lNonyome,y AprH 29M, 1851.

70 the Special Session Of tie Congress Con-
re'asa at Montgomery, Apu 29M, lSGl.
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONGRESS:
It is my pleasing duty to announce to YOU
that the Constitution framed for the establish
ment Of permanent government for the Con-
federate States has been ratified by Convcn-
tions in each Of those States TO which 1t was
referred 10 inaugurate the government in
its full proportion and upon its own substan-
tial basis of the popular will, it only remains
that elections should be held for the designa-
ton Of the officers to administer it.
There is every reason to believe that at no
distant day, other States Unidentified in poiti-
cal principles and community Of interests
with those which you represent will join
this Coniederacy; giving to its typical con-
stelation increased splendor-to its govern.
mcnt OF free, equal and sovereign States a
a wider sphere Of usefulness-and to the
friends of constitutional liberty greater sc.
curity for its harmonious and perpetual eYs-
tencc.
1t was not, however, for the purpose Of
making this announcement that have deem
ed it my duty to convokc you at An earliei
day than that fixed by yourselves for Your
meeting. The declaration of war made against
this Confederacy by Abraham Lincoln, the
President Of the United States. in his procla
nation issued OH the fifteenth day of the
present month"; rendered it necessary, in my
Judgment, that you should convene at the
earliest practicable moment, TO devise the
measures necessary for the defense Of the
country.
The occasion is indeed an extraordinary
one. 1t justiIies Inc in brief review of the
relations heretofore existing between us and
the States which now unite in Warfare against
us, and in Succnct statement of the events
which have resulted in this warfare: to the
end that mankind MAJ pass intelligent and
impartial judgment on It's motives and OBJ
jects.
During the war wagcd agains: Great Britain
by her colonies on this continent, 4 common
danger impc!lcd them to close alliance. aud
to the formation OF 4 Confederation, by the
terms of which the colonies, styling themselves
States. entered "SsreraUy imto 4 firm league
OF friendship with each other for their Com,
mon defense, tie security OF tEci Fiber
ties, and their mutual and general welfare:
binding themselves to assist each other against
them or any of them, on account OF religion.
sovereignty, trade or any other prctensc what
ever.n
In order to guard against any miscons;ruc,
ton Of their compact. the several States made
explicit declaration, in u distinct article, that
cach State retlinS It's sovereignty, freedom
and independence, and every power jur:','ic.
ton aud right which is not by this Con.edcra,
ton expressly elsiegated to the United States
in Congress assembled.
Under this contract Of alliance. the war OF
the revolution was successfully wagcd, and
resulted in the treaty of peace with Great
Britain in l7S3, by the terms of which the
several States were, cach by mare. recognised
to DO independent.
The articles of confederation contained
clause whereby all alterations were prohibited.
unless confirmed by the Legislatures OF cce'y
.S!ute, after being agreed to by the Congte-s:
and in obedience to this provision under
the resolution Of Congress of the 2lst Feb
ruarv. l7S7, the several States appointed dele
rates who attended u convention for the
Sp!c auA cypress purpose of revising the artl.
clcs Of confederation. and reporting to Con-
cress ana the several Legislatures. such al
terations and provisions therein as shall when
agreed 10 in Congress, and confrmed by tac
.Siutes, render the Federal Constitution adc-
uuatc to the cxigenc!cs of government and
the preservation of the Union
1t was, by the delegates chosen, by the
scrc,uI .Sl,ies under the resolution just quo
ted, that the Constitution of the United States
was framed in l157, and submitted to the
Sccsrat States for ratification, as shown by
the 1th article, which is in these words.
srhe ratification OF the CDnrcnti0nSo of htne
.S!ates shall he sufficient lov the establishment
of this Constitution Jetrcca Ike States, so
ratifying the same"
| have itaicscd certain words i'll the quo
tations Just made, for the purpose OF attract
Ing attention to tic singular and marked cau'
tion with which the States endcarorcJ, in
every possible io:nl, to exclude tic idea
that the separate and Independent Sovereignty
of each State was merged into one common
government ard nation; and the earnest de-
sire they cyinccd TO impress on the ConStiiu-
ton its truc charactcr-that OF 4 compact 6s-
irs.n independent States.
The Constitution of l11%l having, however,
omitted the clause already recitcu from the
articles OF Confederation, which provided in
explicit terms, that each Stale retained Its
sovereignty and independence, some alarm
was felt in the States when lnvlic'l to ratity
the Constitution. lest this omission should be
construct into an abandonment oi their
cherished principle, and thcy rrt'lsed to bc
satisfied until amendments were added to tie
Constitution, placing Gcrond any :'retence 0!
do,Dt, the reservation b: the States, Of ;:li their
sovereign rights and iiowe:s--not expressly
d lie. atc;l TO the United States by tic Con.
s,itutiOn.
S,raaac in;lccA m,lsti; appear to the I'M.
Martial ch;r@rr, bm. il is noue the less tr;:c.
tia: all these carefully worlcd Clauses proved
unayailiny to prevent the rise and growth IN
tr,e Northern States OF a r2il:cal school
which has ae.siStcnt;y claimed That tic GOV
ornmant thus lurmcd was not compact ~
tresu States. but was in elect Il national gov,
rrnmant. set ul nLuce and orer the States
An organizations created by TIC States to Sc
cure til. blessings Of liberty ati'i independence
agains. t1,ri.ya aggression, has been gra'l''ai-
lv nrry..rcl int,a machine Tor their c1muo!
~ ,bo;r ,in.acs'ic aiii,.rs the c'f*tlH"c l..
.,acn eya;;.l above It's c,r ,to,s the l;,'ia.'-
.,oL, have been made Subordinate to the "Jcm
app,ated by themselves.
Ike people OF the s9athcrn States. Wt 1Se
alm9s. exclusive occupation va; agriculture:
early perceived a tcnJcacJ IN the Northern
States to Renter the common %"TcriiiEcnl
s,r:,ser.ient to their p#n purposes, by lt'p2-
sing burthcns Oh 2oin'nerce rs a protection 10
their manufacturing and Shipping interests.
Long and amtry controversy gre" oft "i
these attempts, often successful, TO hcneit one
lection Of the country at the cxpen.c Of the
c;ber: and the danger OF disruption ars:ns
Sron th, cause was enhanced b; the fact that
the Northern population was increasing By
immigration aud other causes in greater
ratio than the population Of the South; By
degrees as the Northern States gained pre-
nonderancc in the National Congress, sell IN