Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-02-22
From tie Charleston Coarjcr.
INAUGURAL SPEECH OF PRESIDENT DA-
WIS
AvcrsT,. February Is, 1861.

AvCusT, February Is, 1861.
The MONTGOMERY inaugural ceremonies to-day
were the grnndest pageant ever witnessed in
the South An immense crowd gathered on
Capitol Hill, consisting of the beauty and gal
lsntry of the State. The military aud citizens
Of the different States were fully represented.
President Davis commenced his Inaugural pre-.
cisely at one o'clock. He said:
Gentlemen Of the Congress Of the Confederate
STATES of fdmcrica-Fricnds and Fellow CitizcnS
Called to the difficult, responsible station of
Chief Executive of the Provisional Government
which you have initiated, | approach to dis
charge the duties assigned me with humble
distrust of my abilities but with suitable con
fidence in the wisdom of those who are TO guide
and aid me in the administration of 'public af-
fairs, and an abiding faith in the virtue and
patriotism of the people. Looking forward to
the speedy establishment of q permanent Gov.
ernnent TO take the place 1f this, and which
Ivy its greater moral aud physical power will
be better able to combat with the many diff
cultirs which may arise from the conflicting i'll
terests Of separate nations, enter on the
duties Of the ufce to which have chosen with
the hope that the beginning Of our career as
Confeedracy mny 10, be ohstrncscd bv hostile
opposition to our enjoyment of teparntc exis
tencc and independence which we have nss.r
ted. and with the blessing of Providence in
tend to maintain. Our present condition hns
been achieved in manner unprecedented in
l.
can idea, that Government must rest upon the
consent Of the governed aud that it. is right
that the people should alter or abolish Govern.
1nents whenever they become destructive of the
ends for which they were established. The
declared purpose of tn. compact Of the Cni,u
from which We have wilhdrnIan wns. to cs,ab
lsll justic. ensure domestic Tranquility. provide
for common defence promote general welfare.
and secure the blessings of liberty for our
selves aud our roster;'y; and when, in the
judgment OF The sovereign States ruw cumw,s.
ing this CoEtodcrarv. it hai been perverted
;se:n lie purposes for which l, WAS urJaucd.
So c'cSe't to answer the ends for which il wns
es'aoii>Aed. and peaceful appeal TO the ballot
toS declared tEat so far as they We're concern
ed :hs Government created hy that compact
should cease t" exist, III this they merely ne.
serted the right which the Declaration Of In
dependence Of Seventeen Hundred nI.i Seven
,ySix Q17G) defined TO he inalicnahle OF
the time and occasion "f iis exercise, they, as
sorercigns, were the final judges Of each for
itself The impartial and enlightened verdict
OF mankind will vindirate the rccti,ude Of our
conduct and lie who knows the hearts of men
will judge of the sincerity with which we la.
bored to preserve the Government Of our faith.
ers in its spirit.
The right sulcnnly proclaimed ut the birth
OF States. and which Inns been affirmed and
rentirmed in the bill OF rights Of States suhse-
deniablY recognize in the people the power to
resume the authority delegated for purposes Of
Government. Thus the Sovereign States here
represented have proceeded to form this Con.
federacy. and it is by IN abuse of lar puape
that their net has been dcnoL.uatcd ''revolu-
ton" They formed no new alliance but with
i'll each Slate it's Government has retained the
fights OF The person and property, which has
not been disturbed. The agent through whom
they communicated with foreign nations ls
changed, but this does not necessarily inter.
rupt their international reatione sustain ed by
the consciousness that transition from the for
Iher Union TO the present Confederacy did not
proceed from any disregard on our part of
auch obligations or any failure to perform
or passion to invade the rights of others: anx.
lous TO cultivate peace aud commerce with all
hatlons, II We may not hope 10 avoid war. we
may at least expect that posteIity will nc
quit us OF having needl,ssly engaged in it.
D"ub'y justified by the absence Of wrong on
our part, and 10y wanton aggression on the
part OF others, there can be no cause 10 doubt
VI ..sa1 me courage and patriotism of the people
OF the Confederate States will be- found cei1al
10 any measure Of defence which, our security
may require as an agricultural people whose
chlel intereet is the export Of commodity re.
4uirao IN every manufacturing country Our
true policy is peace, and the freest trade of
"hl:h our necessities will permit 1t is alike
our interest, and that Of all those TO whom we
MouIa W sell, and from whom We would buy that
tnere should be the fewest practicable restric.
LION, LIONS upon the interchange of commodities.
mere can be but little rivalry between ours
ana other manufacturing, or the navipalinp
c. communities such as the States Of the American
Union. 1t must follow, therefore, that mutual
interest should invite good will and kind feel.
inga H. however, passion or lust, should
cloud tue Judgment or intiame the ambition of
NOSE states, we must prepare to meet this
emergency, and maintain, by the final arbtra.
Inent OF the sword. the position which we have
assumed among the nations of the earth. We
nave entered upon career of Independence
and 1T must be infexiLly pursued. Through
many years OF controversy with our late as
sociatcs, the Northern States. We have vainly
tnaeavored to secure tranquility and obtain
respect Tor those rights 10 which we we're en-
titled AS necessity, not Al choice we have
iesor'ed to the remedy of separation, and
hehSeiorth our energies must be directed to the
'ohouct OF our own affairs. and the perpetuity
OF the Confederacy which we have formed
~ just perception Of mutual interest shall
PERM. permit us peaceahly to pursue our separate
p"it'Sa' career. my most earnest desire will
have been fulfilled. But if this he denied us
and the integrity Of our territorial Jurisdiction
ne assailed. it will at last remain for us, with
nrm resolve, to appeal to arms, and invoke the
blessings Of Providence on our just cause.
AS consequence Of our new condition, and
WIN view TO meet anticipated wants, it will
oe necessary to provide speedy and efficient
organization of branches Of the Executive De.
par'ment having special charge Of foreigninter.
course hnance, military affairs, and post al SER
wee. wee For purposes of defence the Confederate
states may under ordinary circumstances. reIy
manly upon their militia; but it is deemed
Advisable, in the present condition of affairs
'nan thsre should he well instructed and DIS
eip'iTed army, more numerous than would
usually De required in peace estabislm pt
! aiso suggest that. for the protection of our
nsroors and commerce on the high seas. Navy
aaapted .1' TO those objects will be required
Ihese Necessities have doubtless engaged the
S!tent'on of Congress. With Constitution
a,her'ng only from that of our fathers in so
;as ;a as IT. is explanatory of their we'll known
h,".eot' ,reed from sectional conflicts. which
maSe W Ihterfered with the pursuit of the general
W., Msensre, 1t is not unreasonable to expeet that
.n .ns otates IRON which we have so recently mar.
Moay may seek TO unite their fortunes with ours
ms your Constitution tuakes adeuuate nrov;..
yon' But beyond thIs IL ,n;si.I