The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-05-17
Gfnfral Mistrllanu.
Message of Jefferson Davis.

The message of Jefferson Davis to the
Congress of the Confederate States. dtliver
ed at Montgomery on the 29th Of April. is
an elaborate document, and too long for III
serton in our columns entire. We shall
therefore give only its leading points. Mr.
Davis commences by fulfilling the pleasing
duty of announcing that the constitution OF
the confederate states has been ratified by
convention in each of the states to which ii
was referred, and il only remains that eltc
tons should be held for the choice of officers
to administer it. Other states, he anticipates,
will ioin the confederacy at no distant day
He states that his reason Tor COnyOkIng tie
congress in extra SeSson,was the declaration
ofwar made against the coniederacy of .\bra
ham Lincoln. President OF the United States,
that measures might be devised for the pro-
lection of the country lie then proceeds to
discuss the events which have produced the
present condition Of affairs, first taking up
The question of the relation of The states to
the Federal Union. On this point he says :
during TIE war wa9cd against Greet
Britain hy her colonies, on this continent a
common danger imprlled them 70 close al
lance. and TO the formation of a cuntedtra-
ton, bv the terms of which the colonies. stv-
ing themselves states, entered .Sfretallq into
u firm league Of friendship with each other
for their common defence, the security of
their liberties, and their mutual and general
welfare binding themselves TO assist each
other against ali force offered to Or attacks
made upon them, or any of them, on account
Of religion, severe igutv. trade or other pre-
tence whatever
In order to guard against any misconstruc-
ton of their compact, the several states made
explicit declaration. in distinct article, that
each state retains It's sovereignty, freedom
and ndepcnucnce. and every rower, iursdic-
ton and right which is not h, this conieder-
alton e..pfesSjy dt}e3ot.d to the United States
in Congress assembled
Under this contract 0f alliance the war OF
the revolution Wa, successfully waoeG. and
resulted IN the treaty of ueacc with Grea,
Britain IN l7S3, BY the terms Of which the
several states were, each by pune.rcCoouizeG
to be independent.
The articles Of confederation contained a
clause whereby al! alterations were ulohibi--
ed, unless confirmed bv the legislature Of ey
cry state, after being agreed to by the Con
gress and III Obedience 70 this provision Ill.
der the resolution Of Congress ot the 2lst 0
I February, 80, the several states aplonte,
delegates who attended convention 't0r th'
AUic olot tyIrtSS 11HyoSt { revising the II
tices Of confederation, and reporting to Con
- gle>S and tie seStaI legislatures such alter
atoms and provisions therein as shall, Nht
agreed to III Congress, and confirmed by tn
states, render tie federal constitution adc
Quate to The tXlSenC.eS OF government an(
the preservation OF the MON.
1t was, by the delegates chosen by the sev
eral states, under the resolution Just quoted
that the constitution OF the United State
was framed m l4S!. ard submitted to TN
several states for ratification, as shown b.
The seventh article. which is in these Words
The ratification Of the oonrtHito2tS ot n.n
yiateS shall be sufficient for the establish
5 ment Of this constitution between III. Stutc
so ratitylug TIE same
have ltahclsed certain words III the quo
tations Just made for tie purpose of attrac
ing attention TO the singular and marked cal
>' lion with which the states endeavored, il e,
-. ery possible FORM TO exclude the idea ths
Z the separate ana independent sovereignty
each state was merged into one common 60,
ernment and nation and the earnes. desil
they evinced 10 impress on TIE constitutio
g it's true character-that Of d compact betw &c
independent states.
TIE constitution Of Us. having, hownve
emitted the clause already recited from ii
articles Of confederation, which provided
explicit toms, that each Aate retained i
So.e,eIon,, and ind.pendehce, som. alar
WAS felt in the states when invited 70 rati
lie constitution, .es, this emission should |
!, construed INTO an abandonment ot,he;r che
" ;shed nrincinle. and they refused TO l.. satj
7. fled until amcndments were added TO the CO.
MS st.tu,ion, placing beyond any pretence
doub, the reservation BY the state, of {
their sovereign rights and pow er>-not t
?, pre>sl, delegated to the United States by |,
~ constitution
Yet these "careinl.y worded claus prov
unavailing to prevent the rise and growth
= the Northern states OF Il political scho
which has pcisl>ttntly claimed that the 60
= ernment thus formed was not compact b
tween states but was IN effect national 90
; ernment, set up above and over the states
thus eAaitns the creature above its creator
and making the states Subordinate to
agent appointed by themselves. The peol
oi OF the Southern states he says, whose occ
patlons are purely agricultural, caIly ptlcel