New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-02-20
INAUG UHAI /. \ y ID II i = y
I,I2F;eyIDT.NT j IGITIFIcT.SsON DAVIS.
DELIVERED At MONTGOMERY FEB. Is. 1861.

assigned to me with humble dsrust Of my abilities,
bnt with sustaining confidence in the wisdom OF
those who to guide and aid me in the adnlnls- il
taDn Of public affairs, and an abiding faith in the
virtue and patriotism Of the people. p
Looking forward 10 the speedy establishment OF c
pr11aneut Government to take the place Of this, f
| which, by its greater moral and physical nowcr, y
will be better able to combat with many difficulties
that arise from The conflicting interests Of separate
| nations. I enter upon the duties of the office to
which have been chosen with tie hope that the !
| beginning of our career as Contcderacy, may c
| not be 0bstructed by hostile opposition to our t
| enjoyment OF the separate existence and lnde- 7
| pcndepce we have asserted and which, with the &
blessing of Providence, we will contend Tor and
maintain. ,
Our present political position has been achieved
| in manner unpreceden.cd in the history of ma
tons It illustrates the American idea that GOV
ernments rest upon the consent Of the governed,
and that it is the right of the people to alter or
abolish them at will, whenever they become
destructive Of the ends for which they were es-
| tabiished.
The declared purpose of the compact of the
United States from which we have withdrawn, was
to j" establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defence, promote the gen
cral welfare, and the blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity:" and now, when IN
the Judgment of the sovereign States composing
this Ccnfederacy it has been perverted from the
, purposes for which it ordained and ceased to
answer the ends for which it was established,
peacaful appeal TO the bal0tboX has declared that,
50 far as they are concerned, the Government
created by that compact should cease to exist.
In this they have merely asserted the right which
! the Docaraton of Independence, July i, l77G, de-
fined to he "nalienabc.1 Of the time and occa
sion for its assertion and exercise they, as sover
= eicne were the final judges, each for itself.
The impartial and enlightened verdict Of mankind |
y will yindicae the recudn OF onr conduct and lie
= who knows all hearts, will judge of the sincerity
q with which We have iabored to preserve the Gov
ernmcnt Of our fathers in its spirit 80
j. The right soleun'y proclaimed at the birth OF the
:, United States and which has been soemny Affirm
ed and reafrmcd in the bills of rights of the States
' subsequently admitted into the Union of 1850, un
J., deniahy recognized III the people the poweT to re-
sumo the authority delegated to 1t for the purpose
: ! of government.
= By this right the sovereign States here repre-
y scnted have seeded from this COnfederacy, and it
an abuse of language that their act has peen de-
n | nominated revolutionary
- They have formed new alliance, but within each
- State its government has remained the same, nor
" have the rights Of person or properly oeeh ul"
in turbed.
-, with foreign nations is changed, but this does not
- necessarily interrupt their International relations
"a Sustained by the consciousness that this TanS
~ ton from the former Union to the present Concd-
- eracy has not proceeded from disregard, on our
-. mart of lust obligations any failure to perform
81 every constitutional duty; moved by no interest
~ or passion to invade the rights Of others and anX
~ ioua to cultivate peace and commerce with AL ma
} tions-if we may not hope to avoid war, we may
h at least expect postcrity will acqnit us from hav
IL, inr needlcsslv made it,
dh Doublv Justified therefore, by the absence of
VI C wrong on our part and by the wanton aggression
~ of Others there can be reason to doubt that
nd the courage aud patriotism of the people OF the
ON Confederate States OF America VIII bc 10uhd cqua,
,nt any measure OF defense WNCn lhelF HoLoI anu
an an security will require.
oi, An arrcultura people, whose chief interest is
rb the export Of commodities required IN every man
"a utacturing country, true policy is peace ant
@ the freest trade which necessities Will permit
No. 1t is alike our interest and that of all those t.
tw ~" whom we would sell and from whom we Wou'
W. huv that there should be the fewcSt practical re
Wv srictons upon the interchange oi these commoa
,1n ties. ,.,, ,,
~ our Dconie aud any other manufacturing community
1 such AZ those of the Northern and Eastern State
,iai OF the American Union.
M ',n' 1t must follow therefore, that mutual interest
+h will invite to good will and kind Offices on bot
60 If, however, passion or lust Of dominion, shoul
@ @1eu cloud the Judgment inlamc the ambition Of thos
G States, we must prepare to meet the emergency
h and maintain by the final arbitramen Of the sword
''' the position which we have assumed among til
oo, nations of tie earth.
cen We have entered upon new career of ndepenC
Us" cuce and must be inleX,ble in maintaining il
though pursued through many years of controvcrS
with our late associates of the Northern States.
Mt We have vnnly cndeaVorcd to secure tranquIllt
the and obtain respect for the rights to which Wcr
that entitled, and as necessity, not as choiee,
lich have resorcd to the remedy of separation, III,
zen. Lrncnforth our energies must be directed to tn
ing conduct of our affairs and the perpetIty
re- the COnfedcracy whiCG we have formed.
his If lust perception of mutual interests shall pc
the nit us peaccobly to pursue our separate politic
had career nv most earnest desire will have been u
oss filed Bat if this be denied Us, aud the integrity
led our territory and jurisdiction be assatlcd twill h
hch remain for us, with firm resolve to appeal 10 arm
lie and to invoke the blessings of Providence on ju
lima cause. w
ruU. As a consequence of our new condition aud rel
tons and with view to meet anticipated want
il viii be necessary to provide for the speedy Al
tl efficient organization OF branches OF the INecuh
''0 Department, having special charge of foreign
tercourse, finance, military affairs ana postal sc
Y III vice. r.,
Ship For purposes Of defense, the Confederate Stat
.aW NAV Under ordinary circumstances, rely main
:, of upon their militia; but it is deemed advisable,
trial lie nrescnt condition of affairs that there should
sued well instructed and disciplined array, more
the mcrols than would usually tie required for pea
nter$ establishment.
1cnt, %lso suggest that for the protection of our
pgcd b9Is and commerce on the high seas, a navy be
n in rallzad Bt this, as well as other subjects app
David proprate necessities, has doubtless eh8ag
II so. the attention OF tho Congress.
osted With a constitution differing from that OF {
larEs fathers only far it is explanatory OF all We
known intSulon TO be freed from sectional G.
0rts which have iutcrtercd with the pursuits
Tash the general welfare, ii is not unr'asonabIe to
meet that other States from which We nave recon
ori parted may seek to unite thcir fortunes with OF
enih& Under the Government we have instituted
aiol3 For this your constitution makes adequate ?
! 'l1 " vision: but beyond this, mistake not the ju
lgiaiI mrnt and will of the people "re that II r"un
9llii, with States from which we have separated
or neither practicable nor desirable. 10 Increase
or ms n0ypr dcyclJn the resources and promote the IL
paEI ninr.4 of 4 corc1crany, it is requisite that tn
ER. thnulIb, ,ru II h,ni"gcnety that the welfare
every porton ho the on O, 'ne ,'I1'o,, "ho'G. ava
NDHn oondcred, Which must and should esult i'll sepo
loving Actuacl solely by the desire to pr9n$Eeryo pnEa"
" own RIGHTS and promote our own WrIl2rC, ,
were ennarltion of the United States has been mari
singer Ly no aggression upon Others ana followed by
: had r1nyusi0n Oar industrial pursuits have recel
iso in | no check The cultivation of our hcidS mas |
" "a r,,a.gpd ns heretofore, and even should we be
ana Waived in war, there would be no conS'dcIa
cen by limnution in the production OF slapSs Wliacn II
Rt,tlI