Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-02-22
inauguration of President gef-
ferSOn Davis.
MONTGOMERY. Ala,,. Eel

"a" 49,. ~
The inaugural ceremonies here today
formed the grandest pageant that was ever
witnessed in the South. An immense crowd
covered Chapel Hill, comprising the beauty
of the city and surrounding country, and
the military and citizens of the different
States. President Davis commenced the
delivery of his inaugural address at l o.
clock. He spoke as follows:
Called to the difficult and responsible sta
ton of Executive Chief of the Provisional
Government which you have instituted,
approach the discharge Of the duties sasign-
ed me with an humble distrust of my abili.
ties, but with q sustaining confidence in the
wisdom Of those who are to aid and guide me
in the administration of public affairs, and
an abiding faith in the virtue and the pa.
triotism Of the people. hooking forward te
the speedy establishment Of a provisional
government to take the place Of the present
one, and which by its greater moral and
physical pewers will be better able to con.
tend with the difficulties which arise from
the conflicting interests Of separate nations,
| enter upon the duties Of the Office for Which
/ have been chosen with the hope that the
beginning of our career as @ C~onfedaracy
may not be obstructed by hostile opposition
to the enjoyment Of that separate and indie
pendent existence which we have assorted,
and which, with the blessing of Providence
We intend to maintain.
Our present position has been achieved
IN a manner unprecedented in the history Of
nations, It illustrates the American idea
that government rests upon the consent of
the governed, and that it is the right ofthe
people tc alter or abolish q government
whenever it becomes destructive Of the ends
for which it was established. The declared
purposes Of the compact of the Union from
which we have withdrawn, were to estab-
lish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, to
provide for the common defence, to promote
the general welfare, and to secure the bless
ings Of liberty for ourselves and our poster
ity; and when in IT, Judgment OF the SOW
erelgn States now composing this Confed-
eracy it had been perverted from the pur-
poses for which it Was ordained, and had
ceased to answer the ends for which it was
established, an appeal to the ballot box de-
clared that so far az they we're concerned
the government created By that compact,
should cease to exist. In this they merely
asserted q right which the Declaration Of
Independence of1776 defined to be ina fem
able. Of the time and occasion for it's ex-
erolse they, IS sovereigns, were the final
Judges, each fer itself. The impartial and
enlightened verdict Of mankind will vindi-
cate the rectitude Of our conduct, and He
who knows tie hearts Of men will Judge the
sincerity with which ehaye labored to pre-
serve the government Of our fathers, in its
spirit, and with these rights inherent in 1t
which were solemnly proclaimed at the birth
Of the States, and which have been affirmed
and re affirmed in the Bills Of Rights oftbe
several States. When they entered into
the Uuion Of 1880 it was With the undeni-
able recognition Of the power ofthe people to
resume the authority delegated for the pur-
pose Of that government Whenever, in their
opinion, its functions were perverted and
its ends defeated. by virtue Of this au-
thority, the time and occasion Requiring
them to exercise il haxiA4aTed the SOW
cTogn States fhere represented have seeded
from that Union, and it is a gross abuse Of
language to donominate the Get rebellion Of
revolution. They have formed . new ALI
ance, but il each State its government has
remained as before. The rights Of persons
and Of property have not been disturbed
The agency Through which they have com
municated with foreign powers has been
changed, but this does not necessarily IN
terrupt their international relations.
Sustained by a consciousness that on.
transition from the former Union TO tbs
present C~onfederacy has not proceeded from
any disregard On our part Of our Just obi
g%ations.o Or any failure to perform every con-
stitutional daty-moved by no intention OF
desire to invade the rights Of otaers-anx.
ions to cultivate peace aud commerce with
all nations-if We may not hope TO avoid
war, we may at least expect that posterity
will ac4nit us Of having noedlessly engaged
in it. We are doubIy justified BY the alb
sence Of wrong on Cur part, and by wanton
aggression on tie part Of others. There
can be no cause &c doubt that the courage
and patriotism Of the people Of the Coined
crate States will be found equal to any
measure Of defence which vii be required
for their security. Devoted to agricultural
pursuits. their chief interest is the export OF
a commodity required in every manufactu
ring country. Our true policy is peace, and
the freest trade our necessities viii permit.
1t is alike cur interests and that Of those to
whom we would sell, and from whom we
would buy, that there should be the fewest
practicable restrictions upon InteTchanges
Of commodities. There can be but little
rivalry between US and any manufacturing
or navigating community such as the north
western States of the American Union.
1t must f ollow, therefore, that mutual
interest would invite good will and kind
ness between them and u.s.. IF, however.
passion or lust Of dominion should cloud
the judgment and iEaame the ambition Of
of these States, we must prepare to meet
the emergency, and maintain by the final
arbitrament of the sword, the position we
have assumed among the nations Of the
earth. We have entered upon our career
of independence and it must be iuhexibly
pursued.
Through many years Of controversy with
our late associates, the Northern States, we
have vainly endeavored to secure tranquili-
ty and obtain respect for the rights to which
we were entitled. AS a necessity, not a
choice, we have rosorted to separation, and
| henceforth our energies must be devoted to