The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-02-20
THE sbETHERN CONFEDERACY.

SiStIng Of Il great array of the beauty, m1ll-
tary, aud citizens of the different States.
Mr. Davis commenced at one O'Clock He
said
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONGRESS OF THE Con
FEDERATE STATES OF acknowledgements
AND FELLow-CITIzENs Called to the
difficult and responsible station of Chief E1-
ecutive of the Provisional Government,
which you have instituted, approach the
discharge of the duties assigned me with an
humble distrust of my abilities, but with a
sustaining confidence in the wisdom of those
who are to guide and aid me in the admin
istration of public affairs, and an abiding
faith in the virtue and patriotism of the
people /; looking forward to the speedy es-
tablishment of a permanent government to
take the place of this, and which, by its
greater moral and physical power, will be
better able to combat with the many diff
culties which arise from the conflicting in
terests of separate nations. l enter upon the
duties of the Office to which l have been
chosen, with the hope that the beginning of
our career, as a COnfederacy, may not be
INSTRUCTED by hostile opposition to our en-
joyment of the separate existence and in
dependence, which, with the blessing
of Providence, we have asserted,
and with the blessings of Providence we in
tended to maintain our present condition,
achieved in a manner unprecedented in the
history of nations. 1t illustrates the Amer
lean idea that governments rest upon the
consent of the governed and that it is the
right of the people to alter and abolish
governments whenever they become des-
tructive of the ends for which they were
established. The declared object of the
compact of the Union from which we have
withdrawn, was to establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility, provide for the COM
mon defense, promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings of liberty to our
selves and our posterity: and when, in the
Judgment of sovereign States now cOmpris-
ing this Confederacy, it has been perverted
from the purposes for which it was Ordain-
ed, and ceased to answer its ends for which
it was Established, a peaceful appeal to
the ballot-box declared, that so far as they
were concerned, the government created by
that compact should cease to exist. In
this they merely asserted the right which
the Declaration of independence of l776
defined to be inalienable. OF the time and oG-
casion of its exercise, they, as sovereigns,
were the final judges, each for itself. The
impartial enlightened verdict of mankind
will vindicate the rectitude of our conduct,
and He who knows the hearts of men, will
Judge of the sincerity with which we labor
ed to preserve the government OfOur fathers
in its spirit The right solemnly proclaimed
at the birth of the States, and which has
been affirmed and reafrmed il lhe bills OF
rights of the States subsequently ad-
mitted into the Union in 1889, undeniably
recognizes in the people the power to resume
the authority delegated for the purpose of
the government. Thus the sovereign states
here represented, proceeded to form this con-
federacy, and it is by the abuse of language,
that their act has been denOminated revolu-
ton. They formed new alliance, but
within each state its government has been
retained. The rights of person and pro-
perty have not been disturbed; the agent
through whom they communicated with
foreign nations is changed, but this does
not necessarily interrupt their international
relations. Sustained by the consciousness
that the transition from the former Union
to the present COnfederacy has not proceed
ed from a disregard on our part, of our just
obligations, or any failure to perform every
constitutional duty involved, by no interest
or passion to invade the rights of others,
anxious to cultivate peace and commerce
with all nations, if we may not hope to
avoid war, we may, at least, expect that
posterty will acquit US of having needlessly
engaged in it. Doubly justified by the alb
sence of wrong on our part, and by wantOn
aggression on the part of others, there can
be no cause to doubt the courage or patriot
ism of the people of the Confederate States.
They will be found equal to any measures
of defence, which soon their security may
require.
An agricultural people, whose chief in
terest is the export Of a commodity requir-
ed in every manufacturing country our true
policy is peace and the freest trade which
our necessities will permit. 1t is alike our
interest, and that of all those from whom
we would, buy that there should be the few
est practicable restrictions upon the inter
change of commodities. There can be but
little rivalry between ours and any manu-
featuring or navigating community, such as
the free States of the American Union. 1t
must, therefore, follow therefrom, that
mutual interests would invite their good will
and offices.
If, however, passion or lust of dominion
should cloud the Judgment, or influence the
ambition of those States, we must prepare
to meet the emergency and maintain by the
final arbitrament of the sword the position
which we have assumed among the nations
of the earth. We have entered upon a career
of independence which must be infexi-
bly, pursued through many years of con-
tro7ersy but our late associates and North
ern States may have vainly endeavored to
secure tranquility and obtain respect for the
rights to which we were entitled. As
necessity, not q choice we have re-
sorted to the remedy of a separation,
and henceforth our energies must be
directed to the condition of our own affairs,
and the perpetuity of the Confederacy which
bar f,pu1ad If Of
mutual interests shall permit us peaceabIy
to pursue our separate careers, my most
earnest desire will have been fulfilled. But
if this be denied US, and the integrity of our
territory and jurisdiction be assailed, it will
but remain for US, with firm resolve, to ap-
peal to arms and invoke the blessings of
Providence on just cause. AS a conse-
quence of our new condition, and with
view to meet anticipated wants, it will be
necessary to provide speedy and efficient
organization of the branches of the Exec
utive Department, having special charge of
foreign intercourse, finance, military affairs,
and postal service.