Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1861-03-02
FROM MONTGOMERY
TlON OF GOV. DAVIS.
Montgomery, Februar,

the grandest pageant ever witnessed in
the South. There Was an immense crowd
on Capitol Hill, consisting OF great array
OF the beauty, military aud citizens Of The
different States.
He said:
Gentlemen Of the Congress Of Conteder-
ate SAFES Of america:
FRIENDS AND Fellow CITIZENS: Called
to the difficult and responsible station of
Chief Executive of tho Provisional
Government which you have instituted, |
the discharge of the duties as
signed me with an humble dlstrust OF my
abilities, but with a sustaining confidence
in the wisdom of those VINO are to guide
and aid me in the administration of public
affairs, and an abiding faith in the virtue
and patriotism Of the people, looking for
wand to the speedy establishment of
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 difficulties which
arise from the conflicting interests Of sep
arate nations. | enter upon the duties of
the office to which have been chosen
with the hope that the beginning of our
career as Contederacy may not be Oh
structed by hostile oppos ltlon to our en-
joyment Of the separate existence aid
independence, with the blessing Of Provi.
den, e, which we have asserted, and with
the blessing of Providence, we intend to
maintain our present position. 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 rig h.
of the people to alter and abolish govern
ments Whenever they become destructive
to the ends for which they were established
The declared compact OF the Union from
which we have Withdrawn Was to establish
justice, insure domestic tranquility, pro-
vide for the common defense, promste the
general welfare. and secure tae blessings
Of liberty to ourselves and to posterity,
and when, in the judgment Of the sover-
eIsn States now comprising this Conted
eracy, it has been perverted from the pur
poses for which it was ordained and ceased
to answer the ends for which it was estab-
lshed, 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 occasion of
its exercise they are sovereigns, they were
the final judges each for itself The i'm.
partial, enlightened verdict of mankind
viii VII 70 b., H., ,y,.
aud He who knows the hearts Of men will
judge of the sincerity with which we la.
bored to preserve the Government, OF our
fathers in its spirit.
The right solemn'y proclaimed at the
birth Of the States and which has been
affirmed and reairned in the bill of ri hts
of the States, subsequently admitted into
the Union OF 1889, undeniably recognizes
i'll the people the power to resume the
authority delegated for the purpose Of
government. Thus the sovereign State.
here represented proceeded to form this
Contederacy, and it is the bv abuse Of Ian.
guags that their act has been denominated
revolution. They formed new alliance, bu,
within each State ts government has been
retained, The rights of person and pro.
perry have not been disturbed
This agent through which they commu.
nicated with Foreign Powers is changed.
but this does not necessarily interrupt
their International relations Sus aimed
by the consciousness that the trAnsilir..
f, ON the former Union to the present
C"nted'racy has not proceeded from Il
disregard on our part OF our just obira-
tons, or any failure TO perform every
Constitutional duty, moved hv no interaS,
o. passion to invade the rights Of others,
anxious t, cultivate peace an! commerce
with all nations, ii We may not hope to
avoid war, We may at least expect that
postcrty will acquit US OF having needless
y engaged III II.
DoubDy justified by the absence Of
wrong on oar part, .lnd by wanton a-sres
sion on the part u others, there can be
no cause to doubt the courage and patrl-
otism Of the people OF he Confederate
States will be IOund equal to any measures
Of defense which soon their country may
require. An agricultural people, whose
CHEF Interest IS the export OF Il commodity
required IN every manufacturing country,
oar true policy is peace, and the frees,
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 fewest practical restrictions
upon the interchange Of commodities
There eau be but little rivalry between
ours and any manufacturing or navigating
community. such as the fee States OF the
American Union. 1t must, therefore, fol,
ow there.rom, that mutual interests would
invite good will and kind Offices. IL, how
ever, passion or lust Of dominion should
:!Oud the Judgment or influence the action
IF those States we must prepare to meet
he emergency and maintain by the final
lrhitrament Of the sword, the position
which w. have assumed among the nations
IF the earth.
We have entered upon q career Of indie
oendence which mast be intlexibly pur-
'ued. Through many years OF controver
~, with our late associates and Northern
States, we have vainly enaeavored to Sc
cure tranquility and obtain respect for the
lights to which we were entitled As y
necessity, not n choice, We have rnSorled
% the remedy of u separation, aud hence
orlh our energies must he directed to the
condition of our own affairs, and the per-
,atuity Of the confederacy which we have
ormed. If just perception Of mutual
interests shall permit us peaceaby to pur'
Tue our separate political career, my mos,
earnest desire will have been fulfilled
tut if this be denied us, and the integrity
If our territory and jurisdiction be assail
ID, it will but remain for us with firm re-
o!u,ion to appeal to arms, and invoke the
blessing Of Providence on jus. cause
As consequence Of our new corr ition,
md with view to meet pa'ed~ants.
t viii be necessary to provide a speedy |
md efficient organization Of the branches
# Tho eyeeu,iye 1enurfment having sna- |