The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-02-26
INAUGURAL SPEECH OF PRESIDENT
DAVIS.

ant ever witnessed in the South. An immense
crowd gathered on Capitol Hill, consisting of the
beauty and gallantry of the State. The military
and citizens of the different States fully rep
resented. President Davis commenced his lnau-
gural precisely at one o'clock He said:
Gentlemen of the Congress cfMe Confederate
States OF An,ericu-Friends and FeLtOr-cttirens:
Called to the difficult responsible station of Chief
Executive of the Provisional Government which
you have initiated, approach to discharge the du
ties assigned with an humble distrust of my abll
tiles, but with suitable confidence in the wisdom
of those who are to guide and aid in the adj
ministration of public affairs and an abiding faith in
the virtue and patriotism of The people. Looking
forward to the speedy establishment OF perma-
nent 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 may arise from the conflicting in
terests OF separate nations enter upon the duties
of the Office to which have been chosen, with
the hope that the beginning of
Confederacy, may not be obstructed by hostile op-
position to enjoyment o. separate existence,
and independence, which we have asserted, and,
with the blessing of Providence, intend to main
tain.
Our present condition has been achieved in
manner unprecedented in the history of nations,
illustrating the American idea, that Government
must rest upon the consent of the governed, and
that it is right that people should alter abolish
Governments whenever they become destructive of
the ends for which they were established. The
declared purpose of the compact Of the Union,
from which We have withdrawn, to establish
justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for
common defence, promote general welfare, and Sc
cure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and
our posterity; and when, in the judgment of the
sovereign States now composing this Contederacy,
it has been perverted from the purpose tor which
it was ordained, and ceased to answer the ends for
which it was established, and peaceful appeal to
the ballot.box declared that so far as they were
concerned the Government created by that conf
pact should cease to exist. In this they mere as
serted the right which the Declaration OF lndepen-
dence of Seventeen Hundred and Seventy-sx
(l776) defined to be nalienable. OF the time
and occasion of its exercise, they, as sovereigns,
we're the final judges each for itself. The Impair
tial and enlightened verdict of mankind will vim
dictate the rectitude of our conduct, and He who
knows the hearts of men, will judge of the sinceri-
ty with which We labored to preserve the Govern
ment of our fathers In its spirit The right SOL
EMMY proclaimed at the birth of the States, and
which has been affirmed and re-afhrmed in the bill
of rights of the States subsequently admitted into
the Union of 1889, undeniably recognize in the
people the power to resume the authority delegat-
ed for the purposes of Government. Thus the
Sovereign States here represented have proceeded
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language that their act has been denomnated 'rev-
oution." They formed new alliance, but with
In each State its Government has retained the
rights OF the person and property which has not
been disturbed. The agent through whom they
communicated with foreign nations is changed,
but this does not necessarily interrupt their inter-
nal relations Sustained by the consciousness that
transition from the former Union to the present
Confederacy, did not proceed from any disregard
narf of hfhlItr fnlIu tD
perform every Constitutional duty, and moved by
no interest passions to invade the rig hts of 9TH
ers, anxious to cultivate peace and commerce with
all other nations, If We may not hope to avert
war, we may, at least, expect that posterity will
aoquit us Of having needlessly engaged in it.
Doubly justified by the absence OF wrong our
part, and by wanton aggression on the part of 9TH
ers, there can be no cause to doubt that the
age and patriotism of the people of the Confed-
crate States will be found equal to any measure
Of defence which security may require Of an ogri-
cultural people, whose chief interests is in the ex-
port OF a commodity required in every manutac-
turing country. Our true policy is peace and the
freest trade which our necessities will permit 1t
is alike interest and that of all those whom
We would sell, and from whom would buy, that
there should be the fewest practicable restrictions
upon the interchange of commodities There can
be but little rivalry between ours and other manu-
featuring or navigating communities, such the
States OF the American Union. 1t must follow,
therefore, that mutual interest should invite good
will and kind feelings. If, however, passion or
lust should cloud the judgment in1ame the
ambition OF those States, must prepare to meet
the emergency, and maintain, by the final arbitra-
nent of the sword, the position which we have
assumed among the nations of the earth. We
have entered upon a career of independence, and
it must be infexibly pursued. Through many
years OF controversy with late associates, the
Northern States, we have vainly endeavored to
secl re tranquility and obtain respect for those
rights to which We entitled. AS a necessity,
not choice, We have resorted to the remedy of
separation, and henceforth, our energies must be
directed to the conduct of our own affairs and the
perpetuity of the Confederacy which we have form
cd. If just perception Of mutual interest shall
permit us peaceably to pursue our separate politi-
cal career, my most earnest desire will have been
fulfilled. But if this be denied us, and the in
tegrity of our Territorial Jurisdiction be assaled
1t will at last remain for US, with firm resolve, to
appeal to arms and invoke the blessings of Pro-
violence on our just cause
As consequence of our new condition, and
with view to meet anticipated wants, it will be
necessary to provide speedy and efficient organic
alton OF the branches of the Executive Department
having special charge of foreign intercourse,
finance, military affairs and postal service. For
purposes OF defence, the Confederate States may,
under ordinary circumstances, rely mainly upon
their militia; but it is deemed advisable, in the
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