The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-05-17
MESSAGE OF
FFEaR son DA Wis,
PRESIDENT OF THE SO CALLED
CO.TFED yfTED STATES.

GENTLEMEN OF TaE CONGRESS- 1t Is m7
pleasing duty to announce TO you that the Con-
sttution framed for the establishment of per-
nanent governments for the Confederate States
has been ratified by Conventions in each oil
those States to which il was referred. To in
augurate the government in its full proportions
upon ITS own substantial oasis OF the popular
will. it only remains that elections should be
held TOR the designation of the officers to admin
ister 1t.
There is every reason 10 believe that a. no
distant day other States Unidentified in political
principles and community OF interests with those
whrch you represent will join in this Confed-
eracy, giving to IFS typical constellation increa-
sed splendor--to It's government o! free, equal
and sovereign States wider sphere of useful
ness-and to the friends OF constitutional iber-
" greater security for lis harmonious and per-
petual and existence.
II was not, however, for the purpose OF ma
king this announcement that | have deemed il
nv duty to c0nvoke you at an earlier day than
that fixed by yourselves for your meeting. 49,
The declaration OF war made against this Con-
federacy by Abraham Lincoln, the President Of
the United States, in his proclamation issued OF
the hfteenth day OF the present month, render
ed it necessary in my judgment that you should
convene a. the earliest practicable moment, to
devise the measures necessary for the defence
Of the codntry.
The occasion is indeed an extraordinary one
II jusiifies me in brief review ofth relations
heretofore existing between US and the States
which now unite in warfare against US, and in
a succinct statement Of the events which have
resulted 10 this warfare; TO the end that man
kind may pass intelligent and impartial iudg-
o,dC OH
During the war waged against Great Britain
by her colonies on this continent, common
danger impelIed them to a close alliance, and to
the formation OF Confederation, BY the terms
of which the coIonips, styIing themselves States,
entered "seUeraiiy into a firm league of friend
ship with each other for their common defence,
the security Of their liberties, and thrT mutual
and general welfare, binding themselves 10 as
sSt each other against all force offered 10 or at
lacks made upon them or any Of them, on ac
count Of religion, sovereignty, trade, or any
other pretenCe whatever"
In order to guard against any mIsconstruction
OF their COMPACT, t7s several i5tateS- -s''asIe
plicit declaration, in a distinct article, that
sseach State retains its sovereignty, freedom and
independence, and every power, jurisdiction
and right which IS not by this Confederation
expressly delegated to the United States in Con-
gress assembled"
Under this contract oi alliance, the war OF
the revolution was successfully waged, and re-
suited in the treaty nf peace with Great Britain
in 1888, oy the terms Of which the several
States were, each by name, recognized 10 bs IN
dependent.
The articles OF confederation contained
clause whereby all alterations We're prohibited,
unless confirmed by the legislatures Of every
State after being agreed to by the Congress
and in obedience TO this provision, under the
resolution OF Congress of the 2lst February,
1877, the several States appointed delegates who
attended Convention s'fnr the sole and express
purpose of ffeYising The articles OF confederation,
and reporting to Congress and the several Legis-
Iaures such alterations and provisions therein
as shall, when agreed 10 in Congress, and con-
frmed by the States, render the Federal Con-
stitution adequate to the eXIgencles ot govern
ment and the preservation OF the UnIon."
II was, by the delegates chosen, by the sev
era! States, under the resolution Just quoted,
that the Constitution OF the United States was
framed in 1887 and submitted to the seperai
STATES for ratification, as shown by the 7th ar
tIcls, which is In these words
"The ratification ol the CoaUentionS of nine
STATES shall be sufficient Tor the establishment
Of this Constitution BETWEEN The StafeS so rat
flying the same"
l have naiciseo certain words in the quota
lions just mad5, for the pGrpose OF attracting at
tentlon to the singular and mars ed caution WIN
which the States endeavored in every possible
form, to exclude Tue idea that the separate anc
independent sovereignty OF each State was mer- /
ged INTO one common government and nation
and the earnest desire they evinced TO impress
On the Constitution its roe chafacter-~lhal OF
compact BETWEEN independent States.
The Constitution of 1887 having however, I
omitted the clause already reciteG from the ar |
Hcles OF Confederation, which provided in eYpl- /
cit eIms, that each State retained It's sovereign
ty aad independence, some alarm was felt in /
the States when invited TO rat.y the Constitu- /
lion, lest this omission should be construed into |
an Abandonment of their cherished principle, /
snd they refused 10 be satisfied until amend |
ments were added TO the Constitution, placing /
beyond any pretense of doubt the reservation
by the States, oil al! their sovereign rights and
poweEs-not expressly delegated to the United
States by the Constitution.
Strange indeed must il appear to the lmPar-
tlal Observer but it is the less true, that all
these carefully worded clauses proved unavaI- /
ing TO prevent the rise and growth in the Nor
thefn States OF political school which has per-
slstentIy claimed that the. government thus for
med was not compact between States. but was
IN effect n1tional government, set up abo0e
and oUer the States. An organization, created
oy the States to secure the blessings of liberty
and independence against foreign aggression,
has been gradually perverted INTO machine for
their controlip their domestic affairs the crea-