The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1861-05-04
Message Of President Davis.
TO THE CONGRESS OF THE
Confederate States Of America
Delivered at Montgomery, April 20, 1861

Delivered at Montgomery, April 20, 1861
MONTGOMERY, April 30.-T'he Congress
of the Confederate States Of America as
sembled at noon yesterday, Hon. Howell
Cobb, of Georgia, President, in the chair.
After the usual preliminaries of organi-
cation had been gone through with, the
following message of his Exccllancy, JEFF
ferson Davis, President of the Confederate
States Of America, was received and read:
MESSAGE
Gentlemen If COngrcsS-It is my pleas
ing duty to announce to you that the
Constitution framed for the establishment
of permanent Government of the Con
federate States of America has been rati-
fed by the several conventions of each of
those States which were referred to to
inaugurate the said Government in its full
proportions and upon its own substantial
basis of the popular will.
1t only remains that elections should be
held for the designation of the officers to
administer it.
There is every reason to believe that at
no distant day other States identified in
political principles and community of H.
terests with those which you represent,
will Join this Confederacy, giving to its
typical constellation increased splendor-
to its government of free, equal and SOW
ereign States, wider sphere of useful
ness, and to the friends Of constitutional
liberty a greater security for its harmo-
Nous and perpetual existence.
1t was not. however, for the purpose Of
making this announcement that | nave
deemed it my duty to convoke YOU at an
earlier day than that fixed by yourselves
for your meeting.
The declaration Of war made against
this Confederacv, by Abraham Lincoln,
President of the United States, in his proc
lamation, issued on the 18th day of the
present month, renders it necessary, in nv
Judgment, that you should convene at the
earliest practicable moment TO devise the
measures necessary for the defence of the
country.
The occasion is, indeed, IN extraOrdina-
ry one. 1t iustifies me in giving n brief
review of the relations heretofore existing
ietween us and the States which now unite
in warfare against us, and Il succinct state
ment of the events which havS resulted to
the end that mankind may pass intelligent
and impartial judgment on its motives and
objects.
During the war waged against Great
Britain by her colonies on this continent, n
common danger impclled them to close
alliance, and to the formation of a COnfed-
Grafton by the terms of which the colonies,
styling themselves States, entered sever
ally into firm league of friendship with
each other for their common defence, the
security of their liberties, and their mutual
and general welfare, binding themselves to
assist each other against all force offered
to, or attacks made upon them, or any of
them on account Of religion, sovereignty,
trade, or any ether pretcnce whatever.
In order to guard against any miscon-
struction Of their compact, the several
States made an explicit declaration in
distinct articlc-that each State retain It's
sovereignty, freedom and independence,
and every power of jurisdiction and right
which is not by this said Confederation ex-
pressl y delegated to the United States in
Congress assembled under this contract of
alliance.
The war IF the Revolution was Success
fully wagcd, and resulted in the treaty of
peace with Great Britain in 1883, by the
terms of which the several States were
each by name recognized to be Indcpcn-
dent.
The articles Of confederation cor tanned a
clause whereby all alterations were pro-
hibtcd, unless confirmed by the Lcc;sla-
lures Of every State after being agreed to
by the Congress, aud III obedience TO this
provision, under the resolution Of Congress
II the 2lst Of February, i7S7, the several
States appointed delegates l,or the purpose
IF revising the articles Of co federation,
md reporting to Congress and til several
legislatures such alterations and Crovls-
obs therein as shall, when agreed to IN
congress, and confirmed by the States,
'endcr the Federal constitution adequate to
he eXiScncics OF the Government, and tie
preservation of the Union.
1t was by the delegates chosen by the
several States under the resolution Just
quoted, that the constitution of the United
states was formed in 1881, and submitted
o the several States for ratification, as
hown by the seventh article, which is in
hcse words: "The ratification of the con
'entIons OF nine States shall be sufficient
or the establishment Of this constitution
between the States So ratifying the same"
have italicised certain words in the
esolutions just mad e.. the purpose of
attention 20 the singular and
larked caution with which the States en-
Favored in every possible form to exclude
he idea that the separate and Independent
Dvereignty of each State was merged into
ne common Government or nation and
ne earnest desire they evinced to impress
n the constitution its true character-that
f a compact between independent States
the constitution Of 1877 however admit