The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-03-01

Jefferson Davis inaugural Speech. :
The following is the inaugural speech
Of JErFEaso \ d avIs as president of the
Southern Contederacy
Gentlemen Of The Cosgress Of tie Con fed
Grated States Of Anle11en
FR1EsD. AND FEIlow- CITlzExs - Call
ed TO the difficult and responsible station
of Chief Executive.of> Provisional Gov
eminent which You have instituted, ap
proach the discharge of the duties assign
ed me with an humble distrust Of my abil-
tiles, but with sustaining confidence in
the wisdom of those who are to guide and
aid me in the administration of public
faith, and an abiding faith in the virtue
and patriotism Of the people. looking for
ward 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 I have been chosen,
with the hope that the beginning of our
career as a Confederacy may not be OBJ
structed by hostile opposition to our en-
iovment of this separate existence and in
dependence, with the blessing of Provi-
dence, which we intend to maintain. Our
presert condition, achieved in a manner
unprecedented in the history of nations,
illustrates the American idea that govern
ments rests upon the consent of the gov
ernet!, and that it is the right of the PEG.
Pile to alter and abolish governments
Whenever they become destructive of the
ends for which they were established .
The declared compact of the Union
!. fiom Which we have withdrawn was to es
lablish instice, insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defense. promote
The general welfare, and secure the bles-
sing of liberty to ourselves and our pos
terity and when in the judgment of the
the sovereign states now comprising The
ConfeGeracy it has been perverted from
the purposes for which it was ordained,
and ceased to answer he 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
1776 defined to be inalienable" OF the
time and occasion of its exercise they as
sovereigns were the final judges, each for
itself The impartial, enlightened YER
diet of mankind will v:ndicate the recti
tude of our conduct, and He who knows
the hearts of men will judge of the SINGER
ity with which we lahored to preserve the
Government of our fathers in its spirit. ID
The right solemnlv proclaimed at the
birth Of the States and which has been
affirmed and re affirmed in the bills of
rights of the States subsequently admitted
into the Union of 1889, Immediately re-
cocnizes in the people the power to resume
the authority delegated for the purpose Of
government. Thus the sovereign States
here represented proceeded to form this
Confederacy, and it is by the abuse Of
language that their net has been denomi.
mated revolution. They formed a new
alliance, bat within each State its govern
nent has been retained. The rights of
person and property have not been dis
turbed. The agent through whom they
communicated with foreign nations is
changed, but this does not necessarily in
terrupt their international relations. Sus-
tanned by the consciousness that the tran
sition from the former Union to the pres
ent Confederacv has not proceeded from
disregard on our part of our great obliga
tons, or any failure to perform every con-
stitutional duty; moved 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 NAV at least expect that
posterity will acquit US of having need
lesslv engaged in it.
DoubIy justified " the absence of
wrong on our part and BY wan1on aggres-
sion on the part of others, there can be no
cause to doubt the courage and patriotism
of the people of the Confederated States
will be found equal to any measures of
defence which soon their security may re
qu;re. .--
Our agricultural people, whose chief in
terest is the export of commodity re-
quired 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 fewest practicable re
strictions upon the interchange of commo-
dties. There can be but little rivalry be-
tween ours and any manufacturing or
navigation community, such as the free
States of the American Union. 1t must
therefore follow therefrom that mutual
interest would invite good will and kind
offices. If, however, passion or lust of
dominion cloud The judgment or infame
the ambition of those States, we must
prepare to meet the emergency and main
tain by the final arbilrament of the sword,
the position which we have assumed
among the nations of the earth. We
have entered upon career of indepen
dence which must be infexibly pursued
through many years of controversy But
as our late associates and Northern States
may have vainly endeavored to secure
tranquility and obtain respect for the
| ~ lit, ,.},,,b ,yo ora opfitloI M. j, 49,.