The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1861-05-09
NJ E.A = = GE
PRESIDENT JEFFERSON DAVIS.

establishment of permanent governnieat
tor the Confederate States has been ratified
! by Conventions in each of those States to
which it was referred. TO inaugurate the
government in it's full proportions aud
upon its own substantial basis Of the pop,i-
lar will, it only remains that elections
| should be held for the designation Of the
alhccrs to administer it.
1 There is ever, reason to believe. that ut
| no distant day other States Identified IN
! political principles and community ofin,rr-
+! ests with thuse which you represent, will
join this Confederacy; giving to its typical
constellation increased splender-to its
government of free, equal and sovereign
States u wider sphere oi usefulness. and to
the friends of Unconstitutional ibcry great
er security for its harmonious and perpctu.
al existence.
1t was not, however, for the purpose of
making this announcement that | have
deemed it my duty to convo you ut an
earlier day than that fixed b> yourselves
for your meeting The declaration of war
made against this Conicderacy by Abra-
ham Lincolp, the President of the United
States, in his Proclamation issued Ln the
fifteenth day OF the present month, render
ed it necessary in my judgment that you
should convene ut the earliest practicable
moment, to devise the measures necessary
for defence of the country
The occasion is indeed an extraordinary
one 1t justifcs me in a brief review OF
the relations heretofore existing between
! US and the States which now unite in wa
fare against us, and in succinct statement
efthc events which have resulted in this
warfare TO the end that mankind may
pass intelligent and impartial judgment
on its motives and objects.
During tn war wuged against Great Brit
ain by her colonies on this continent, n
common danger impelled them to a cluse
! alliance, aud " the tormation of CoDted-
Grafton, by the terms of which the colouics,
styling themselves States, entered " seeeroh-
~ into Grm league of friendship with
each other for their common defence, the
security of their liberties, and their mu u
al aud 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 amy other pretence whatever"
In order to gard agains any misc nstruc-
tion Of their contract, The several States
made explicit de laration, in distinct,
article, that " each States retains its sover-
eighty freedom and independence, and
every power, jurisdiction and right which
is not by this Confederation erpressiy deie-
yatei to the United States in Congress as.
semblad."
Under this contract of alliance, the war
of the Revolution was successfully wa ed
anl resulted in the treaty OF peace with
CIR III Britain 1888, by the terms of which
the several States ware, each 6y name,
: re re;ngnised to be independent.
The articles of confederation contained
u clause whereby all alterations were pro.
hibted, unless conirmed by the Leyis
iature of eoery State, after being agreed t.
by the Congress- and in obedi n TO this
proviso ons under the resolu ion of Con-
sress Of the list L bruary, 1877 the seve
raj States appointed delegates who atLe ID
ed C"nv, ,ntIun for the sole and express
purpose oi revising the erticlrs OF conicde
ratior, tnd re 'ortImg to Congrc :, aud the
several legislatures such alterations and
provis onS therein us shall when agreed to
IN Congress uHi co4frnlR Ly tie ,Sio.s
rendered the FudcIal Constitution ade
qua,c ia the eXi .cnccs OF government and
tie aese walton of The Union"
1t was by tie delegates chosen by the
se0eraI States un Ter the resolution jus,
quoted, that the Constitution OF he Uuited
States was framed in 1897, an submitted
Ia the Secerui .ShacS, for ratification, as
shewn by the 7th article, which is in these
words:
" the ratification of the Conuenfjoa OF
nme States, shall be sufficient for the estab
lishment of this Constitution BETWEEN
the States, 50 ratitying the same
have iltalicised certain words in the
quotations just made, TOR the purpose OF
attracting attention to singular and mark ed
caution with which the States ondeavored
In every possible forn, to exelude the idea
that the seperate aud independent sovereign
ty OF each State Was merged into one com
uen government aud nation and the ear
nest desire they eviuccd to impress on the
Constitution its true cLa.ucter-that OF a
compoct BETWEEN independent States
The Constitution of 1857 having how.
ever, omitted the clause already rccted
from the articles Of Confederation, which
! PioNiVeN' III eA pitc't teTtiS, that Cacn state
retdtned its sovereignty and independence
souie alarm was felt in the States when in
vited to ratify the Constitution, lest this
omission should be construed into abandon
ment Of their cherished principle, and they
refused to be satisfied until amendments
were added to the Constitution, placing BE-
yond any pretencc Of doubt the reservation
! by the States, of all their sovereign rights
and powerS--not expressly delegated to the
United States by the Constitution.
STANCE indeed must it apper 10 the i'm
partial observer, but il is none the less true,
that all these carefully wordcd cIau. es prov
ed unayailipg to prevent the rise and growth
in the Northern States Of political school
which has persistently claimed that the
Government thnsformed was not II compnct