The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-02-14
The Southern ConfederAcy.
Election Of President and Vice President
Montgomery, Ala, Feb 9-9P M

Election Of President and Vice President.
Montgomery, Ala. Feb. 90 P. NJ
Jefferson Davis, Of Miss, vas unanimously
elected President Of the Confederate
States of North America, to-day, and Alex. ii.
Stephens, Vice President unanimously.
Such is the announcement of the Geographic
wires. 1t is but the consummation of the plot
that has been thickening for some past. There
is food for reflection in this simple announce
mcnt. If our Southern friends and neighbors
had not allowed themselves to be completely
hoodwinked and deceiyed-led astray by their
passions, prejudces and politicians-they would
be able to see that they are already abandoning
their chart of liberty, and floating out upon
sea that will land them in haven of despOtic
or monarehial rule or, in another struggle of
the people with their self-constituted rulers for
that liberty they are so carelessly throwing
away.
Here is a convention of men, self-constituted
in many cases, and in none representing the
majority of the people Of their respective States,
taking 1t upon themselves to elect the two Chief
Officers Of what they call Southern Republic
The people have had nothing to do with the mat
e from the beginning, save to acquiesce in the
doings of these few politicians. In no instance
has the ordinance of secession been submitted
TO the people, and in DO instance have the an
ti-union members of the secession Convention
been voted for by majority of the qualified
electors of State Thus the whole operation
ofsecession has been managed by few ambi-
tious politicians, without allowing the people to
have word to say in the matter.
The Montgomery Congress of the seeding
States is composed of these same politicians
appointed by the Governors, Legislatures, or
Secession Conventions of the States In no in
/ stance have they been elected by the people
Tins Congress has elected the first officers of
the rev Republic without any reference to the
viii or the wishes of the people. We notice
in some instances, that the body choosing or
appointing the members to the Montgomery
Congress has requested them to take the Con-
situ5ion OF the United States as model for the
Constitution of the new Confedetacy. The cleo
ton of President and Vice President by the
members of this Congress, shows how well they
bave obeyed instructions. Their first act has
been to usurp the first principles, of freedom
| from the people-the elective Franchise-the
right to elect their own rulers.
We think this looks rather gloomy for the
rights of the people under thenew confederacy,
It there is to be one. The Southern people have
been brought up in the principles of self gov
ernnent to very little purpose, if they are so
ready to give up the right of suffrage, and trust
everything to politicians who have not hesita-
to peJure themselves, and commit treason
against the country that has cherished them and
made them all they are.
There is still further food for reflection in this
operation of the slaveholding States 1t is al
most demonstration Of the truth of the asser-
ton that Slavery is incompatible with Republi-
can or Democratic institutions. The relation
of master and slav is such that it begets in the
master domineering and exacting spirit, while
the slaves and the poor whites, who are held in
nearly the same subsection lose all preroeatives
of manhood and become fit subjects for self
constituted despotism.
OF the two millions of free white inhabitants
Of this southern confederacy, probably not one
hundred thousand are SHAREHOLDERS, and only a
meagre majority of these voted for members OF
the several secession Conventions, and none OF
them for members ofthis Montgomery Congress,
which has just assumed the prerogative of elect.
ing the chief executive officers of the Southern
Republic. This fact shows how much the pco
pie have had TO do with this revolution. The
Democratic press of the Northern States iustifes
the secession movement and the dismember-
ment of the Republic, on the ground that the
right of Revolution is inherent in the people,
II ere is revolution effected by political lead.
ers and demagogues in which the people have
had no voice A Congress, President and Vice
President elected, with all the officers and at
taches Of a fully constituted Government Com
mis5iOners of Finance, military and Naval AT
fairs, Political Affairs, Commerce, Patents, & =.
and yet the people have not yet been called up.
on to cast vote in all this operation. This is
a revolution by the people, with a vengeance.
But the people will be called upon to pay for
all this. So far they have been content to look
on with an occasional cheer to the instigators
and pertecters of boodless revolution, but fsI
these things the day of reckoning must come
the people don't vote, they must pay-noth.
ing is surer than that taxation must come, in a
shape that our southern friends have neve,
dreamed of. Revolutionary governments are
always expensive affairs, but this Southern Re.
public will prove costlier one than usual, OF
we are no judge. 1t is TO be hoped that the
northern sympathizers with southern rebellion
viii be as free with their money when the pinch
comes as they have been with their words Of
sympathy and encouragement.