The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-02-22
Address of President jeff. DavisI

Address of President JEFF. DavisI
Montgomery, Ala, Feb. lS.-The Inau.
gural ceremonies here today formed the
grandest pageant that was ever witnessed
in the South. An immense crowd cover
ed Chapel Hill, comprising the beauty of
the city and surrounding country, and
the military and citizens Of the different
States. President Dawn commenced the
delivery of his Inaugural Address at
o'clock. He spoke as follows
"Genaemen Of the Congress Of the Contcde-
rated .States Of 1merica: Called to the diff.
ficult and responsible station of Execu-
tive Chief of the Provisional Government
which you have instituted, l approach
with an humble distrust Of my abili-
ties, but with sustaining confidence in
the wisdom of those who are to aid and
guide me in the administration Of public
affairs, and an abiding faith in the virtue
and patriotism of the people. Looking
forward to the speedy establishment of
provisional to take the place of the pres
ent one, and which by its greater moral
and physical powers will be better able
to contend with the difficulties which
arises from the conflicting interests of
separate nations, enter upon the duties
of the office for which have been chos-
en- with the hope that the beginning of
our career as Confederacy may not be
obstru"ted by hostile opposition to the
enjoyment ofthat separate and independ-
ent existence which we have asserted,
and which with the blessing of Provi-
dence we intend to maintain.
.Q,1r. pres spt position has been achieved
INV - brecedented in the hsto-
nv of nations. 1t illustrates the Ameri-
can idea that government rests upon the
consent of the governed, and that it is
the right of the people to alter or abol-
ish government whenever it becomes
destructive of the ends for which it was
established. The declared purposes of
the compact of Union from which we
have withdrawn were to establish justice,
ensure domestic tranquility, to provide
for the common defence, to promote the
general welfare. and to secure the bles-
sings of liberty for ourselves and our pos
terity; and when in the judgment of the
sovereign States now composing this Con-
federacy it had been perverted from the
purposes for which it was ordained, and
had ceased to answer the ends for which
it was established. an appeal to the bal
lot-box declared that so far as they were
concerned the government created by
that compact should cease to exist. In
this they merely asserted right which
the Declaration of Independence in 1776
defined to be inalienable. Of the time
and occasion for its exercise they. as SOW
ereigns, were the final judges, each for
itself. The impartial and enlightened
verdict of mankind will vindicate the
rectitude of our conduct, and He who
knows the hearts of men will judge the
sincerity with which we have labored to
preserve the government of our faith
ers. in its spirit and with those rights in
! l:erent in / which were soiemnly pro.
claimed at the birth of the States, and
in the Bills of Rights of the several
States. When they entered into the
Union Of 1889, it was with the undenia-
BILE recognition of the power in the peo-
pie to resume the authority delegated for
the purpose of that government whenev-
err, in their opinion. its functions were
perverted and its ends defeated. BY vr-
tue of this authority, the time and occa-
sion requiring them to exercise it having
arrived. the sovereign States here repre-
sented have seeded from that Union,
and il is gross abuse of language to de-
nominate the act rebellion or revolution.
They have formed a new alliance, but in
each State its government has remained
as before. The rights of person and of
property have not been disturbed. The
agency through which they haye commu-
ion taI will, cnpnin,, ,,oy Iaa,,
changed, but this does not necessarily in
terrupt their international relations.
Sustained by a consciousness that our
transition from the former Union to the
present Confederacy has not proceeded
from any disregard on our part of our
just obligations, or any failure to perform
every constitutional duty-moved by no
intention or desire to invade the rights of
others-anxious to cultivate peace and
commerce with all nations-if we may
not hope to avoid war, we may at least
expect that posterity will acquit us of
having needlessly engaged il. We are
doubly justified by the absence of wrong
on our part, and by wanton aggression
on the part of others. There can be no
cause to doubt that the courage and pa
triotism of the people Of the Confeder.
measnres If defence which nav be w..
nnired for their secur;tv T,eyoted 70
asricnltnral nnrsn;ts thar chieS ;n,e W.
est 10 The exnort Of oom,aod;,m rao ,',o
in evarv n,anuf,otur;nn co,,ntrv o.
true pol;cv ia neaca and tha froa:t troJa
onr necess;t;es will narn;, IT, ;S oI;t =
orr interests and tbat Of ali thosa 40
whom we would seli and fon, ,sh ho,o -. ~
would Inv that there sbonld be ,ha Tow "e
est nracticobIe re.tr;ctions unon r"i ;ntar
cbanaes Of commo1ities Tbsre ore" con 'I he
Int little rivalry betwne, ms ond ~" ,v NO
mannfactnr;no Or navioot;no co,nn'n iny
s,,oh os H. n.i,'uos S.S to,hiun, ~.