The Van Buren press., 1861-06-05


PRESIDENT DAVIS.
TO THE
Congress Of the Confedcr ate States Of
America.
Genklemen Of Congress It is my pleas
ing duty to announce 70 you that the Con-
stitution framed for the establishment Of .
permanent government of the Confederatsd
States of America has been ratified by the
several Conventions of each of those States
which were referred to to inaugurate the said
governmsot in its full proportion. and upon
its own substantial basis of the popular
will.
It only remains that elections should be
held for the designation of the officers to
administer it.
There 10 every reason to believe that at no
distant dsy other Stases, identified in polit-
cal principle sud community Of interests
with those which You represent. will join
join this Confederscy-giving to its typi-
cal constellation increased splendor to its
government of FREQ equal and sovereign
States, . wider sphere of usefulness, and to
the friends of Constitutional liberty, a
greater security for its harmonious and per-
petual existence.
1t was not, however, for the purpose of
making this announcement that l have
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
Confederacy by Abraham Lincoln. Presi
dent of the United States. in his proclama-
tion, issued on the 18th day of the present
month, rendered it necessary in my judg-
ment that you should convene at the earli-
est practicable moment to devise the meas
ures necessary for the defence of the coun
try.
The occasion is, indeed, an extraordina-
ry one. 1t justifies me in giving brief
review of the relations heretofore existing
between us and the States which now unite
in warning against us. and succinct state
ment of the events which have 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, a
common danger impelled them to q close
alliance, and the formation of Confedera-
tion of which the colonies. styling them
selves States. entered severally into firm
league of friendship with each other for
| liberties and their mutual and general well
fare-binding themselves to assist each
other against all force offered to or attack
made upon them on account of religion,
sovereignty, trade, or any other pretence
whatever.
| In order to guard against any miscon-
struction of their compact, the several States
made an explicit declaration in distinct
article, that each State retain its sovereign
ty, freedom aud independence, and every
power of Jurisdiction and right, which is
not by this said Confederation expressly
delegated to the United States in Congress
assembled under this contract of alliance.
| The war of the revolution was success
fully wagsd, and resulted in the treaty OF
peace with Great Britain in 1888, by the
terms of which the several States were each
by name recognised to be Independent.
The articles of Confederation contained
clause whereby all alterations were pro-
hibited unless confirmed by the Legislatures
of every State, after being agreed to by the
Congress and in obedience to this provis-
ion, under the resolution of Congress of the
21st of February, 1887, the several States
appointed delegates for the purpose of re-
visihg the articles of Confederation and re-
porting to Congress and the several legis.
latures such alterations and provisions there.
in as shall, when agreed to in Congress and
confirmed by the States, render the federal
Constitution adequate to the exigences oi
the government and the preservation of the
Union.
It was by the delegates chosen by the sew
raj States under the resolution just quoted.
that the Constitution OF the United States
was formed in 1887, and submitted to the
several States for ratification, as shown by
the seventh article. which is in these words
The ratification of the Conventions oi
nine States shall be sufficient for the estab.
lishment of this Constitution between the
States so ratifying the same"
| have italicised certain words in the res.
olutions Just made, for the purpose Of At.
tracing attention to the singular snd mark.
ed caution with which the States cndea.
vored. in every possible form, to exclude
the idea that the separate and Independent
sovereignty of each State was emerged into
one common government or nation and
the earnest desire they evinced to impres.
on the Constitution its true characteristics
of compact between independent States
the Constitution of 1887. however. admit
ting the clause already recited from the ar
ticles of Confederation, which proved in ex.
plicit terms that each State retained it,
sovereignty and Independence.
| Some alarm was felt in the States, wher
invited to ratify the Constitution. lest thi,
omission should be construed into an aban
donment OF their cherished principles, and
they refused to be satisfied until amend
ments were added to the Constitution, pla
cling beyond any pretence of doubt the res
ervstion by the States of their sovereign
rights and powess not expressly delegated
to the United States by the Constitution
Strange, indeed, must it appear to tb,
impartial observer, but it is nevertheless.
true, that all these carefully worded clause.
proved unavailing to prevent the rise ant
growth in the Northern States of a politi
cal school which has persistently claimed
that the government set over aud above tn,
States-an organization created by tn.
States to secure the blessings of liberty and
Independence against foreign aggression
has been gradually perverted into machin.
for their control in their domestic affairs.
The creature has been exalted above it,
ICrpafor-fho ,ov;uc;r1a, bevo L1o~ -