The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1861-05-09
M E.A - - GE
PRESIDENT JEFFERSON DAVIS
Centlenlea efM Conaress:

| y,Q tnat the CONSTITUTION framed Tor the
establishment of permanent governmeat
for the Confederate States has been ratified
by Conventions ia each of those States to
which it was referred. TO inaugura,e the
government in it's full proportions and
upon its own substantial buss Of the pop,i-
lar will, it only remains that elections
should be held for the designation of the
officers to administer it.
There is ever, reason to believe that ut
no distant day other States identified III
political principles and community Of in rr-
csts with these which you represent, will
join this Cuniederacy Civ ~ to It's typical
constellation Increased splcndcr-to its
government of free, equal and sovereign
States wider sphere ui use ulness. ami to
the friends of Constitutional iibcry rrcat-
er security for its harmonious and pcrpctu
nj existence.
1t was not, however, for the purpose of
making this announcement that | have
deemed it my duty to convo c you at an
earlier day than that fixed b, yourselves
for your meeting. The declaration of war
made against this Conicderacy 10y Abra-
ham Lincoln, the President OF the United
States, in his Proclamation issued On the
fifteenth day oI the present month"; render
ed 1t necessary IN my Judgment that you
should convene ut the earliest practicable
moment, to devise the measures necessary
tor defence OF the country
The occasion is indeed an extraordinary
one. 1t juStlfics me in brief review OF
the relations heretofore existing between
us and the States which now unite in wa =
fare against us, and in Il succinct statement
! of the events which have resulted in this,
warfare 10 the end that mankind may
pass intelligent and impartial judgment
ON its motives and objects.
Duringth tn war wagcd against Great Brit
ain 10y her colonies OH this continent, Il
common danger mpellcd them to n close
alliance, and To the formation of Il Confcd-
Grafton, by the terms OF which the coluuics,
styling themselves States, entered " scs"r1k
" into Il firm league of friendship with
each other for their common defence, the
security OF their liberties, aud their mu u
al aud general welfare, binding themselves
to assist rach other against all force offered
To or attacks made upon them or any oi
them, on account of religion, sovereignty,
trade or any other pretence whatever"
In order to gard aglins any mise nstruc-
tlon OF their CUatr;nt, tie several States
made explicit de aratlon, In distinct,
article, that " each States rctuinS IT'S sover-
eighty, freedom and Independence, and
every power, jurisdiction and right which
is not by this Confederation ecpreSsy dele
yatei to the United States in Congress as
semtl-d."
Under this contract of alliance, the wal
OF the Revolution WIS successfully wa ed
n resulted in the treaty OF peace with
Gr Al Britain 1888, by the terms OF which
the several States ware, each dy Humc
+ re nynised to be independent.
The articles of confederation contained
Il clause whereby all alterations were pro
hipitcd, uulcss confirmed by the Legis
iaturc ui ercIy StItc, after being agreed t,
10y the Congress, and IN obedi n 10 this
prOvls onS under the rcsou ion of Con-
arcsS uf the list + hruary, l1S1 the Scve
raj States appointed delegates who atLe ID
ell II C"nv,m ''ior the sole and express
purpu-c oi revising the aytcir> q! "ouicdc
ration, ,ld re ortImg to Com.rc :, anl tn,
several LEGISLATURES such alterations anu
pruvis on- therein rs shall when agreed to
IN Congress, uHI 20 .frnl I Ly ike <ut,S
quatc Ia the cXi i..cuctcs Of government amd
tie csc ,ailou Of ;hc Mon"
1t Mas by the delegates chosen by the
soc,ru States uu Ter the resolution iu,t
quoted, that the Constitution OF he uItcd
States WI, framed IN 1877, an submitted
Ia the S,ccrH .S|Hc>, for ratification, a,
shewn by the 1th article, which is in these
words
. the ratification of the Cynr,niioa oJ
nt"e SiateS, shall te sufficient for the cstab
lishmcnt OF this Constitution BETWEEN
the States 50 ratitying the same"
have iltaliciscd certain words in tn,
quotations just made, Tor the purpose OF
attracting attention to singular and mark ed
cgution with which the States omdeavured
In every possible form, 10 exclude TIE idea
that the scperate and lndcpcn lent sovereign.
~ OF each State was merged into one com
mon government aud nation; and the ear
nest desire they eyl"ccd to impress on the
Constitution its true cAa acicr-that OF u
compact BETWEEN independent States
The Constitution of l7S7 haviu. how
ever, omitted the clause already rcclted
from the articles OF Confederation. which
p'O'iNCN' III pItt'l t!ldl CdCU 'NltlC
retdtHcd It's sovereignty and independence
soue alarm was felt III the States when in.
vlted TO ratty the Constitution, lest this
omission should be cons .rued into abandon
mcnt of their cherished principle, aud they
refused TO be satisfied until amcudments
were added to the Constitution, placing be
/ yond any pretencc OF doubt ;he reservation
by the States, of all their sovereign right,
and powers mot expressly delegated to the
! United States by the CONSTITUTIONS.
Stangc InIced must it npper TO the i'm.
! partial observer, bat il is none the less true.
that all these carefully wordcd clau eS prov
ed unayaling to prevent the rise and growth
in the Northern States Of political school
which has pcrsistently claimed that the