Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-19
.erLe coneeaerarcd States OF American

resistance which they have adopted, none can
denv that it has proved an etiectual moue-ei5;
fectual for tie vindication Of their outraged
dignity and sovcrsignty-cfectual for their
own security from further invaslon-ettec-
tual 10 arouse to cheer and animate
to the work of cifectua resistance in
some form, the will and the efforts OF al
true and efficient men in the border States OF
The South Much force has been given to TINS
movement Of resistance to Black kepuoleah
wrong. by the prompt confederation Of these
seeded States by the;! joint refusal to reopen
the African slave trade ; by the vindicst!on o,
their loyal devotion TO the form and spirit OF
the constitutional compact which, to their
honor be it remembered, these States have new
er violated, collectively or separately, IN any
particular whatever; and to which, when iorceo
70 yirdeate its obligations by an act OF Separa'
ton from iaithless confsderates, they have still
preferred to conform the federal government
and inter State relations of their newly erected
Confederacy; finally, by elevasns to the Chief
Mseistracy of this new Ccnfederacy brave
and honest man, alike distinguished by long
fai,hful and distinguished service in the Exc
cutive Cabinet, the Legislative Hall, and well
trained in military science and experience, well
tested in sctual and a:duous service.
To this extent, the work o! the seeded States
has bern wisely conceived and admirably exc
cnted But there is more much more Tor them
vet to do which, to bs well done should be ex-
ecu;ed, wi,hou, delay, in the same spirit OF hrm
moderation and deliberate promptitude. These
States have made good commencement-but
it only commencement; step which has not
fulfilled, but has merely placed them in attitude
properly adapted to the due ful6llmeut of the
heavy responsibility which they have SO uobly
undertaken
Th. weight of that responsibility no longer
rests immediately upon the shoulders OF the
people at tic polls, or in Convention assembled,
0. on any State or number Of States acting
separately. The new Confederate Government
must TOW DC held primarily responsible Tor the
proper completion Of the good work, which the
people by high acts of sovereignty and the In
C,yil!Udl STATES nave SO We'll &.
Indcea, we may say that the First great
weigh; Of responsibility now rests upon one
mantle man who wields the whole ESecr-
tive power Of the. new Confederate Govern
ment, ard whose urgent recommendation on
matters OF immediate and serious necessity
NAV be presumed to command controlling
influence, almost imperative, over tho dclibcra-
tions Ct the Confederate Congress. Jefferson
Davis is now called upon TO exercise the high
est ard broadest reach of those varied ouulif-
cations which he is reputed to possess. As
legislator his is not the ordinary task Of merely
regulating the machinery Of Government. lie
finds that machinery yet incomplete. He mast
complete it. He finds that machinery at a
stand still He mus, put it in motion. As
Chief Executive, lie must not only direct Adj
Inin;stration, but must first organize ard ap-
point an entire body Of Executive and Ad
rninistrat;ve officials. As Comnanderin.chief
Of the military and naval forces he must orga.
nze an army and navy with the shortest pos
siblc delay, and at once dispose every arm Of
defence in the manner to protect large Terri
r;tory already invaded, aud every foot Of whose
borders is already menaced with further in
-asion. In addition to all this, while yet I'M
provided with corps diplomatique, ke is at
once involrcd in diplomatic requirements CO.
extensive with the face OF the globe, ana
especially called to consider very complicated
and dangerous relations with the most power.
full of ncighborins nations
There are multitudinous and pressing OBJ
jects to be accomplished, and many things to
be done in every department and aspect Of
Governmental action for the accomplishments OF
each object But while the accomplishment of
one of these objects will, in many instances,
secure the incidental accomplishment, or open
the way for the accomplishment Of others,
there are yet certain great leading objects
which must be accomplished, one at time,
and it is Of vital importance that all the powers
and agencies Of the new Government shall
first be concentrated on the attainment OF
some ono Of these.
We entertain but little doubt that the atten-
tion and determination Of President Davis has
already been fxed upon the object Of primary
importance and that the President has already
we'll considered the necessary means for its
adoption.
Undoubtedly tho FIRST great object to be &c,
eomplished is the prompt expulsion Of the hos
t:!s military tcrces By sohich The territories #
tho ConfeSe-ated States is nosO inraded
IL every aspect Of the case, this measure is
imperatively demanded. This continued inva-
sion involves the most fragrant and injurious
indignity to which the new Confederacy could
possibly be subjected So long as it is permit
ted, the nations Of Europe will continue to re-
gard the Confederated States as rebels, engaged
IN n serious revolution indeed, but who have
not vet secured footing Of independence suf-
: fciently firm to warrant their recognition
among the nations Of the earth. So long rs it
"a permitted, the Northern people will continue
to regard the secession of Southern States az
flash in the pan"-to credit the rumors now
;n5,striously circulated Of the present fo.ma-
ton Of prospective e.acsionsry movement
among the Southern people. Nay, even in tho
Border States of the South-even in Virginia,
aven IN the Convention now assembled at Rich
,nond-thcrc is large possibly controlling
class of qualified submissionists men who are
content to wait and to suffer the full three
years term prescribed by Mr.. Seward, in ex-
pectancy Of pesceable redress of grievances to
,.,,nn,.tad at some indefinite period and to
be accompanied by restoration Of the Union
These men tell US openly that we will not be
GOOD 10 chnnse between a Northern and