The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-05-07
MESSAGE
Genhemen of the ConCress

Is my pressing uuty 10 announce TO you that
the Constitution framed for the establish ment of
permanent government, for the Confederate States
has been ratified by Conventions in each of those
States to which it referred. To inaugurate
the government in its full proportions 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 Is reason to believe that at no distant day
other States identified in political principles aud
community of interests with those which you rep
resent will join this Confederacy giving to its typ
ical constellation increased splcndor-to its gov
eminent offree, equal sovereign States, wide
sphere of usefulness, and to the friends of consti-
tutlonal liberty greater security for its harmoni-
Gus and perpetual existence
1t was not, however, for the purpose of making
this announcement that have deemed it my duty
to convoke you at earlier day than that fxcd by
yourselves for your meeting The declaration of
war made against the Confcderacy by Abraham
Lincoln, the President Of the United States, in
his proclamation issued on the fifteenth day of the
present month, rendered it necessary, i'll my judy
ment that you should convene at he earliest prac-
tical moment, to devise the measures necessary for
the defence of the country
This occasion is indeed extraordinary one.
IT justi6es me in brief review of the relations
heretofore existing between and the States
which now unite in warfare against us, and in
succnet statement of the which have result
ed in in this warfare; to the end that mankind may
pass intelligent and impartial judg ment on it,
motives and objects.
During the war waged against Great Britain by
the colonies on this continent, a common danger
mpelled them to close alliance and to the forma-
ton Of confederation, by the terms Of which
, the colonies, styling themselves States, entered
,t'sereruIy'' iuto firm league of friendship with
each other for their common defence the security
: OF their liberties, and their mutual and general
welfare, binding themselves to assist each other
against all force offered to attacks made upon
athcm or any of them, account of religion,
ereignty, trade or any other pretence whatever"
In order to guard against any misconstructon
of their contract, the several States made explicit
declaration, in distinct article, that ''cach State
retnins its sovereignty, freedom and independence,
d. and every power, jurisdiction and right which is
not by this Confederation expressly delegated to
the United States in Congress assembled"
Under this contract Of alliance the war of the
Revolution was successfully waged, and resulted
Sn the treaty of peace with Great Britain in 1888
by the terms of which the several States were,
cdrh Gy name, recognized to be independent
The articles Of Confederation contained a clause
whereby all alterations were prohibited, unless con-
frmcd by the Legislature of every State after being
agreed to By Congress, and in obedience to this
provision under the resolution of Congress of the
2lst February 1897, the several States appointed
delegates, who attended a Convention 'for the
sole and cypress purpose Of revising the articles of
confederation, and reporting to Congress and the
several Legislatures such alterations and provis-
ions therein SHALL when agreed to in Congress,
and confirmed Lg the States, render the Federal
Constitution adequate to the exigencies of govern
ment and the preservation Of the Union"
1t was by the delegates chosen by the scrcrnl
States, under the resolution just quoted, that the
Constitution of the United States was framed in
1887 and submitted to the sererai States for rat
6cation, as shown by the 9TH article, which is in
these words:
"The ratification of the Cpnrentions of nine
States shall be sufficient for the establishment of
this Constitution BETWEEN tie Stute> so ratfy-
ing the same"
| have italicised certain words in the quotations
Just made, for the purpose Of attracting attention
to the singular and marked caution it'll which the
States endeavorcd, in every possible form to ex-
.clude the idea that the separate and independent
sovereignty of each State merged into one
common government and nation, and the earnest
desire they evinced to Impress on the Constitution
its true character-that Of compact BETw ZEN in
dependent States.
The Constitution of Il 81 having, however omit
ted the clause already recitcd from the articles of
confederation, which provided in explicit TERMS
that each State retained its sovereignty and indie
pendence, some alarm felt in the States when
invited to ratify the Constitution, lest this omis
sion should be construed into an abandonment of
their cherished principle, and they refused to be
satisfied until amendments added to the Con-
stitution, placing beyond any pretence Of doubt
the reservation, 10y the States of all their sover-
eign rights and pOwers-not expressly delegated
to the United States by the Constitution.
Strange indeed must it appear to the impartial
observer but it is the less true that all these
carefully worded clauses proved unavaiing to pre-
vent the rise and growth in the NortherrG States
ofa political school which has presistenty claimed
that the Government thus formed WAS not a COM
pact betpeen States, but was in eject National
Government, set up ADORE and Orer the States
An organization, created by the States to secure
the blessings of liberty and independence against
foreiga aggressions has been gradually perverted
into machine for tleir control in their domestic
.afairs-the creature has been exalted above its
creators; the principals have been made subordi-
nate to the agent appointed by themselves
The people of the Southern States, whose almost
exclusive occupation ericultnre early preceiv-
ed tendency in the Northern States to render
the common government subservieDt to their own
purposes, by imposing burthens commerce a
protection TO their manufacturing and shipping
interests Long and angry controversy grew out
of these attempts, often to benefit section
the country at the expense of the other. And
the danger OF disruption arising from this cause
was enhanced by the fact that the Northern popu-
lation was increasing by emigratan and other
causes in greater ratio than the population of
the South. By degrees, as the Northern States