The Van Buren press., 1861-03-20
Inaugural Of President Davis.
Delivered at Montgomery Ala,

FEBRUARY 18th, 1861.
Gentlemen Of the Congress of the Conteder-
0ted States Of Anaerica Friends and
Feiiop- Citizens:
Called to the difficult and responsible
station of Chief Executive of the Provision
al Government xhich you have instituted
/ approach the discharge Of the duties IS.
signed to me with an humble diatrast of
| my Ablitias,. hpks sNikh hsa Agafairiaa ,con6A-
ence in the wisdom Of tk6ss who Id to
guide and to aid me in the administration
OF public affairs, and an abiding faith in
the virtue and patriotism of the people.
Looking forward to the speedy establish
men: of a-permanent Government to take
the place of this, and which by its greater
moral and physical power will be better
able to combat with the many difficulties
which arise from the conflicting interests of
separate nations, enter upon the duties of
the hope that the beginning of our career as
q Contederacy may not be obstructed by
hostile opposition to our enjoyment Of the
separate existence and Independence which
we have asserted. and with the blessing OF
Providence we intend to maintain. Our
present condition, achieved in manner un.
precedented in the history of nations, illus-
| trates the American idea that the Govern
ments rest on the consent of the people gov
erned. and that it is the right of the people
to alter and abolish Governments whenever
they become destructive of the ends for
which they were established.
| The declared purpose of the compact OF
Union from which we have Withdrawn, was
"to establish justice. ensure domestic tran
| quilitH provide for the common defence,
promote the general welfare. and secure the
blessings of liberty to ourselves and our
posterity - and when, in the Judgment Of
the sovereign States now composing this
Coufederacy, it had been perverted from the
purposes for which it was ordained, and had
ceased to answer the ends for which it was
established, peaceful appeal to the ballot.
box declared. that so far as they were con-
cerned, the government created BY that com
pact should cease to exist. In this they
merely asserted q right which the Declara-
tion Of Independence of l776 had defined
to be inalienable, of the time and occasion
for itss exercise. they. as sovereigns, were
the final judges. each for itself. The i'm
partial and enlightened verdict Of mankind
will viudicate the rectitude OF our conduct,
and He who knows the hearts Of men. will
judge Of tie sincerity with which we labor
cd TO preserve the government Of our faith
ers il Its spirit. The right solsmnly pro-
claimed at the birth of the Statcs. and
which Has been affirmed and -eaffirmed in
the Bills of Rights OF States subsequently,
adp;tssd into the Union of 1789. undenia-
bly, fvop9nize in the people. the power 70
rssnme t. authority delegated for the pur-
poses AZ government. Thus the sovereign
States hare represented, proceeded to form
this Cohisderacy. and it is by abuse Of laE.
RuG6s dat their act has been denominated
: revaiutiDu. They formed new alliance,
Eut vitkiin each State its government has
lrauna1Sed. the rights of person and proper
fty ksx6 not been disturbed. The agent
i Itkfenek whom they communicated with
lfot5sS = :nations is changed. but this does not
ms SsaxiIy interrupt their international ls-
! 6elkainsd BY the CONSEQUENCES that the
tra6naipn from the former Union to the
1 iprsSe Confsderscy has not proceeded from
: disr6gard on our part Of. just obligations.
Ter ~ fa;Isrs to perform every constitution
~ 2i.tys- moved By no intsrest Or passion e
m S36tAs nights Of othsEs-enxions 70 cul'
Z LIf5yete36p4ee and conmsrce with Al natioas
I1 v&s1Ay not hops 70 avoid war. We may,
4 e kast, expect that postsrity vill aoquiA n
lInf, hesing nssdlessly engaged il il. Dou'
dhly iastiied By the Absence Of wrong ou
Ipur past, and BY wanton asgysssioa On Il
A dpart Of oshers. thess can 8 no causs 4
,jaobst that stAs co1raes sad paAsiotisn .
DIshs people Of the. Ceafsdersts States vii
4 - foand equal to any msasurss Of dc
lfan0n xhich honor end sauuritH may r.