Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-05-16
President Davis MeSSa ee.
To He Session ef Congress conpened dt
 Montgomery, April %, 1861.

constitution framed for the eStabllSame lt of permanent government for the Con- federate States, has been ratified by con- ventions in each of those States to which it--was referred. To inaugarate the govern ment in its full proportions and upon it's own substantial basis of the popular will, it only remains that elections should be held for the designation of officers to ad- minister it.
 There Is every reason to believe that at no distant day, other States identified III political plincles and community of inter- ests with those which you represent, will join this confederacy, giving to its typical : constellation increased splendor--to its government of free, equal and sovereign kates wider sphere Of usefulness-and to the friends of constitutional liberty a greater security for its harmonious and perpetual existence.
 It was not, however, for the purpose of making this announcement that 1 have deemed 1t my duty to convoke you at an earlier day than that fixed by yourselves for your meeting. The declaration of war made against ths confedelacy by Abraham Lincoln. the President of the United States, in his proclamation issued on the fifteenth day of the present month, rendered it necessary, in my judgment, that you should convene at the earliest practicable moment, to devise the measures necessary for the defense of the country.
 The occasion is indeed an extraordinary one. It iustihes me in a brief review of the relations heretofore existing between us and the States which now unite in warfare against us, and in succinct state uent of the events which have resulted in tHs warfare; 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 a close alliance, and to the formation of a contede- ration, by the terms of which the colonies, styling themselves tate entered "Seperolly into firm league of friendship with each other for their common defense, the secu- rity of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist each other against all fierce offered 10. or attacks made upon them or any of them, on account of religion, sovereignty or any other pretense whatever
 In order to guard against any miscon- strncton of their compact, the several States made explicit declarations, in a distinct article, that "each State retoiRS g@ sovereignty, freedom and independence, and every power, jurisdiction and right winch is not by this confederation expressly deleqoted to the United States in Congress- assembled"
 Under this contract of alliance, the war of the revolution was successfully waged, and resulted in the treaty of peace with Great Britain ofl783, by the terms ofwhich the several States were, each by nonle, recognized to be independent.
 The articles of confederation contained clause whereby all alterations were prohibi- ted, 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 2lst Of February, l7S7 the several States appointed delegates, who attended q convention "for the sole 0Rd cypress puJ pose of revising the articles of conledera tion. and reporting to Congress and the several legislatures, such alterations and provisions therein as shall, when agreed to in Congress, 0RR c0gfrmed jY Me .Stotes, render the federal constitution adequate to the exigencies of government, and the pres ervation of the Union.'
 It was. by the delegates chosen, by the sere,al States, under the resolution iuSt ouotel. that the constitution of the United States was framed in l7S7, and submitted to the seperd States for ratification, s:s shown by the 7th. article, which is in these words:
 ..Thc ratification of the conpentions Qt 1;se Slqtes shall be sufficient for the estab- Hshment of this constitution BETWEEN the States, so ratifying the same. .
 have italicised certain words in the quotations just made, for the purpose of at tre-ting attention to the singular and
 caution with which the States en- deavored, inevery possible form, to exclude the idea that the separate and independent sovereignty of each State was merged into one common government and nation; and the carnest desire they evnced to impress OF the constitution in its true character that of a compact BETWEEN independent States.
 The constitution of 1787 having, how ever, omitted the clause already recited from the articles of confederation, which provided in explicit terms, that each State getatued its sovereignty and independence, some alarm was felt in the States when inv.tel t) ratifv the constitution, lest this omission should be construed into an abandonment of their cherished principle, and they refused to be satisfied until amend meuts were added to the constitution, plac ing beyond any pretcnce of doubt, the res- eryation by the States, of all their soyer- egn rights and IOwers-not expressly delegated to the United States by the constitution.
 Strange indeed must it appear to the i'm part jal observer, but 1t is none the less true that all these careiu ly worded clauses proved nnavailng to prevent the rise and growth in the northern States ot political school which has consistently claimed that the government thus formed was not a compact 6efmeen States, but was in effect , a national government, set up obo8e and orer the States An organization, created by the States to secure the blessings of liberty and independence against .torei.gn aggression, has been gradually perverted into machine for their control in their domestic affairs, the creature has been ex- alteG aboveits creators; the principles have been subordinate to the ogem appointed by themselves.
 The people of the southern States, whose almost exclusive occupation was agricul- ture; early perceived tendency in the northern States to render the common gov ernment subservent to their own purposes, by opposing burthens on commerce as a protection to their manufacturing and shipping interests. Long and angry con troversy grew out of these attempts, often successful, to benefit one section of the country at the expense of the other; and the danger of disruption arising from this cnuse was enhanced hv tho fact that tbe