Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-02-21

MONTGOMERY. Feb. 49, The inaugural ceremo-
nics to-day were the grandest pageant ever wit
messed in the South. There was immense
crowd on Capital Hill, consisting Of great array
Of the beauty of military, and citizens of the diff
fcrcnt States.
Mr.. Davis commenced precisely at o'clock.
He said:
Gentlemen of the Congress Of the Confederate
States of America Friends and Fellow Citizens:
Called to the dlicnlt and responsible station of
Chief Executive of the provisional government
which you have instituted, Iapproach the discharge
Of the duties assigned me, with an humble distrust
OF nay ah;lides bn. with sustaining oouGie"oo lea
the wisdom of those who are to guide and aid me
in the administration Of public affairs, and an abb
ding faith in the virtue ami patriotism OF the pco
pie. Looking forward to the speedy establish
mcnt of permanent government to take the place
OF this, and which by its greater moral and physic-
nj over will be better able to combat with the
many difficulties which arise from the conflicting
interests of separate nations, enter on the duties
ofthc office to which have been chosen with the
hope that the beginning of our career as contcdor
acy may not be Obstructed by hostile opposition to
our enjoyment of the separate existence and indie
pendence with the blessing of Providence which
we have asserted, and which with the blessing of
| rovidence we intend to maintain. Our present
condition, achieved in u manner unprecedented in
the history of nations, illustrates the American
idea that governments rest upon the consent Of
the governed and that it il the right of the people
to alter or abolish governments whenever they be.
come destructive to the ends for which they were
established. The declared compact of the Union
| from which we have withdrawn was to establish
Justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for
the common defence, promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings OF liberty t. ourselves
aud poSterity and when in the Judgment of the
sovereign States now compromising this conlcdcr
acv it has been perverted from the purposes for
which 1t was ordained and ceased to answer the
ends for which il was established, peacefully appeal
to the ballot box declared that, far rs they
concerned, the government created by that com
pact should cease to exist. In this they merely
asserted the right which the Declaration of lndc.
Ipcndcnce ot l77G defined to be inalienable. OF
the time aud occasion Of its existnnce, they, as
sovcrcgns, we're the final iudges--cach for itself.
The impartial, enlightened verdict of manknd will
vndicatc the rectiudc ofour conduct and He who
knows the hearts of men will Judge OF the sincerity
with which we lahorcd to preserve the government
of our iorclnthcrs in its spirit
i The right solemny proclaimed at the birth of
the States, and which has been affirmed and roaf
hrmcd in the bills of rights of the States subse-
qucntly admitted with the Union ofl7s9, undcnia-
bly, recognizes in the people the power to resume
the authority delegated for the purpose of govern.
mcnt. Thus the sovereign States here represent.
cd proceeded to form this confcderacv, and it ishy
the abuse oilanguagc that their act has been de.
nominated revolution They formed new nlli-
ancc, but within each State its government has
retained the rights of person and property and
have not disturbed the agent through whom III"
communication with foreign nations il changed,
hut this does not interrupt their international rcla-
tons.
Sustained by the consciousness that the tansi.
ton from the former union for the present cOnfcd.
cracy has not proceed Il from disregard OF our
MAJ Of OIL f,i to,
form cvcry constitutional duty moved by no inter.
est or passion to invade the rights of others and
anxious To cultivate peace and commerce with all
nations five may not hope to avoid war, We nav
tleast expect that posterity will acquit Us of hay
ing needlossly engaged in it,
Doubly justified by the absence of wrong on
our part and by want, aggression on the part OF
Others, there can he no cause to doubt the courage
: or patriotism Of the people of the confederate
States, will be found equal to any measures OF de.
fence which soon their security may require.
As an agricultural people. whose chief interest
is the export of n commodity required in every
manufacturing country, our true policy is peace
aud the treeSt which our necessities will permit
II is alike interest aud that of all those from
, whom We would huy. that there should be the few
, est practical restrictions upon the interchange Of
commodities
There can be but little rivalry between ours and
, any manufacturing on navigating community, sLcl
ns tho free States Of the American Union. 1t
must therefore follow that mutual interests would
| invite good will and kind offices. IT, however
, passion or lust of dominion should cloud the iudg
ment or inlame the ambition Of those States, Nc
must prepare to meet the emergency, and main
tain, by the final albtramen of the sword, the po
, sition We have assumed among the nations of the
earth. We have entered upon career OF ndcpen
2 dcnce which must be mllexibly pursued through
years OF conroversy,-hut our late associates AMI
Northern States may have vamly endeavored ID
secure tranquility and obtain respect for the rights
to which we were entitled as a necessity, not
choice We have resorted to the remedy of 4
separation, and hcnceforward our enemies must bC
: directed TO the condition of our own affairs anC
n the perpetuity Of the confederacy which We hav,
4 formed.
1fa iustperception OF mutual interests shal
: permit us to procure our separat political ca
reer my most earnest desire will have beer