Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-24


this fundamentally, under the favor Of Divine Provi.
dence hope perpetuate the principles Of Rev
olutonary ather' The day, the memory and the pur-
pose seem itly assecia.ed
1t with mingled feelings of humility and pride that
appes 10 take in the presence Of the people and before
High Heaven the oath prescribed as qulif ,ton for
tue exalted station to which the unanimous voice Of the
people has called me- Deeply sensible Of all that Is i'm
pied by this manifestation Of the peoples confidence,
am yet more profoundly impressed by the vas. responsible
lily Of the Office, and humbly feel my own unworthnsss
In return for their kindness, can only offer assu
sances OF the gratitude with which Il 10 received, and
can but pledge Jealous devotion Of every faculty TO
the service of those who have chosen me ~ their Chief
Magistrate
When long course of class legislation, directed not
10 the general welfare but TO the aggrand smen OF the
Northern section Of the Union, eliminated IN warfare
on the domestic institutions Of the Southern States-
when the dogmas Of a sectional party substituted for
the provisions of the constitutional compact threatened
destroy the sovereign rights OF the States sI oil those
States Withdrawing from the Union. conederated to-
geher to exercise the right and perform the duty Of TO-
sttuting government which would better secure the
liberties for the preservation Of which that Unioa was
established.
Whatever Of hope some may have entertained that &
returning sense Of justice would the danger with
which rights threatened and render 1t possible
to preserve the Union Of the Constitution, have
been dispeed by the maigniiy and barbarity Of the
Northern States in the prosecution OF the existing war;
Toe confidence of the hopeful among must have
been destroyed by the disregard they have recently eI
hibed for all the tme-honored buwarks Of civil and re-
gious liberty. lstiles filed with prisoners arrested
without civil process or ndctmen. duly found the writ
Of habeas corpus suspended by Executive man late;
State Legislature controlled by the Imprisonment OF
members whose avowed principles suggested TO the Fed
era Executive that there might b, another added TO the
list of seeded States elections held under threats Of
military power civil officers peaceful citizens, and gentle
for ODniOna sake. proclaimed the
ncapacty of late associates to administer govern
meut as free liberal and humane that established for
our common
For proof Of the sincerity Of purpose maintain
our ancient institutions may point to the Constu
ton of the Confectionery and the laws enacted under H.
AZ well as the fact that through all the necessities OF
UNEQUAL struggle there has been no act on our part to i'm
pair personal liberty the freedom OF speech ofthought
or of the press The Courts have been open the judicial
functions fully executed and every right Of the peaceful
cit zen maintained securely as war OF INVASION
had not disturbed the land.
The people OF the Safes confederated became
convinced that the Government OF the United States had
fallen into tho lands OF Sectional Majority who would
p,rver that most sacred OF all trusts to the destruction
OF the rights which il pledged TO protect They be-
eyed that to remain longer in the Union would subject
them to continuance of a disparagng discrimination,
submission to which would be stent with their
welfare and intoerabe to proud people. They there
fore determined TO its bonds and establish new
The experiment instituted by our revolutionary faith
ers OF voluntary nuon Of several States for purposes
spacied in a solemn compact had been perverted by
those who feeling power and forgetting right we're de-
termined respect no law but their own will The Gov
srnment had ceased to the ends for which IL was
ordained and established To ourselves from revo
luton which In its silent but rapid progress Was about
to place US under the despom Of numbers and to pre-
serye In sprit az well in form, system OF govern
msnt we believed to be peculiarly lifted TO our condition
and full of promise for mankind, determined to make
, new association composed Of States homogeneous In
interest 10 policy aud in feeling lCheers.
True to our traditions Of peace and our love OF jus
tce we sent commissioners the United SAFES to pro
poae fair and amcable settlement Of all questions OF
public debt property which might be in dispute But
me Government at Washington, denying our right to
all. government refused to listen to any proposals
for ne acefu separation Nothing was then lett to US
but to prepare for war. Cheers
The 6rst wear in cur history has been the most event
full In the annals of this Continent new government
has been established and It's machinery put in opera
ton, an area exceeding 700 square mes Inc
great principles upon which We have been willing to
zsrd every thing that Is dear to man have made con-
ou,ss for us which could never have been achieved by
the sword Our Oonfed.rscy has grown from six 10
thirteen States aud Maryland, already united 70 US BY
halo we'd memories and material interests, will believe
when able to speak with uus I'd voice. connect her dts
tiry with the South. Great applause Our people
have rallied with unexampled unauimity 10 the support
of the great principles Of Constitutional government
with Arm resolve TO perpetuate by arms the rights which
thew could not peacefully secure. million OF men, IL
/, estimated are standing in hostile srray, and wsg
Ing war along frontier Of Thousands Of mies battles
nave been fought seiges have been conducted and al
though the contest not ended and the tide for the
msnt IL against u.s. the fna result In favor is not
doubtful.
The n,riod IA near at hand when foes must sink
under the immense load OF debt which they have Gcur
hion thairs Fart IN IN 0afG haa n
r,ady attained such fearful Dimensions will subject
them to burthens which must continue to Cypress them
for generations TO come
We too have had our trials and difficulties. That we
ara 10 escape them in future is not TO be hoped IL was
10 be expected when entered upon this war that It
would ~ pose our people to sacrifices and cost them
much both of money and blood. But knew tie
vslue of the Of sc for which struggled, and under
stand tho nature OF the war in which were engaged
Nothing could be bad failure, ard any sacrifice
would be cheap the price of success in such con.
test Cheers
Ts great strife has awakened in the people the highest
enotons add qualities Of the human soul II "a cuIva.
tins feelings OF patriotism virtue aud courage lnsancfs
of sef secrhce aud OF generous devotion to the noble
cause for which contending are rife throughout
the land Never has people evinoed more determin-
ed shirt than that anmang men, women and child
rem in ever part Of country Upon the fret call
the men fy TO arms and wives and mothers send their
husbands and SONS to battle without murmur OF re.
| greet.
l. was perhaps in the ordination Of Providence that
Wa were to be taught the value OF liberties by the
price which we pay for them.
The recoections Of this great contest, with oil It's
common traditions Of glory Of sacrifice, and Of blood,
win be the bond of harmony and enduring affection
amongst the people, producing unity in policy, fraternity
in sentiment and joint effIrt in war.
Nor have the material sacrifices Of the past year been
made withou. some corresponding benefe II the &C.
ouiescence Of foreign nations in pretended blockade
has deprived us of with them, il is fast