The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-03-04

First Presedent Of the Confederate States q
America, deltUered in Richmond, Feb. %, 1862
/ FELLOW CITIZENS: On this the birthday oi
the man most identified with the establishment OF
American independence, and beneath the monu'
ment erected to commemorate his hcIolc virtues
and those of his compatriots, we have assembled
to usher into existence the ornament Govern
ment of the Confederate States. Through this in
strumentality, under the favor of Divine Provid-
ence, We hope to perpetuate the principles of our
Revolutionary Fathers. The day, the memory,
and the purpose, seem ftly associated. =.
1t is with mingled feelings of humility and
pride that appear to take, in the presence of the
people and before high Heaven, the oath prescrib-
ed as qualification for the exalted station to
which the unanimous voice of the people has call
ed me. Deeply sensible of all that is implied by
this manifestatio of the peoples confidence, [ am
yet more profoundly impressed by the vast respon-
sibili:y of the office, and humbly feel my own un-
worthiness.
IN return for their kindness, [ can only offer
assurances of the gratitude with which it is re-
ceived, and can but piedgea Jealous devotion of
every faculty to the service Of those who have
chosen me their Chief Magistrate.
When long course Of clase legislation, direct
ed not to the general welfare, but co the aggran-
dizement of the Northern section of the Union,
tons Of the Southern States; when the dogmas of
a sectional party, substituted for the provisions of
the constitutional compact, threatened to destroy
the sovereign rights of the States, six of those
States, Withdrawing from the Union, confederated
together, to exercise the right and perform the
duty of instituting Government which would
better the liberties, for the preservation Of
which that Union established.
Whatever of nope some may have entertained
that returning sense of justice would remove the
danger with which our rights were threatened,
and render it possible to preserve the Union and
the Constitution, must have been dispelled by the
malignity and barbarity of the Northern States in
the prosecution of the existing war. The conf
dence of the most hopeful among US must have
been destroyed by the disregard they have recent
ly exhibited for ali the time honored bulwarks Of
civil and religious liberty. Bastiles filled with
prisoners, arrested without civil process, or lndlct
ment duly found; the writ of hdGeds corpus sus-
pended by Executive mandate; State Legisa-
ture controlled by the Imprisonment Of members
whose avowed principles suggested to the Federal
Executive that there might be another added to the
list of seeded Sates elections held under threats
of military pawer; civil officers, peaceful citizens,
and gentle women incarcerated for opinions sake,
proclaimed the incapacity of our late associates
administer government as free, LIBERAL and hu-
that established for common
For proof Of the sincerity of purpose to
maintain our ancient institutions, we may point to
the Constitution Of the Confederacy and the laws
enacted under it, well to the fact that through
all the necessities of unequal struggle, there
has been act on part to impair personal
liberty or the freedom of speech, of thought of
the press. The Courts have been open; the judi
cial functions fully executed, and every right of
the peaceful citizen maintained as securely as If
of invason had not disturbed the land.
The people of the States confederated be-
came convinced that the Government of the Uni
ted States had fallen into the hands of sectional
majority who would pervert that most sacred of all
trusts to the destruction of the ri ghs which it
was pledged to protect. They believed that to
remain longer in the Union would subject them
to continuance Of a disparaging discrimination,
submission to which would be inconsistent with
their welfare, and intolerable to proud people
They therefore determined to sever its bonds, and
establish a new Confederacy for themselves.
(Cheers)
The experiment instituted by our revolutionary
fathers of voluntary union of sovereign Suites
for purposes specified i'll solemn compact had
been perverted by those, who feeling power aud
forgetting right, were determined to respect
law but their will. The Government had
ceased to the ends for which it was ordain-
ed and established. To save ourselves from a re-
volution, which in its silent but rapid progress
was about to place US under the despotism of num-
bers and to preserve in spirit we'll in form,
system of government we believed to be peculiar
ly fitted to our condition and full of promise for
man kind, we determined to make a new associa-
tion posed of States homogeneous in interest,
in policy aud in feeling (Cheers)
True to traditions of peace and love of
justice, we sent Commissioners to the United
States to propose fair and amicable settlement of
all questions OF public debt property which might
be in dispute. But the Government at Washing
ton, denying right to self-government, refused
even to listen to any proposals for peaceful Sc
paration. Nothing was then left to us but to pre-
pare for war. (Cheers)
The first year ir our history has been the most
eventful in the annals of this Continent. A new
Government has been established, aud its machi-
merry put in operation, over exceeding 700,-
OGO square miles. The great principles upon
which we have been willing to hazard every thing
that is dear to man, have made conquests for US
which could never have been achieved by the
sword. Our Confederacy has grown from six to
thirteen States. and Maryland, already united to
US by hallowed memories and material interests,
will, believe, when able to speak with justified
voice, connect her destiny with the South (Great
applause.) Our people have rallied with unexam- |
pied unanimity to the support Of the great princ-
nles of constitutional government with firm re-