The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-03-04
tue IslrC RAJ ADDGE@ OF JEFF. DAVIS

FELLOW CITIZENS: - On this the
birthday Of The man most identified with
the establishment of American indenen-
lenee. and benraih the monument erected
10 commt morate his heroic virtues and
those Of his conpatriots, we have assem-
Lied 10 usler iu,o existence the perma-
ncnt Government Of tie Co federate
States. Through Ills fundamentally, un-
der the favor of Divine Providence, we
hope to perpeluaie the principles Of our
Revolutionary fathers. The day. the
m'moiy aud the purpose seem fifty asso-
eiat,d.
II is with mingled feelings Of humility
and pride that | appear TO take, in the
presence of the people and before high
Heaven, the oath prescribed rs qualili-
cation for tie exalted station 10 which the
unanimous voice Of The people has called
me. Deeply sensible Of all that is i'm
piled hy This manifestation Of the peoples
confidence, am yet more profoundly im-
pressed by the vast responsibility Of the
office, and humbly feel my own unworthi-
ness.
In return for their kindness | can only
offer assurances Of he gratitude with
which it j. received, and can bat pledge a
Jealous devotion of every faculty to The
service of those Who have chosen me as
ileir Cticf Magistrate.
| Wien long course Of class legislation,
directed not TO The general welfare, but 10
the aggrmdizemfnt Of the Northern See
lion ol The Union. eliminated in war
fare on the domestic institutions OF the
Southern States when The dogmas Of a
sectional party, substituted for lie Proyis-
ions oi lhe constitutional compact. threat
cned 10 destroy the sovereign rights Of the
/ States. six If those States. Withdrawing
| from the Union, coniederated together TO
exercise The right and perform the duty
OF insntaliug Government which would
better secure the liberties. for the preser-
yalion Of which that Union was estab-
/ lished.
Whatever Of hope some may have en-
tc-tained that returning sense Of ju.tier
would remove the danger with which our
rights we're threatened. and render it pos
sibe 10 preserve the Union OF the Consti-
tuition, must have been dispelled by the
maligniiy and barbarify Of the Northern
States in the prosecution Of the existing
war The confidence OF the most hope
i ful among Us must havfz been DESTROY |
/ by the disregard lheS have recent, ex-
/ libitsd ior all tie time houored bulwafkS
Of civil aud religious liberty. Bastiles
/ filed with prisoners, arrested witioni civ
/ il proc, s. or indictment being found the
/ writ OF bdbeas corpus suspended by Ex-
.euiiyr mandate State Legislature con-
trolled by the imprisonment Of members
whose avowed principles suggested TO the
/ Federal Executive that there might be
another added to the list of seeded States /;
elections held under threats Of milligy
power civil officers, peaceful citizens and
gentle women incareerated for opinions
sake. proclaimed the incapacity Of our
/ late associates TO administer Government
as free. liberal and humane as that estab.
lished for our common use.
/ For proof OF the sincerity Of our pur-
pose TO maintain our ancient institutions,
We may point 10 The Constitution Of the
Coniederacy, and the laws enacied under
i II. as we'll as 10 the fact that through all
tile necessities Of an unequal struggle
+ there has been DO act on our part 10 i'm
pair personal liberty or the freedom Of
speech. Of thought, or Of the press
The courts have been open, the Judicial
functions fully executed. and every right
Of the peaceful citizen maintained as Sc
carely as II a war Of invasion bad not die
torbed The land
The people Of The States now eonfeder'
alcd became convinced that The Govern.