Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-02-26
JEFF. DAVIS INAUGURAL.

rum Lhe hlCuiiuiu A-AdlllhtI EAtias Gu.
FstoJr ciiseaS On this the birthday of the
man most identified with the establishment of
American Independence, and beneath the
monument erected to commemorate his heroic
virtues ana those Of his compatriots, we have
assembled 10 usher into existence the per-
manent government OF the confederate states
Through this lnstrumenIality, under the favor
OF divine providence, We hope to perpetuate
the principles OF our revolutionary fathers.
The day, the memory and the purpose seem
fitiv associated.
Il 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 as Il qualification for the exalted
station to which the unanimous voice of the
people has called me. Deeply sensible of all
that is implied by this manifestation OF the
people confidence, l am yet more profound
" impressed by the vast responsibility OF the
Gitice, and humby feel my own unworthiness
In return tor their kindness | can only offer
assu anceS oil the gratitude with which il is
reCel ed and can but pledge Jealous deyo.
ton OF every faculty 10 the service OF those
who Fave chosen me as their chief magist rate
When long course OF class legislation, di.
rectsd not to the general welfare, but to the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF the northern section of the
Union, eliminated in warfare with the do
nestle institutions OF the southern states
when the dogmaS of a sectional party, sub
stituted Tor the provisions of the institution
al compact, threatened to destroy the sover
eign rights Of the states, six of these states,
Withdrawing from the Union, conederated to-
gether to exercise the right and perform the
duty ot lnStitutlng government which would
better secure the Liberties Tor tue preservation
of which that Union was established.
Whatever OF hope some may have enter
tanned that returning sense of justice would
remove the danger with which our rights were
threatened, aud render it possible 10 preserve
the Union of the constitution, must have been
dispelled by the malgnity and barbarity OF the
northern states in the prosecution OF the exist.
ing war. The confidence of the most hopeful
among us must have been destroyed by the
disregard they have recently exhibited for all
the time honored bulwarks of civil and relig.
lous liberty Bastilesstlled with prisoners ar.
rested without civil process or indictment duly
found; the writ of habeas corpus suspended
by executive mandate; state legislature con-
| trolled by the Imprisonment OF members whose
| aYowed principles suggested to ;he federal eX-
| ecutlve that there might be another added to
the list of seeded states elections held under
| threats OF military power; civil officers,
! peaceful citizens, and gentewomen incarcerat-
ed for opinions sake, proclaimed the incapaci-
| ~ OF our late associates to administer a gov
| eminent as tree, liberal, and humane as that
established for our common use.
For proof of the sincerity of our purpose to
| MAINTAIN our ancient institutions we may
point to the constitution of the coniederacy
and the laws enacted under it, as well us to the
fact that through all the necessities OF an un.
| equal struggle there has been no act on our
part to impair personal liberty or the freedom
OF speech, of thought or OF the press. The
courts have been open, the judicial functions
1uiiy executed, and every right OF the peaceful
| clIzen maintained as securely as if W r of
invasion had not disturbed tile land.
lie people OF the states now confederatcd
| became convinced that the government of the
United States had fallen into the hands of a
| sectional majority, who would peryert that
most sacred OF all trusts to the destruction OF
the rights which it was pledged to protect
! They believed that to remain longer in The
Union would subject them TO continuance of
disparaging discrimination, submission to
which would be inconsistent with their wei,
| fare. and inolerable to proud people The
| therefore determined to sever its bombs and es-
tablish new confederacy for themselves.
| The ex eriment instituted by our revolu,
| honary fathers, OF a voluntary union OF SOW
erelgn states Tor purposes specified in a solemn
| compact, had been perverted by those who,
| feeling power and forgetting right, were deter.
The government had ceased to answer the
| ends Tor which ii was ordained and established
| 10 save ourselves from a revolution which, in
a short but rapid progress, was about to place
| US under the despotism of numbers and to
| preserve in spirit as well as IN form, IA system
otagovernment we believed to be peculiarly
fitted to our condition, and full of promise for
mankind, We determined to make new asso.
citation, composed OF states homogeneous in
interest, III policy, and in feeling
True to our traditions of peace and our love
OF justice, we sent commissioners to the Unit
ed States to propose a fair ard amicaDle settle
ment OF all questions OF public debt or proper.
ty which might be in dispute. But the gov.
eminent at Washington, denying our right OF
self government, refused even to listen to any
proposals for peaceful separation. Nothing
was then left to us but to prepare for war.
The hrst year in our history has been tile
most eventful in the annals of this continent
a new government has been established, and
its machinery put in operation over an area
exceeding seven hundred thousand square
miles The great principles upon which we
have been willing to hazard everything that
is dear to man have made conquests Tor us
which could never have been achieved by the
sword. Our coniedCracy has grown from six
10 thirteen states and Maryland, direddy uni.
ted to as by hdtOCed memories and material inter-
eStS, 1yH belieUe, aChen able 10 speak Cih uasti.
tled cOtce, connect her destiny ,Ch The south Our
people have rallied with unexampled unanim.
lty TO the support of the great principles of
constitutional government with trm resolve
to perpetuate by arms the rights which they
could not peacefully secure. a million of
men, it is estimated, are now standing in hos
tile array, and waging war along a frontier of
thousands of miles. BATTLES have been
fought, sieges have been conducted and nj
though the contest is not ended and lie tide far The
moment rs against US, The final result in our Tror is
not doubtful
The.perOd is near at hand ooten orr foes
must sink under the immense load of debt ,gijc6
they hare incurred, a debt which in their etlnrt
to subjugate us has already atlai Jed SD. Ii fear
full dimensions as will subject them to bnrrh.
ems which must continue to Cypress them for
generations to come.
We, too, have had our trials and dfiultins
mat we are TO escape them in future is nut
10 be hoped. 1t was TO be expected when we
entered upon this war that it would exDose
our people to sacrifices and cost them much
both OF money and blood But we knew thp
value OF the object for which we STRUGGLED
and understood the nature of the war in which
we were engaged, Nothing could be so bad
as failure, and any sacrifice would be CHEAP as
the price Ct success in such a coutest.
But the picture has its lights as well as its
shadows This great strife has awakened in
the people the highest emotions aud qualilie,
OF the human soul. 1t is cuItivaiiug feelings
Of patriotism, virtue and courage Instances
| OF sell sacrifice and of generous devotinn to