Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-02-25
P,e.ideut Davis Inaugural Address.

President Davis Inaugural Address.
Fell0lC Citizens On this the birth day of the
man Identified wi the establishment Of American
hdepeudeuce and beneath the monument erected to
commemorate his heroic ues and those of his com
patriots have assembled to usher into eXiste the
permanent government of the Confederate States.
Through this instrumentaliy, and under The favor oi
Of our revolutionary fathers The day the memory and
the purpose seem 10 be itly associated
II is with mingled feelings Of humility and pride 7 sp
pear take IN the presence of this people and before
high heaven, the oath prescribed qualification of The
exalted station TO which the voice of the peo
pie has called me Deeply sensible of all Eat is implied
By this manifestation OF the people confidence an
yet profoundly impressed with tie r-spOuA
bity Of the office, and humby fee my uuwOrthi-
ness In return for their kindness can only offer my
Of the gratitude with which 70 received
and but pledge my zloU- devotion of every fscu-
~ 80 the service Of those who have chosen me their
Chief Magistrate
when through Ing course Of class legislation, di-
TgCted % be for the general welfare but for sggrau
uous OF the Southern States when the dogna Of sec
tOua parties substituted for the provisions VI the con
situtinuai compact hr ateugd destroy the sovereign
rights Of those Sta six Of those States Withdrawing
right 10 perform the duty Of iHstituting government
which would better their liberties for the prer
walton Of which that Union established.
Whatever OF hope some may have entertained that
returning Of justice would remove the danger with
which rights threatened and render possible
to preserve the Union Of the constitution must have been
dspeed, by the guity and barbsry of the Northern
States in the prosecution Of the existing The
hdence Of the most hopeful among must hsve been
destroyed by the disregard they have recently exhibited
tOr an tmehou0Ted works OF civil and egjous liberty
Their se- filed with prisoners arrested without
civil process or Indictment which they u duty bound
TO servs the writ OF ha6cas corpus suspended by ENecu
i've mandate, and State Legislature controlled by the
Imprisonment of its members whose avOed principles
suggested 70 the Federal Executive there might have
faf moth rIf Tn rnf sH Hfaa fs -lan
held under threats of military power civil officers
peaceful citizens and gentle women incar Grated for
opinions sake We proclaimed in the capacity Of our
late ass cies TO ad az minister the government a free
liberal and humane, that established for ourcommon
FOrthe proof Of sincerity Of purpose 70 maintain
ancient institutions may point TO the Constitution
Of the COnederaCy, 70 the laws enacted under TO-
well to the fact that through all the necessities Of an
unequal struggle there has been act part
impair personal liberty freedom Of speech OF thought
Of the press The courts have been opened and their
Judicial functions fully executed, and every right Of the
peaceful citizen maintained equally il Of iu-
vasiou had not disturbed our land.
The people Of the States conlederated became
convinced that the government Of the United stes had
fallen into the hands Of the sectional majority who would
peril that most sacred of all trusts 10 the destruction Of
those rights which it pledged TO protect and hey
believed that remain longer i'm the Union would sub
iect them to continuance Of dsparagng discrimination,
submission 10 which would be inconsistent with their
welfare, and ntuerabe 20 proud people They there
fore determined 20 sever its bonds and establish q new
Confedsracy for thems lives.
The experiment instituted by revolutionary fathers
Of voluntary union Of 0ysreign States for purposes
specified in solemn compact had been perverted by those
who feeling they had the power and forgetting the
right were determined TO respect no law but their own
viii The government had ceased TO answer the ends
for which il ordained and established. To save
ourselves from revolution which In it's silent but rapid
progress, about 90 place under a despotism OF
uUmber and TO preserve in the spirit well the form
the system Of government believed to be peculiarly
fit ed TO our c0ndt and full Of promise for 0ukind
we determined 70 make new association COM Jsed Of
States homogeneous in interest, policy and feeling
True to traditions Of pc and love Of Justice,
we sent commissioners the Uged States 70 propose
fair and dmiCabe settlement Of AN questions of public
debt property which might be disputed but the gov
ernment at Washington denying our right to self gov
mt, refused 90 listen TO any proposals for
peaceful separation. Nothing then left but to
prepar for war The first year Of history has been
the most eventfu in the annals Of this continent new
government has been established exceeding
100000 square miles and the great principles upon which
we have been willing hazard every thing dear
have made conouests for us which could nsver have
been achieved by the sword
Our Conederacy mas grown from six to thirteen States
and Maryland, already united 20 by hslloved memo
ries and material interests, wil believe when able Co
speak, with united voice connect their des ny with the
South. our people We raj led with Xampcd una
umity TO the support Of the great principles of cOusu
tional government, with firm resov 10 prrpetuHe by
the rights they could not peacefully against
million, which it IS estima ed Is the standing hostile
army and wagiug ong a frontier of thousands OF
miles battles ave been fought and sege conducted and
although the contest mas not ended and cd tur the mo
mcut 60 against be iual result iu favor Is u0
doubtful The period is 90 hand when foes must
Weld under the immense load Of debt iucurred-a debt
which in their effort subjugate us has already attain
cd such fearful dimensions viii subject them to
hurtheus which must continue 70 oppress them Cor gene
rdti rs to come.
We too have had our trial and difficulties and that
we 20 escape them IN the future s not TO be LoUed
Il to be exp ctsd when we entered this war, 81
would expose our people TO many sacrifices, and eos
them much both in money and blood Bur we suew the
value Of the object for which have struggled and
dersO0d the of Tue object for which engaged
and that nothing could De bad the future a1d amy
sacrifice vii be cheap the price Of success in suoh
con est. But the picture has ID, l-hts well iu
shades This great strife has ned IN the people the
highest emotions and qualities OF the man soul lt is
culfivatug feelings ot patriotism virtue and courage
and inS Of -efsacrhces and geueru devotion o.
the noble cause tor which are ceteuding are rife
throughout the lard Never has people evneed de-
terminad -P rt as That now anma-ilg the men, women
and chidrenin every part of country Upon the r
cali men fly TO and wives .and mothers send then
husbands and 20 battle itlOut uumur or regret
1t yas perhaps iu the ordination Of Providence thai
90 DE tugut the value o our liberties by the price
we psy for them.
Ihs ree0ections Of this great contest with all its com
traditions of glory, sacrifices and Of blood viii be
bond OF harmony and enduring affection among the peo
pie producing unity in policy, fraternity u sentiment
and joint effort i'm The material sacrifices Of hl
past year have not bge made without cSpoud
ing benefits IF the aCquescence of foreign nations in The
pretended bio kafe has deprived us Of our eomuerc,
with them u is fast making selfsupportng and iude
pendent people. The blocEaie IF efectual and pcrma
nent could only % divert iadustry from ht
ing commodities for domestic Use.
it's a satisfaction to know that we have maintained
the war by own una4ed sxerriOns We have nethe
asked received assistance q ON any quart The lu
terests involved only own the world at srgt
s concerned IN the opening az markets its com
mfrce and when The Independence of the C0ufsderat
States recognized by the nations Of the EARTH and
free to follow our interests and incuatous by cul
waiting foreign trade, the uthen States will offer IN,
manufacturing nations the favorable markets which
ever invited their commerce Cotton sugar rice, tobac
CO. provisions timber and naval ores viii furnish at
tractve exchanges would tie c0ustaucy of taesi
supplies be likely TO be disturbed by Our Conted
strength will be too great tempt aggression,
never was there people whose interrsts and principle
committed them 80 fully 20 peaceful policy thes,
Conf derate States.
B the character Of their productions they ars TOT
deeply interested in foreign commerce 70 want wal
only 70 disturb the world and Of conquest they
cannot wage, because The Constitution Of the Confed
eracy admits no c0erCed association. civil war there
cannot be between States held together by their vooI
only and this rule of voluntary assOc ,tion, which can
not fail 70 be conservative, as by securing just anC
impartial government home it does not diminish td'
security Of obligations by which the Confederate State
may be bound 20 foreign nations. lu proof Is TO bt
remembered that 8t the hrst moment Of asserting the
right % secess on these State proposed settlement on
the basis Of common liabilities for the obligations Of the
general government
Grated the right Of Engshmen 20 constitutional repre-
sentative government colonial ancestors forced
to vndieate that brthright by appeal to Sue
crowned their efforts and they provided for theI
posterty peaceful dy against future aggressions
The tyranny of unbridod majority the most odious
and least responsible form 0f desp0m, has denied us
both the right aud the remedy. Therefore are in
arms 10 renew such sacrifices fathers made the
holy cause Of constitutional liberty At the darkest
hour of struggle, the provisional gives place to the
permanent government and after series Of successes
and victories which covered army with glory we
have recently met with serious disasters but 10 the heart
Of this people who resolved 70 be free, these dsa
ters tend but stimulate % increased resistance. To
show ourselves worthy the Inheritance bequeahed by
the patriots OF the Revolution, must emulate the he
roic devotion which made 20 them, the crUcible
in which their patriotism was rehued
With confidence in the wisdom and virtues Of those
who will share with the responsibility and aid me
In the conduct OF public affairs and securely relying
the patriotism and courage Of people OF which the
present war has furnished many examples deep y
feel the weight Of the respOusb ties now, with una
fected didence, about assume, and fully realizing
the insdequacy Of human power TO guide and sustain
my hope is reverently fixed Him whose favor is
Vonchsa ed % the which IS just and with humble
grartu0- and alteration acknowledge tHe Providence
which has visibly protected the Conteiercy during
is brief but eventful career To Thee God trHst
ingly commit myself and prayerluly invoke Thy bless
Ing my country and its cause,