Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-02-25
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF PRESIDENT JEFFERSON DAVIS,
Delivered in Richmond, Feb. 20, 1869.

Delivered in Richmond, Feb. a2, 1862.
FELLOW CITIZENS On this, the birthday OF
the man most identified with the establishment
of American indie ependence, and beneath the mon
ument erected to commemorate his heroic vlr-
tues and those Of his coDpatriots, we have assem-
/ bled to usher into existence the permanent Gov
ernment Of the Confederate States. Through
this fundamentally, under the favor of Divine
Providence, we hope to perpetuate the prlncl-
plss Of our Revolutionary fathers. The day, the
memory, and the purpose seem htly associated. 8
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 pre-
| scrbed as a qualification for the exalted sta
tion to which the unanimous voice OF the people
has called me. Deeply sensible of all that is inn
piled by this manifestation of the peoples conf
dence, am yet more profoundly impressed by
the vast responsibility of the office, and humbly
| feel my own unworthiness -
! In return for their kindness, can only offer
assurances of the gratitude with which it is re-
celved, and can but pledge jealous devotion Of
every faculty to the service of those who have
chosen me as their Chief Magistrate. -
When long course of C ass legislation, direct
ed not to the general welfare, but to the aggran-
dizement of the Northern section Of the Union,
culmina-ed in a warfare on the domestic institu-
tions of the Southern States-when the dogmas
of sectional party, substituted for the provis-
ions of the constitutional compact, threatened to
lueSGTOy tHe flSHCS the STATES, SIX OF
| those States, withdrawing from the Union, con-
federated together, to exercise the right and per-
form the duty of instituting government which
would better secure the liberties, for the preSer-
vation Of which that Union was established
| Whatever of hope some may have entertained
that returning ofjustice would remove
the danger, with which our rights were threaten
ed, and render it possible to preserve the Union
of the Constitution, must have been dlspeled by
the malignity and barbarity of the Northern
States in the prosecution Of the existing 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
| oulwarks Of civil and religious liberty. Bastiles
filled with prisoners, arrested without civil pro-
cess, or indictment duly found the writ of habeas
corpgs suspended by Executive mandate a State
| Legislature controlled by the Imprisonment of
members whose avowed principles suggested to
the Federal Executive that there might be an
other added to the list of seeded States elec
tions held under threats of military power; civil
officers, peaceful citizens, and gentle women in
carcerated for opinion s sake, proclaimed the in
capacity of our late associates to administer
government as free, liberal and humane as that
established for our common use. E-1iaaA -
! For proof of the sincerity of our purpose to
maintain our ancient institutions, may Joint
| to the Constitution of the COnfederacy and the
laws enacted under it, as we'll as to the fact that
through all the necessities of an unequal Strug-
| gle, there has been no act on our part to impair
personal liberty 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
securely as if war Of invasion had not disturb
ed the land.
| The people of the States now confederated be-
came convinced that the Government of the Uni
ted States had fallen into the hands of the Sec
tlonal Majority who would pervert that most Sa-
cred of all trusts to the destruction of the rights
which 1t was pledged to protect. They believed
that to remain longer in the Union would SUBJ
ject them to a continuance of disL aragng dis
crlminatiOn, submission to which would be IN
consistent with their welfare, and intoerable to
proud people. They therefore determined to
sever it's bonds, and establish new COME lera-
cy for themselves. TCheers.l
The experiment instituted by our reyolution5-
ry fathers OF voluntary union of sovereign States
for purposes specified in solemn compact had
been perverted by those, who, feeling power and
forgetting right, were determined to respect no
law but their own will. The Government had
ceased to answer the ends for which it was or
dained and established. To save ourselves from
a revolution, which in its silent but rapit pro-
gress was about to place US under the despotism
of numbers, and to preserve in spirit as well as
in form, system of government, we believe to
be peculiarly fitted TO our condition and full of
promise for mankind, we determined to make a
new association composed Of States homogene-
Gus in interest, In policy and in feelihg.-I
TChesrs.
True to our traditions of peace and our love of
Justice, we sent commissioners to the United
s ates to propose fair and amicable settlement
of all questions of pubic debt or propert, which
NIL ght be in dispute. But the Government at
Washington denying our right to sell govern
ment, refused even to listen to any proposals for
peaceful separation. Nothing was then lift to
us but to prepare for war. TCheerS.1 i~aF Il
The first wear in orr history has haap +ba M Of
eventfm in the annals OF this Continent. A new
government has been established and its ma |
chinery put in operation, over an area exceeding
900 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 sikh
to thirteen States; and Maryland already united
to us by hallowed memories and material inter-
ests, will, believe, when able to speak with un-
stifed voice, connect her destiny with the South.
[Great appause.] Our people have rallied with |
unexamped unanimity to the support of the
great principles Of Constitutional government,
with firm resolve to perpetuate by the rights
which they could not peacefully secure. mill |
lion of men, it is estimated, are now standing in
hostile array, and waging along frontler of !
thousands Of miles battles have been fought a
sieges have been conducted, and although the
contest is not ended, and the tide for the mo- /
ment is agaiest us, the final result in our favor
is not doubtful. ~ ~s4 sI
~ The period is near at hand when our foes must
sink under the immense load of debt which they /
have incurred; debt which in their effort to |
subugate us has already attained such fearful
dimens ons will subject them to burthens
which must continue to oppress them for gene
rations to come. q ts6t ioiye4s a. 81 ;tta7H Il
We too haye had our trials and difficulties -
That we are to escape them in future ia not to be
hoped. 1t was to be expected when we entered
upon this war that it would expose our people
to sacrifices and cost them much both of money
ana blood But we knew the value Of the OBJ !
ject for which we struggled, and understood the
nature of the war in which we were engaged
N Nothing could be so bad rs failure and sacrifice
would be cheap as the price of success in such a. |
contest. [Cheers.l -
But the picture has it's lights as we'll as
its shadows. This great strife has awakened
IN the people the higest emotions and oualities1
of the human soul. 1t is cultivating feelings ofl
patriotism, virtue and courage Instances ofI
self sacrifice, and of generous devotion to the mo.
be cause for which we are contendng are rife
throughout the land. Never has people evinc-
ed more determined spirit than that now ami
mating men, women and children in eyery mart
OF our country. Upon the first call the men Iy
to arms and wives and mothers send their bus
bands and sons to battle without murmur or
regret. A -
1t was, perhaps, in the ordination of Provi-
dence that we were to be taught the value of our
liberties by the price which we pay for them
The recolections of this great contest with ALL
it's common traditions of glory of sacrifice o.