Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-02-26
PRESIDENT DAVIs's !.
INAUGURAL. ADDRESS.
IDELIyEKED IK KlcsNoNp. frR. 22p. lass. ! 4

49, "uSPetotnce, ana beneath the monument cree.
TED to commemorative his heroic virtues and those Of
his compatriots We have assembled to usher into
existence the permanent government ofthe Confed-
crate States. Through this instrumcntality, under
the favor OF Divine Providence We hope to perpetu
ate the principles Of our Revolutionary fathers-
Inc gay the memory, and the purpose seem ftly
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 prescribed as q
qualification for the exalted station to which the
unanimous voice Of the people has called me- Deep.
ly sensible Of all that is implied by this manifesto.
ton. of the peoples confidence, am vet more pro.
foundy impressed by the vast responsibility Of the
Office and hunby feel my own unworthness. In
return for their Kindness can only offer assuran-
ces OF the gratitude with which it is received, and
can but pledge Jealous devotion of every faculty
to the service Of those who have chosen their
Chief Magistrate. - =.
When long course Of class legislation, directed
not to tie general welfare, but to the aggrandize-
ment of the Northern section of the Union, culni-
mated IN warfare on the domestic institutions of
the Southern States-when the dogmas of sec
tiona 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 nsti
tuting government which would better secure the
liberties, for the preservation of which the Union
was established.
Whatever Of hope 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 OF the Con-
stitutiOn must have been dispelled by the malgni-
ty and barbarity of the Northern States in the pros
ecution of the existing war. The confidence Of the
most hopeful among must have been destroyed
by the disregard they have recently exhibited for all
fha Ill, 80 -,
liberty. Bastlles filled with prisoners, arrested
without civil process, or indictment duly found; the
writ Of ha6sas corpus suspended by executive man.
date; State Legislature controlled by the impris-
onnent of members whose avowed principles sug-
gested to the Federal Executive that there might be
another added to tue list of seeded States cleo
tons held under threats of military power; civil
officers peaceful citizens and gentle women incar-
cerated for opinions sake, proclaimed the ncapacity
of our late associates to administer government
as free, liberal and humane as that established for
our common use.
For proof of the sincerity OF our purpose to main
tain our ancient institutions, we may point to the
Constitution of the Confederacy and the laws
acted under it. as we'll to the fact that through
all the necessities of our unequal struggle there has
been no act on our part to impair personal liberty
or the freedom of speech, of thought Of the press.
The Courts have been open; the judicial functions
fully executed and every right of the peaceful citi
maintained as securely az if a war of invasion
had not disturbed the land
The people CT the States confederated, be.
| came convinced that the government of the United
States had fallen into the hands of sectional major
ty, who would pervert that most sacred of al trusts
to the destruction Of the rights which it 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 welfare, and intol
! cradle to proud people They therefore determn-
| ed to sever its bonds, and establish new Confed
| eracy for themselves. Cheers.
| The experiment instituted by our revolutionary
fathers of voluntary union of sovereign States for
! purposes specified in a solemn compact, had been
! perverted by those, who feeling power and forget
! ting right, determined to respect law but
! their will. The government had ceased to an
swer the ends for which it was ordained and estab-
lshed. To save ourselves from revolution, which
in its silent but rspid progress was about to place
us under the despotsm of numbers, and to preserve
| in spirit well as in form, system of government
we believed to be peculiarly fitted to condition
! and full Of promise for mankind, we determined to
! make new ASSOCIATION composed of States homoge-
in interest, in policy and in feeling tCheers
| True to our traditions of peace and our love of
justice, sent commissioners to the United States to
propose fair and amica lie settlement of all ques-
tons of public debt, or property which might be
i'll dispute. But the government at Washington de-
nylng right to self government refused even to
listen to any proposals for peaceful separation.
Nothing then left to US but to prepare for war;
| LCheers.
The first year in our history has been the most
; eventfu in the annals of this Continent. A new
! government has been established, and its machinery
put in operation, over an area exceeding 700,00tI
square miles. The great principles upon which We
have been willing to hazard everything that is dear
to man, have made conquests for us which could
never have been achieved by the sword. Our Con-
federacy has grown from six to thirteen States !;
and Maryland already united to US by halowed
memories, and material interests, WILL believe,
when able to speak with justified voice. connect her
destiny with the South Threat applause. Our
people have rallied with uneXainpled unanimity to
the support of the eat principles of Constitutional
government with rm resolve to perpeuate by arms
the rights which they could not peacefully secure.
million Of men, it is estimated are now standing
in hostile array, and waging war along frontier OF
thousands of miles; battles have been fought
seiges have been conducted, and although the con-
test is not ended, and the tide for the moment is
against us, the final result in favor is not doubt
full.
The period is near at hand wheno our foes mustsnk
under the immense load of debt which they have
incurred debt which in their effort to subjugate
US, has already attained such fearful dimensions
as will subject them to burthens which must con-
ll'ue " oppTesS thetn Iof SeheTaliohs " co'Ae'
We too, have had our trials and difficulties. Tha,
are to escape them in future is not to be hoped
1t was to be expected when entered upon this
war, that 1t would expose people to sacrifices
and cost them much, both Of money and blood But
knew the value of the object for which We strug
gled, and understood the nature of the in which
we were engaged. Nothing could be SO bad as
failure, and any sacrifice would be cheap as the price
OF success in such a contest. {Cheers.
But the picture has its liuhtS as >well as its
shadows. This great strife has awakened in the
people the highest emotions and qualities of the
human soul. 1t is cullvat,ng feelings Of patriotism
virtue, and courage Instances Of selEsacrtce ant
We are contending, are rife Throughout the land
Never has people eyinced more determined splrl
than that now animating men, women and children
in every part of our country. Upon the first cal
men ty to arms; and wives and mothers send thei
husbands and to battle without murmur o
regret.
1t was, perhaps, in the ordination Of Providence