The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-03-05
PRESIDENT DAvIs's
INAUGUlGAN Address,
Delivered 10 Richmond, the 22d Feb. 1862.

iiSnment Ot AtntTiCdu iHuepcuuchSc, anu oC'
meath the monument erected to commemo.
rate his heroic virtues and those Of his COM
patriots, we have assembled TO usher into
existence the permanent government OF the
Confederate States. Through this instru-
mentality, under the favor Of Divine Proyi-
dence, we hope to perpetuate the principles
Of our Revolutionary fathers. The day. the
memory, ond the purpose seem fitly associ-
ated.
II is with mingled feelings Of humility and
pride that appear, to take. in the presence
Of the people aud before high Heaven. the
oath prescribed as qualification for the ex-
alted station to which Ihe unanimous voice
Of the people has called me. Deeply sensi-
BILE Of all that is implied BY this manifesto
ton Of the peoples confidence. am yet
more profoundly impressed by the vast re.
sponsibility Of the Office, and humbly feel my
own uuworthiness. In return for their kind
ness, can onls offer assurances Of the grati-
tude with which il is received. and can but
pledge jealous devotion Of every faculty
to the service of those who have chosen me
as their chief Magistrate.
When a long course Of class legislation,
directed not To- the general welfare, bul to
The ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of the Northern section
Of the Union, eliminated ina warfare on the
domestic institutions of the Southern States
when the dogmss Of sectional party. sub
sttuted for the provisions OF the constitu-
tional compact, threatened 70 destroy the
sovereign rights Of the States. SIX OF those
States, Withdrawing from the Union, con-
federated together. TO exercise the right and
perform the duty Of nsti,ating government
which would better secure the liberties, for
the preservation of which the Union was
established.
Whatever Of hope some may have enter
tanned that a returning sense OF justice would
remove the danger with which our rights
were threatened. and render it possible to
preserve the Union Of the Constitution,
mast have been dispelled by the malignity
and barbarity Of the Northern States IN the
prosecution Of the existing war. The con-
hdenee of the most hopeful among Us must
have been destroyed by the disregard they
have recently exhibited tnr all the time.
hunored bulwarks OF civil and religious llber-
". BsstIles filled with prisoners, arrested
without civil process, or indictment duty
found the writ Of habeas corpus suspended
by executive mandate; State Legislature
controlled BY the imprisonment OF members
whose asosed principles suggested to the
Federal Executive that there might be anoth-
er added 70 the list OF seeded States; cleo
tions held under threats OF a military power
civil officers, peaceful citizens, and gentle
women ,ncarcerated for opinions sake, pro.
claimed the incapacity OF our late associates
10 administer . Cover Dment as Tree. liberal
and humane as that established Tor our CON-
mon use
For proof of the sincerity OF our purpose
10 maintain our ancient institutions, We may
point 10 ihe Constitution OF the Contederacy
aud the laws enacted under Il, as well as to
the fact that through all tn necessities ol
oui unequal struggle, there has been no act
on our part 10 impair personal liberty or the
freedom &c speech, Or thought, or oi the
press. The Courts have been open; the ju.
d,cial functions fully executed. and every
right Of the peaceful citizen maintained as
securely as if war Of Invasion had not dis.
turbed the land.
The people Of the States now confederat.
ed, became convinced that the government
/ / OF the Outttu othtts Htu ttttu thtV hte hehNs
Of a sectional majority. who would peryer'
that most sacred Of all trusts 10 the destruc'
tion Of the rights which Il was pledged e
protect. They believed, that TO remain
longer in the Union would subject them TO I
continuance Of disparaging discrimination
submission 10 which would be inconsisten
with their welfare. and intolerable to proue
people. They therefore determined 10 seve
its bonds, and establish new Coniederac,
for themselves. @ #F
The experiment instituted by our reyolu'
tionary fathers Of voluntary union Of sose
reign States for purposes specified IN
solemn compact, had been perverted By those
who feeling power and forgetting right, wer'
determined 10 respect no law but their owl
will. The government had ceased to an
swer the ends for which Il was srdained an'
established. To save ourselves from reso
luton. which 10 iss silent but rapid progress
was about TO place us under the desPot'sn
OF numbers, and 10 preserve 10 spirit as wei
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