The New York herald., 1862-02-25
The inaugural Address.

Address Of Je Davis, delivered in Richmond on satur
day last.
The Inaugural Address.
From the Richmond Examiner Extra, Feb. 221
Fellow CrzISs-On this tho birthday Of the man most
identified with the establishment Of American Indepen
dence, and beneath the monument erected to
rate his heroic virtues and those of his compariots
have assembled TO usher into existence the permanent
government OF the Confederate States Through this in
strumenality under the favor OF Divine Providence
hope to perpetuas sthe principles OF Revolutionary
fathers The day, the memory and the purpose
htly associated.
II is with mingled feelings Of humility and pride that
appear the presence Of tho people and before
high Heaven. the oath prescribed qualification for
the exalted station to which the unanimous voice Of the
people has called Deeply sensible Of oil that is inn
piled by this manifestation Of the peoples confidence
yet profoundly impressed by the vast responsi
bty of the Office and humby feel my unworthiness
In for their kindness only offer assurances
of the gratitude with which it is received and but
pledge jealous devotion Of every faculty to the service
of those who have chosen their Chief Magistrate
When long Of class legislation directed not to
general welfare, but TO the aggrandzement Of the
Northern section Of the Union eliminated in awarars
on the domestic institutions Of tho Southern States
when the dogmas OF sectional party substituted for the
provisions of the constitutional compact, threatened to
destroy sovereign rights Of the States, six those
States withdrawing from the Union, confederated to-
geher exercise the right and perform the duty Of in
stituting government which would better secure the
liberties for the preservation Of which that Union
established.
whatever Of hope soms may have entertained that q
returning justice would tho danger with
which our rights were threatened and render possible
to preserve the Union Of the constitution have been
dispsed by the malgniy and barbary Of the Northern
States in tho prosecution Of the existing The
fdence Of the most hopeful among US must
have been destroyed by tho disregard they have
recently exhibited for all tho time honorcd bulwarks
OF civil and religious liberty. Bastues filed with
prisoners, arrested without civil process indict
ment duly found the writ Of habeas corpus suspended
by Executive mandate State Legislature controlled by
the imprisonment Of members whose avowed principles
Suggested the federal Executive that there might be
another added to the list of seeded sates elections
hold under threats Of military poweEs civil officers,
caceful citizens and gentle ncarcerated ffor
opinions sake proclaimed the incapacity Of
ciates administer government free, liberal and
humane as that established for our common use
For proof Of the sincerity OF purpose maintain
our institutions may point TO the constitution
of confederacy and the laws enacted under it, well
AZ the fact that through all tho necessities Of
aual struggle there has been act part to impair
personal liberty tho freedom Of Speech OF thought
of lie courts navo Decn open, the JUDICIAL
functions fully executed and every right Of the peaceful
citizen maintained as securely as war Of invasion
had not disturbed the land
The people OF the States now confederated became
convinced the government Of the United States had
fallen into the hands Of sectional majority. who would
pervert sacred of all trusts 20 the destruction
Of tho rights which 1t was pledged protect They be-
eved that to remain longer in tho Union would subject
them to continuance Of disparaging discrimination,
submission 70 which would be inconsistent with their
welfare and intoerabie proud people. They there
fore determined to sever its bonds and establish new
| confederacy for themselves.
Thcexperiment inst by Revolutionary fathers,
of . voluntary Of sovereign States for purposes
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
II ordained and established. To save ourselves
from revolution which, IN its silent but rapid pro-
gress. about TO place us under the despotism Of
numbers and to preserve in spirit, well as in form
system oi government we believed be peculiarly lifted
70 condition and full Of promise for mankind we
determined TO make new association composed OF States
| homogeneous in interest, In policy and in feeling.
traditions Of peace and love Of justice,
we sent tho United States to propose
fair and amicabe settlement OF all questions Of Pablo
debt or property which might be in dispute. But the
government at Washington, denying our right to self
government refused to listen to any proposals for
peaceful separation. Nothing then left TO but TO
The rst year in our history has the cvcntfu
in the annals Of this continent new government has
been established and its machinery put in operation
an area exceeding hundred thousand square miles
The great principles upon which We have been willing TO
hazard everything that Is dear to have made
quests which could have becn achieved by
4 the sword. Our concderacy has grown from six to
thirteen States; and Maryland, already unitd as by
Aallesod memories material Interests, viu before
he able 10 speak 10Th tnsfed voice. connect her destiny
@ M @ our % s srcs AZ on
stitutional government with firm resolve TO perpe1ate
by the rights which they could not peacefully
million Of men. is estimated, are now stand
ing hostile array and wagng along frontier Of
thousands Of miles Battles have been fought, seges
have been conducted and, although the contest Is ended
The
| our fdvor Is not doubtful
The period is near at hand ,chen our foes must sink under
the iunsense load Of debt schich they hdoe incurred debt
which their effort TO subugate has already attained
such fearful dimensions will subject them TO burthsns
which must continue to oppress ihem for generations to
come
escape them in future is not to be hoped. IL
TO be expected when entered upon this that Il
would people sacrifices and cost them much
both OF money and blood But knew the value OF the
ture Of the war in which NC were engaged Nothing
could be bad failure, and any sacrifice would be
| cheap as the price Of success in such contest.
But the picture has its lights well as its shadows.
This great strife has awakened In the people the highest
emotions and qualities Of the human SOUL II Is cultivat
ing feelings OF patriotism virtue and courage Instances
OF self sacrifice and Of generous devotion TO tbs noble
cause for which are contcndng arc rife throughout
the land. Never mas people evnced more oc'ermned
spirit than that animating men, women and children
In every part Of country. Upon tho nfst call the
men ny 10 arms and wives and mothers scnd their hus
bands and sons to battle without murmur OF regret
IA was perhaps in the ordination Of Providence that
we were 70 be taught the value Of our liberties by the
price which we pay for them.
The recoIlectons this great contest with all Its
mon traditions Of glory Of sacrifice and OF blood will be
tho bond OF harmony and enduring affection amongst the
people producing unity pocs fraternity in sentiment
and Joint effort in war.
Nor have the material sacrifices Of the past year been
made without some corresponding benefits Us dcoui-
secncs Of foreign Nations aprdded blockade de-
prved US Of our rh them, Il s fda mdksug
~,Csupport mo and tndpendent people The blockade
II efcctua and permanent could only divert
industry the production OF articles for export and
employ In supplying commodities for domestic uso
II In satisfaction that we have maiptaiped the war
by unaided exertons. We have neither asked
received assistance from any quarter Yet the interest
involved s not wholly The world at large IL
concerned in opening markets TO its commerce.
when the Independence OF the Confederate States Is
recognized by the nations OF the EARTH and free
to follow interests and ncinatons by cultivstng
foreign trade the Southern States will offer TO manuac
turing nations the most favorable markets which ever
invited their Cotton, sugar, rice, tobacco,