The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-01-02

the MaUeaUAID IDol( u ksN0ls. - lIh!as
ms AbD1Ess.
TIE ssssnonios aslass4io the insagara.
tion Yesterday Of tbsnss Governor o. vir-
e,ula were q : plAin nna Almple, but inter.
e.tlns and imposing eAAa<1er. Long before
the hour appointed soe ~ Administration Of
the oath Of once, the Ions Hall Of the
House Of Delegates crowded with an
audience composed q ll1ies, citisens. and
soldiers. and number q the member OF
the Confsderats Congress
Gov. Smith, whoee serslces In behalf OF
h,s State and the confedAscy have already
sIvcn him distinguished reputation, enter.
"a the Hall few moments aater - o'clock,
accompanied by Gov. LcteAer aud others.-
On entering the Hall he ~ loudly greeted
by the largo crowd in attondance. Proceed
Ing directly to the Speakers chair, the new
0oyofnor, without the cesonony Of intro.
duotion. commenced the reading Of the fol.
lowing inaugural address, tho delivery Of
which occupied about thre44nsrters OF an
hour:
ss,sa:ssn e, s's. ys.s r. sa2 sHes So. s
the Commonwealth Of vtssiSsa. BY the pcrmls-
sion OF God, and the election Of the people, am
now here 10 repeat ahem. Entrusted by my coun-
tYmen, under the pertlous circumstances which
about TO assume,I think it altogether fitting occa-
sion, as hereby do, to express my most profound
acknowledgements for this gratifying and Gistjp-
gushing mark Of their confidence. l hope may
comp'ish all that may be expected Of me, within
my constitutional powers, will suffice, shall not
be disappoinicd.
On The l1th day Of September, 1887, the Consti-
tuition Of the United States was adopted by the
Conyeniion, and transmitted by the President
thereof, Gen. Washington, 20 the Congress of the
Confederation Ia his letter, he says among other
things, "and thus the Constitution which we now
present IL the result OF spirit Of amity and Of that
mutual deference aud concession which the pecu-
liarity of our political situation rendered ndis-
pensable." In the concluding part Of his letter, he
also says: "rhat It will meet the full and entirs
expected; but each WILL doubtless rect iect that,
had her interests been alone consulted, ,e cOnse
quences might haye been particularly di ,grseable
or injurious to Others"
The Constitution, thusSconstructed, Sas sdc,ted
by the States at different periods, but eleven oil
them having ratified II, the 7th article thereof de-
caring that, 'The ratification Of the Conventions
Of nine States shalt be sufficient for the establish
80
ratifying the same" The Government authorized
thereby was fully organized by the installation ol
President Washington, on the 3Oth Of April lqas2
He was elected unanimously, but ten Ststes only
out of this Union until the 2ist Of November, 1889
Rhode Island did until the Goth Of May, 1890. Ii
is obvious that they were sovereign States, com
plete natiOaaiities, and might have rema!ned sep
aTate, "free and Independent Statcs." Undeniably
the old Union, under the first Constitution, which
took us triumphantly through the revolutionary
war, and to which North Carolina and Rhode Island
seemed so anxious to adhere, was dissolved BY the
withdrawal of a majority of the members thereof
and another substituted therefor. Was this seces
sion. Let the facts stated give the reply. Was II
right for portion OF the States 10 disregard de
stroy compact with those Of their associates whA
withheld or refused their consent? Allow me n
give short time to the consideration of this In
quiy.
formed by the Articles of Confederation was
wholly inadequate for its essential purpOses-thai
It could neither secure us the respect of foreign
powers nor promote our prosperity at home. True,
it had taken us thre Ugh the Revolution, but the
stern necessities of condition fred the hearts Of
the people, aud they f0rebore to question power
when II was exercised tor the purpose Of filling our
ranks and feeding and clothing our gallant soldiers.
to the world the right Of sspeOpe to dissolve the
political hands which connected them with an
0ther,' and "tO alter or to abOIish''th the existing
form Of Government, "and TO institute new Gov
aud organizing It's powers In such form as to them
shall seem most likely TO effect their safety and
happiness" And In that day no one doubted the
right to reform the existing Government and
place ii with another whenever any of the parties
to II should see fiji to do SO.
1t was confidently concluded, by those who b.
lieye in the progressive civilization Of our race,
that our revolution had firmly established this o,
rigM II had been distinctly proclaimed 10 the
world, as the ground upon which the thirteen de
pendent colonies Of Great Britain justified theil
separation from the mother country, and the as
sumption OF the rights, powers and duties Of indie
pendent States. The great struggle had been sue
cessfully fought upon 1t. The declaration contain
Ing II had passed tatO every civilized language -
our ancestors had acted upon II after their indie
peudence had been recognized. President Buc han
of the United States, had declared that the Fede
raj Government had no right tn make war upon
q seceding State. Nor was this |. The celebrated
paper, TO which have so often referred, not onl,
distinctly asserted the rigM OF separation, but bold
Iy proclaimed II to be the duly Of the States
whom II might concern, TO exercise Il
whenever, In their judgment, Il was necessary -
Il was confidently believed that this great phlo
sophical right, which may, veiy properly, be Called
the right Of secession, would preserve the peace be
tween the parties to the compact, under all cir
cumstances, and throughout all time. know
there are many persons who deny this right, and
yet admit that Of revolution, Now, cannot toe
earnestly insist that the right OF secession, practi
caliy recognized and admitted, Is the guaranty O
peace; white the right Of revolution necessarily
leads to civil war. One applies 10 confederation
Of States, and cannot be politically wrong; the
other acts within nation, and IL rarely right. II
IL true the power OF the parts Is not equal to the
power of the whole; but what of that? Govern
msn.: are no. Instituted t"I aggression n't ior inc
suit OF happiness."
have heretofore remarked upon the peculiar
language of General Washington, Ia his letter com
muhicaiing the Constitution, as agreed upon In
Convention, to the old Congress. II was, he says
,.tae SesuV " spirit Of assify, and Of that pstaa
0scrence ana concession acAieh the peclidruy Of our
potusc6t situation rendered indipensat1e" Without
the influence OF such considerations il would mol
have been adopted by the Convention. Wide and
deep rooted opposition to II was found to pervadc
the public mind throughout the C0nfed racy.--
Three OF the most powerful minds the day, In a
series of numbers, now known as the Fcderalist
undertook the task OF reconcing the people to It's
adoption. Many of the States yielded their assent
TO 1t with extreme reluctance Virsipia, after for
midablc opposition, headed by Patrick Henry, senl
her ratification Of 1t, with number OF amend
ments. designed 20 guard against certain construc
tions of which IL was susceptible, and which, with
others, wcrc su bsequen:ty adnpssd And II il GER
untried and much doubted experiment had there
been any question OF their right to withdraw al
pleasure from the union u was designed to form.
When the Constitution was, how ever, adopted
Il Wa obvious to the most ordinary sagacity, that
unless IL was constructed and its admitted powers
were exercised, In the split to which the Consti
tuition was Indebted for its existence the Govcra-
ernment authorized thereby could not last Yet Il
II 4 WE'LL known hissorical fact that great party
was speedily formed TO change the whole chxrac,
ter Of the Government, and, through the agency o.
the implied powers thereof utterly subvert the re
served powers Of the Siates. This was the more
remarkable, ~ the powers Of the Federal Govern
meat were exclusively Of . delegated character
and iba. powess not granted were denied. 1'hs
evidcnces ON this subject might be multiplied q.
the leaves Of astninh, We're Il necessary; but -