Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-03-04
PRESIDENT DAVIS INAUGURAL,
DELIVERED AT MosTGcMKRY, Ala,
February 18th, 1861.


February 18th, 1861.
Gentlemen Of Congress of the Ccnfede-
rate States Of America, Friends and Fi-
lo,e. Citizens :-C Called to the difficult and
responsible station of Chief Magistrate
of the Provisional Government, which
you have instituted, ] approach the dis
charge Of the duties assigned to me
with humble distrust Of my abilities,
but with Q sustaining confidence in the
wisdom Of those who are to guide and
aid me in the administration of public
affairs, and an abiding faith in the vir.
tue and patriotism Of the people. Look
ing forward to the speedy establishment
Of permanent Government to take the
place of this, which. by its greater NOR
al and physical power,-will be better
able to combat with many difficulties
that arise from the conflicting interests
of separate nations, I enter upon the
duties Of the Office to which Ihave been
chosen, with the hope that the begin
ming Of our career, as Confederacy,
may not he obstructed by hostile oppo-
sition to our enjoyment Of the separate
existence and independence we have as
serted. and which, with. the blessing Of
Providence, we will contend for and
maintain. Our present political posi-
tion has been achieved in manner un-
precedented in the history of nations
1t illustrates the American idea that
governments rest upon the consent of
the governed, and that it is the right Of
the leo.le to alter and abolish them at
will, whenever they become destructive
Of the ends for which they were estab-
lisbed. The declared purpose of the
compact oftbe United States, from which
we have withdrawn, was to establish
justice, insure domestic tranquility. pro-
vide for the common defence. promote
the general welfare, and secure the bles-
sings of liberty to ourselves and our
posterity;" and now, whsn}in the judg-
ment Of the soverei: n States composing
this Confederacy, it has been perverted
from the purposes for which it was or
dained. and ceased to answer the ends
for which it was established. a peaceful
appeal to the ballot-box has declared
that, SO far as they are concerned. the
Government, created by that compact,
should cease to exist.
In this they have merely asserted the
right which the Declaration Of Inde.
pendence, July 4. 1875. defined to be
'.inalienable." Of the time and occas-
ion for its assertion and exercise, they,
as sovereigns, were the final Judges,
each for itself. The impartial ard en-
lightened verdict Of mankind will vim
dicate the rectitude of our conduct, and
He who knows all hearts, will Judge of
the sincerity with which we have labor
ed to preserve the Government of our
Fathers in its spirit. The right, SOL
emnly proclaimed at the birth Of the
United States, and which has been SOL
emnly affirmed and reaffirmed in the
bills of rights of the States subsequent
lv admitted into the Union of 1889, un-
deniably recognized in the people the
power to resume the authority delega.
ted for tie purposes Of government
By this right the sovereign States. here
repr, sented, have seeded, formed this
Confederacy. and it is an abuse of Ian
&, age that their act has Esxn denomi-
mated revolutionary. They have formed
new alliance. but, within each State.
its government has renamed the same,
nor have the rights of person or prop
erty teen disturbed. TEeagent, though
which they communicated with foreign
nations, is changed, but this does not
necessarily interrupt their international
relations. Sustained bv the conscious
ness that this transition from the form
er Union to the present Confederacy has
not proceeded from a disregard. on our
lart. Of just obligations. or any failure
to lerfUrm every constitutional duty;
moved Ly no interest or passion to in-
wade tLe rights of others; and anxious
to cultivate l.,>,e e and con mcrce with
ali nations-ii We may not hope to
avoid war, Ne may at least ,Al ect pos
ieriiy will ac9uit us from having made
it. Do.tly justified, therefore, by the
absence Of wrong on olr lait; and by
the wanton aggression Of others, there
can lie no reason TO doubt that the
courage and patriotism Of the people Of
the Confederate States of America will
be found sqral TO any measure Of de-
Tense which their honor and security
will require. An agricultural people,
whose chief interest 10 the export Of
commodities, required in every manu-
featuring country. our true policy, i
yeace and the fr. est trade which our ne.
cessities will permit. 1t is alike our
interest and that Of all those to whom
we NO, ID sell, and from whom We would
buy, that there should he the fewes,
practicable restrictions upon the inter.
change Of these commodities. There
can, however, be but little rivalry be-
tween our people and any other manu-.
featuring community. such az thcse oi