Year: 1861

ing the beauty of the city and surrounding coun
try, and the military and citizens of the different
States President Davis commenced the delivery
OF his Inaugural Address at 1 o'clock. He spoke
as follows:


& Genticncn oftAe Congress of tic Confederatcd
States of Aa.erica: Called to the difficult and
sponsible station of Executive Chief of the Pro-
visional Government which you have instituted
I approach the discharge Of the duties ssgned
me with an humble distrust of my abilities, but
with sustaining confidence in the wisdom of
those who are to aid and guide me in the admin
istration Of public affairs, and abiding faith in
the virtue and patriotism of the people. Looking
forward to the speedy establishments of a provi-
sonal government to take the place of the Pres
ent one. and which by its greater moral and phys
ica powers will be better able to contend with
the diff culteS hich arise from the conflicting
interests of separate nations, enter upon the du
ties Of the office for which | have been chosen
with the hope that the eginning of career
as a Confederacy may not be obstructed by hos
tile opposition TO the enjoyment of that separate
and Independent existence which we have asser
ted, and which with the blessing of Providence
we intend to maintain.


Our present position has been achieved in a
manner unprecedented IL the history OF nations.
It illustrates the American idea that government
rests upon the consent Of the governed, and that
it is the right of the people to alter abolish
government W henever it becomes destructive of
the ends for which it was established. The de-
cIared purposes of the compact of Union from
which have withdrawn were to establish JUS
tice, ensure domestic tranquility, to provide for
the common Defence TO promote the general wei
fare and to secure the blessings of liberty for
ourselves and our posterity; aud when in the
iudgmen! OF the sovereign States composing
this ontederacy it had been perverted from the
purposes for which it ordained and had
ceased to answer the ends for which it was es-
tablished, an appeal to the ballot box declared
that so far as they concerned the govern
ment created by the compact should cease to
ist In this they merely asserted right which
the Declaration of Independence in 1776 defined
to be inaenable. OF the time and occasion for
its exercise they, soverei%nS, were the final
indres each for itself The impartial aud en-
lightene1 verdict OF mankind will vindicate the
rectitude of our conduct, and He knows the
hearts of men will Judge the sincerity with which
we have labored to preserve the government OF
our fathers, in its spirit and with those rights in
herent in it which were solemnly proclaimed at
the birth of the State, and which have been af
trmed and re-affirmed in the Bills of Ri ghts of
the several States. When they entered into the
Union of 1899, it the undeniable recognition
of the power in the people to resume the authori-
ty delegated for the purposes OF that government
Whenever, in their opinion, its functions were
perverted and its ends defeated BY virtue of
this authority, the time and occasion requiring
them to exercise it having arrived, the sovereign
States here represented have seeded from that
Union, and it is gross abuse of language to de
nominate the act rebellion or revolution. They
have formed IA new alliance, but in each State
its government has remained as before. The
rights of person and OF property have not been
,ll>turbrc. The agency throug W hich they have
communicated with foreign powers has been
changed but this does not necessarily interrupt
their international relations.


Sustained y, n consciousness that transi-
ton from the former Union to the present Con
led, rary has not proceeded from amy disregard
on our part Just obligations, or any failure
to pertul III every constitutional duty-moved by
no intention desire TO invade the rights of 9TH
ers-tlxiouS TO cultivate peace and commerce
ith all llations-lt We may not hope TO avold
war " may at least ex pect that posterlty will
acuuit us of having neediessiy engaged IN it
We are doubly Justified by the absence of wrong
on our part, ana by wantrn aggression on the
part of others. There can be no cause to doubt


that the courage and patriotism oft the people OF the
confe derae States will be found equal to any mea-
s,1res f defence which may be required for their
security. Devoted to agricultural pursuits, their
chief interest is the export of a commodity re
quire in every manufacturing country. Our
true policy is peace, and the treest trade our ne
cessi1les will permit. 1t Is alike our interests
and that of all those to whom we would sell and
from whom we would buy, that there should be
the fewest practicable restrictions upon inter
changes of commodities. There can be but lit
tie rivalry between us, and any manufacturing or
navigating community, such as the northwestern
States of The American Union.


1t must follow, therefore, that mutual interest
would invite good will and kindness between
them and us. If, however, passion or lust of do





the ambition of these States, we must prepare to
meet the emergency, and maintain by the tlnal
arbitrament of the sword, the position we have
assumed among the nations OF the earth. we
have entered upon our career OF independence
and it must be int1exIby pursued


Through many years OF controversy with our
late associates the Northern States we have vain
ly eudeavored to secure tranquility ana OBTAIN
res pect for the rights to which we were emitted
AS a necessity, not choice, we have resorted to
and hon
devoted to the conducting of our own affairs, ana
perpetuating the COntederacy winch we nave
formed. If just perception OF mutual interest
shall permit peaceably to pursue our separate
political career, my most earnest desire Will nave
been fulfilled. But if this be denied us, and the
integrity and jurisdiction of our territory be as
sailed, it will but remain for us with hrln resolve
to appeal to arms and invoke the blessing OF
Providence upon a just cause


AS a consequence of our new CONSTITUTIONS alu
with view to meet our antic pated wants, 1t VIII
be necessary to provide speedy ana ehcleht or
ranization of the several branches OF the ENecu-
tive departments having special charge OF our Tor
eign intercourse, financial and military AFFAIRS
and postal service. For purposes OF Defence the
Confederate States may, under ordinary clrcum-
stances rely mainly upon their militia: but IL Is
deemed advisable, in the present condltlon OF al
fairs that there should be well-lnstructed, dis-
ciplined army, more numerous than would be
usually required for peace establishment


also suggest that for the protection of our har-
borS and commerce on the hlgh seas, navy 'iu''I
ted to those objects be built up. These necessi-
ties have doubtless engaged the atteation OF Con-
gress.


With constitution differing only in form from
that of our forefathers, in far as it is explana-
tory of their we'll known intents, freed from sec
1ional conflicts which have so much intertered
with the pursuit of the general welfare 1t IS not
unreasonable to expect that the States from from
which we have parted may seek to unite thelf
fortunes with ours under the government we
have instituted. Fer this your Constitution n mas
! made adequate provision, but beyond this II L
mistake not the judgement and will OF the people
reunion with the States from which we nave
separated is neither practicable or deslreaoieI e.
! To increase the power, develop the resources ana
promote the happiness of this Confederaey' 1t is
necessary that there should be so much homoge-
niety as that the welfare of every portion be the
aim Of the whole. When this homogenelty does
| not exist, antagonisms are engendereo "hlch
must and should result in separation.


! Actuated solely by desire to protect and pre-
serve our own ii ghts and promote our own wei
! fare the secession of the Confederate States has
been marked by no aggression upon Others, and
followed by no domestic CONFUSION. Our lndus'