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THE ,/•-> ■ ■
BRUXG'-a ex. '...
Wednesday, February 27. 1801.
tj— jji ••..• -• • « -»?T- u-<r»- v whip wr
Agents
The following naiml perrons are :■ -i ■
thorizntl to act as our .•'.gents anil receipt I
for any money due us.
Cui. 11. R. Fort, \\ uvneville,
Mr. Frohock, JoHersonton. i
Rev. F. M. Smith. 'Traders Hill.
Rev. W. 11. Thomas. Wnrc=horo.
Wu.i.iam Hovis. I lolmosviile,
Rev. \ . \\ ooi.i ! \. Savannah,
D. J. 11oi.t.owv. Tlioina>\ die.
lion. A. E. (’ochrax. Macon.
Dr. J. R. Ci.t \ i t axn. Gridin.
The Convention.
By ref< mice to another column, it will
he se< ii tiiat the President ol the Slate '
Convention. Mr. ('rawford, has issued a
.call lor a meeting of the ('onvention at
Savannah on Thursday the 7th of March,
proximo.
Municipal Elect lor.
The meeting called for last Saturday
evening, to nominate on .Midales for May
or and Aldermen for the ensuing munici
pal year, a ijoiatied ore ;o this evemng.
the 21 th. at < 1-2 o c .c;<. \\ e hope
there will tie a lull at ten nee. and t.lin a
ticket will be s I'C'e.l which will give sat
faction to ;,:1 t • enters. \\ e .are proud
to know : Im: the potty local partics,whith
were a curse to our con-inn. v in times
past, are entirely extinct. \< a commu
nity. we are now tree from the disturb
ing elements which formerly existed, and
we now have peace. M y there be no
more strife.
The Cabinet,
Tee full >wing appointments have been
made by Tie-' d- ' • D;u. •• .-.ml confirmed
bv the Pro; < al t’miaress:
T or S •'remry <>t State—lion. Robert
To nn’ oft leorgia.
Secretary of the Treasury—Hon. C.
(r. Mominger. of South Carolina.
Secretary of War—lion. L. Pope
A\ alker. of Alabama.
All good men and trite. The Confed
erate States i : America, with such men
at the head of a ".hrs. is de ’ined to take
a prominent position among the nations
ol the earth. .May all future selections
be as wise and prudent 1
The President‘s Inaugural.
Our readers will find in'another col
umn, the Inaugural address of President
Davis. It Jias the rmg of the pure metal.
It is the production of a wise statesman
and a brave soldier—rare Qualifications
combined, which eminently fit him for
the high politic n to which ho has been
’"'called in tin's critcal juncture of affairs.—
The position suits the man. and the man
suits the positon ; and we are much de
ceived it lie docs nos conduct the ship of
State safely owr the tempestuous sea of
our p di*:cal troao’es. we are pleased to
see that the inaugural gives universal
satisfaction to our frit nds and dissatisfai -
lion to our enemies. The X. Y. /W
thinks the President ought to be fired
from the mouth of a cannon, and we join
the Savannah Bymblirci! in the invitation
to the editor to come over ami do the
loading.
Launched,
The scho- nor Five Brothers, built bv
Capt. C. M. Flanders, was launched on
yesterday icrmng. She is a good sized
sliocner with amido accommodations for
pa.-i-ng -iCopt. '• iamiot's merits the
thank's of the o immunity for thus <](-ni
onstratirg the pr; cti< r 'Hit vof >]iip build
ing at tins point, ami introducing a bu.-i
--ness which mav •• ■ made profitable.
It is high time the Southern people
Were looking to th -.r independence oi
Northern ship owner- for transportation :
and we inv;t ■ the attention to this point
as a suitau; • location for this branch of
industry. Here material, of the be-r '
quit! :y, may 1. obiained in abundance,
amt good health enjoyed all the year
round—an important item to be taken
into considera'ion in the selection of a
location for that business.
The Question of Reduction,
The State (.’onvention, which was call
ed, by an act of the Legislattn e, to con
sider “the manner, measure and time of
resistarlce to .\ortliern aggro;;-tun on the
cciistitut lomd rights of Ihe South. nd
no other, solar forgot, or wholly disre
garding, the authority by which they
were called together, appointed a .C'.oni
.niittee to report a plan for the reduction
of the representation in the Legislature
of the State.
\\ e have only time and .-pace n •to
cuter our proto.' again - . uch action, and
to sav that, taking mto consideration the
fact that such a measure was defeated
before the la-‘ Lego'.C ure, and its friends
faded to incorporate such authority in
the act calling t ho (.onvention. and, fur
ther. that, no such question was before
the people in the election of delegates s o
the Convention, to pass an ordinance of
.reduction would be an usurpation un
heard of before in a latitude a far South
.as Georgia, we lave our views on the I
question cf reduction, and may refer to I
the subject again ; but we earnestly in
sist that, when the delegates have done
the work thev were commissioned to do,
they will adjourn and return to the peo
ple, whose servants they fire.
k
The Twenty-second.
The birth day of \\ ashingion wn ; duly I 1
celebrated by the military companies of 1
I his countv.
The Brunswick Riflemen, ('apt. liar- i
ri.:. formed at their drill roofn ar ten t
clock A. M. and paraded through tbe j
principal streets, the admiratitm of all be- ;
holders. The company‘then contended, '
,11! target shooting, for a line silver cup. '
presented by the mm-eoimnissioned ol'ii- .
cers. which was won by private l Berrien
Moore; his three shots averaging about
‘ seven inches. The prize was presented .
by ('apt Harris in an appropriate and
we'l conceived speech, in the presence of i
a large number of gentlemen ami ladies.
The company tired a salute and was dis
i 'The Riflemen made a splendid appear
ance and well maintained its character i
for etlieienev in drill. W e here repeat
what we have said on a former occasion;
The Kitlemen are the best drilled eompa
pany of its age in the State. If is an
honor to the citv and State: and though
it has been heretofore overlooked by the
ant liorit ies, it will bo found ready
and willing to meet the enemy and to
do eilieient service m delcneeol our com
mon country.
'The Glynn Guards. Capt. Dent, we
understand, paraded, with full ranks, at
their parade ground, near Mi. Plea-ant.
(b their performances we arc not able to
speak, as we did not witness them. W e
: understand, liowever, that the dav pass
ed oil’pleasant Iv with. them. The Guards
! are a line company ami hold themselves
m readiness for any exegeney that mav
aibe. Success to the military of Glynn.
Are we Ready ?
Mr. Bartow, our immediate lit presen
tative in the Provisional Congress, stated
in debate the other dav. that the Confed
erate States were fully prepared with
arms, munitions of war and well drilled
soldiers to resist an invasion—and a sufli
cient amount of money to emibio us to i
maintain the honor and independence of
this Government, let, it be assailed from
whatever quarter it may—though it be
within twenty days, ,1s there not some
danger to bo apprehended from our own
confidence in our ability to cope with our
enemies and our feeling of security ?
Are we as well prepared to meet the
powerful army and navy of the I’nited
Slates as we ought to. and might, be?—
we think not. j'hpf. wo are prepared to
hold our enemies in eheck till wo can pre
pare for a campaign, we confidently be- ‘
iieve : but is it wise to act on such an ex
pectation ? \\ here are our armies and I
navy? Tlie soutliern coast is unprotect
ed—we have no forts. The few forts on
our coast, w4th two or three exceptions.
■ are in the possession of our enemies.—
< 'an we rely <n the volunteer force of the
country, to be called at a moments warn
ing from their business? We think not.
They are brave, and. with expei ience, will
do efficient service ; but before thev can
be called together the enemy mav take
possession of all our sea-ports, and the
South become demoralized and greatly
weakened. The volunteer companies on
, tlm sea-coast, who must bear t he brunt of
the first assault, are without amnnition
and arc, otherwise, unprepared for war. —
e speak for the volunteers of tins eonn
‘y. The Riflemen, to say nothing oftiie
mperf' Ciioiis of their guns, are without
amunitii n and scabbards t'er their sabre
bayonets, being compelled, while march
u:g, t<i carrv their bavoi els on their gun,-.
Tine, a regular army is being enlisted. ;
rmt before that can be done and the men
properly drilled, the enemy will bedown I
upon us or the danger will have entirely
passed. Lincoln will, immediately upon
his accession, send the force! of the Gov- ,
eminent against the South, or lie w]| a
bi.ndon, altogether, his fanatical purpose
ul coercion. it is highly probable
■ lint by the first of April we shall
■ < ngageri in a war the end of which no
man can see. I't -rmd vigilance is the
, price of liberty. Expense should not cm i
icr int« the calculation—let it cost what, i
■ it may wc- sliotild be fullv prepared for
the worst, though it may never come.— \
By prompt and efficient preparation, the ;
storm may be averted, as our enemy will ;
Imsifiite, when he sees us well prepared, |
before he will venture an attack- upon us.
Had we the command of the forces of *
the South, we would call out the entire
s n ngth and place it immediately in the
field under skillful and efficient officers,
and allt.be vcsselsin our harbors, capa
ble of being coir. crted into war vessels
would be immediately armed and man
, nod: and then, if fight we must, we
would dictate the terms of peace from
the capitol at Washington 1
These suggestioncoming from an
humble source, may he disregarded, but
tb.ev aie the honest convict,ions of our
own judgeimnt. Wed vou.l,- pray the
necessity may never arise for such ac
tive measures, though, we confess, with
| out hope.
Reprisals.
The following vessels, says the Savan
nah A'etz;.? of the 22nd, were \ csterday
seized, under orders from Gov. Brown,
and a detachment of the Phoenix Rifle
men placed over them :
Ship 11 .io/. ('apt. Ilinkley.
('oil igned to Messrs. Brigham, Baldwin
\ Co.
Bark ('apt. Enelo. Consign-
ed to Mtiller and Miehels.
Brig Harold. (’unsigned to W. B.
G des A ('o.
We have been unable, to learn aulhora
tively the immediate can-ie of this siez
tire, hut presume it was in consequence
of the continued, refusal of Superintend
ent Kennedy to deh\ er up the Georgia
: guns, according to promise.
As the Soul hern Congress have already
I elected a President of I lie (’onfederate
I States, it will be scarcelx. ■‘.nagmed. we
! trust, that Gov. Brown is Irving to ‘•bring
some'h’.m’ - from M citgomerv this lime.
$OBll.
W Asm XG'rox, Feb. 19.—'The Force
Bill ol Mr. Stanton, oi Ghi<«, was taken
up in the I louse to-day, causing an earn
est debate and intense cxciti'ment.
Another bill was introduced, the dis
tinctly avowed object, of which is to place
within the power ami real h of the Presi
dent. all the military forces that, can he
obtained from the regular armv in sixty
da vs. li is declared by its fiiends I hat
the purp< <e of this bill is to defend the
public property, resist the march of south
ern armies, and subjugate the revolution
ists. and at the same lime blockade the
ports of the seceding States.
In reply to a question, Air. Stanton
said he did not deem it uncom litutional
to close the ports in the manner prescri
bed bv tin* '.'ill.
Mr. Bocock. of Virginia, styled this hill
an open declaration of war. and said if it
; was passed, he wanted the people of the
South to prepare for this issue.
Mr. Burnett, of Kentucky, proposed
that the Democrats should come to a
•‘dead lock ’ on House business, and sit
conlinously until (he 4th of March, re
sorting to Parliamentary tactics to defeat
the bill.
Mr. Sick’.is, < f New York, said that
was unnecessary, as Air. Lincoln has ex
pressly declared ‘‘there wa.- no cause for
alarm :'ud ‘‘nofiody was hmt.
Amid great excitement, confusion and
s deep fooling the Bill was carried over to
I be considered to morrow. It, is doubt ful
whether it will pass the Senate.
The P: e.-ident ha< gix'en assurance that
he v. ill sign no such bill.
In the Peace Confer.'iice to-day the
Commiitee report avils diseased. Also.
! the prono.-iimi- to establi h slavery south
of 3(5 deg. 39 min., not incln ling future
acquisitions. Xo definite conclusion ha
boon arrived at.
Air. Lives, of \ irgin'-'. implored the
(’enferenco to come to a vote on the sub
ject to day He said ho believed it would
be adopted, to-morrow.
The special (.’ommitle ■ of five have a
j greed to report a resolution to the Mouse,
■ censuring tin- See: etaiy ofthe Navy for
accentin'! the resignations of Officers of
the Xiivyfrom Ilh‘ scucidng States, when
they wore in open hostility to the Gov
ernment.
Imporiani froai Fort Pickens.
Tor. oa n, d attack A-/ tc-. lrc lum lrcd
iacii
Lieut. Gilman, one ofthe officers in
command of Fort. Pickens, arrived at
Washington on \\ ednesdav evt ninii’.
will- dispatebos from Liem. Slemmer am!
the comminutor oi vessel ; oil Pensacola,
to lhe Government, lie left Pensacola
or. Saturday evening, having r. ceived a
'passport from Alajor Chase, who is m
command ofthe Florida troops, lie savs
the following vessels arc off the I.arbor:
the Brooklyn, .Sabine, St. Louis, Macedo
man and the Wyandotlc. The Brook
lyn did not land her supplies for Fort
Pi'-kim-'. Lie;it. Slemmer having notified
them that h ■ had ample supplies for three
months.
There are twelve hundred troops at
Pensacola, ami they are f hrialening eve
ry hour to make an attack on Fort Pick
mis. Il is al! that Alajor ( base and oth
ers can do to restrain them.
Leiut. Gilman says he would not be
snrpiised it an attack was made at any
mcmeiit, and it is very pro!,'able, owing
to the limited number in llie fort, that
they would take it before the Brooklyn
could throw her troops into the fort. If
they take it at all, lie says they can take
it in thirty or forty minutes; but there
will be a fearful loss of life even at that,
ihe hcali h ol the officers and men on
board of the vessels is good. Lieuts. Gil
man and Slemmer are the only officers
who are now in command at Fort Pick
ens. — Baltimore Sun.
I Ail l.c/ !■'.> eoiilinac til I'orce certain
ijUU'i <>/ the I . N. •>/ ica..
Jin it enacleil by the ConAeilerate States
oj America in Conyressassernbled ) Timt
mill laws of the I 'nited States ol' A
nierica in force and in use in the Con
federate States of America on the Ist
day oi November last, and not incon
sistent wit] t the Constitution of the
said Confederate States, 'be and the
same tire hereby continued in ibred
nuiii repealed or altered by the Con
gress. Signed
HOWELL COBB,
President ofthe Congress.
j certify that this Act passed the Con
gress on the ninth dav ol February,
1861.
J. J. HOOPED,
. Secretary ofthe Congress.
An ad tocxeiiiplfi'oiii duty certanii com
inodtlies llicre.iu. iiaiiicdy and Jorother
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Confederate Stales
oj America in (Jonyress Tiiat
the foilowing articles shall be exempt
from duty, and admitted free into the
Sttites, to-wit: bacon, pork, hams, lard,
beef, fish of all kinds, wheat and Hour
of wiieat, and flour of all other grains,
Indian corn and meal, barley and
barley dour, rye and rye Hour, <>ats
and oaf meal, gunpowder and all Ihe
I materials of \, hich it is made, lead iiu
'all forms, arms ol every description, |
and m uni I ions of war, and military}
I accoutrements, percussion caps, and
living animals of all kinds, also, all
agriculiural products in their rm,turn]
state.
Sec*. 2. And he it farther enacted, d’r. I
, 'Thai all good>, wares and merehan- I
N dize imported from a.nv one oj' tin 1
late Fcited Slab's of America, not
being now a member of this Copfcd
eraev, into this Confederacy, before I
th(' -Ith day of March next, which
may have been bond, fide purchased
heretofore, or within ten days after
r the passage of this act, shall be e.%- >
. empt and free from duty.
Sec. 3. Aml he it further enacted, <l‘c.
, riirtt tin' Slate of '1 exas be, and it is
hereby exempt from the operation of
the Tarili laws, heretofore passed or
adopted by this Congress.
Signed H()\\ ELL COBB,
President ofthe Congress.
I certify that the foregoing is a cor
, j rent copy of the original Act on file
. in my olllcc, and which passed Con
. gross on tin* 18th dav of February,-
'lß6l. J. J. HOOPER,
Secretary ofthe Congress. !
• .in m‘l tn c<nth niw m Office the Officers .
con nected, ic/th the collection of the eiis
torns in the ( l onfederate States o/ vl-
mcriea.
i
1 Section 1. lie it enacted by the Con-
■ federate States tn Congress assembled,
'That lhe several olficers who, at the
1 time of th. 1 adoption of the Con
-1 stitution of the Provisional Govcrn
■' ment of these States, held and oxer- -
eised any olliee connected with the •
collection of the custom-;, duties and
! imposts in the several States of this
Confederacy, or. as Assistant 'Treas
urers, entrusted with keeping the
money arising therefrom, are hereby
i appointed to the several ofliees which,
. at ihe said dale, they respectively;
i- held : and they slud! have the same I
powers, be subject to the same duties
1 and be entitled to the same salaries,
> fees and emoluments a-; are set forth.
1 and provided in and by the laws of
the I niti'd States of America, until
1 the first day of Apj-il next. Provid
ed, That the maximum of compensa
tion which each collector shall re
ceive, from all sources, shat] not .ex
ceed the rate ol So.OOt) per annum.
| Sec. 2. Each collector so appoint
ed shall within two weeks from the 1
> dale ol t’ds Aci. execute to the Con
- fed crate Xt.itcs of- l’.ih rica ;• bond in
I the same amount and snbjvt toa like
c mditit.n with Ins last fondq to the
i nited S: .tes ol America, withsecu-
■ ritie ;to be aitprov.wi by Judge of
'' Superior or Circuit Courtofthe State ■
where such collector is 1- ited. And
1 'a di of the other oifieers shall, within
one ww'!-.' after the coiioeb -r shall have
entered upon the oi -ii nge of h:s du-
, ties, execute to the Confederate States
~ of America a bond in llie same a-,
mount and subject to the like condi- i
tion with his la; t bond to the United j
States of ,America, in case ho was re
(piired to execute a ’ o;id, with sure
i ties to be approved by t'ae collector j
of the port where such olltcer is loca
; ted.
Sec. 3. The said several officers
shall take an o;ch before a magistrate
; well and faithfully to discharge the '
duties of his oiliee, and to snjiport }
the Constitution of the Provisional
Government ofthe Confederate States
of v\ merica: which said oatli shall be
endorsed upon the bond, and the bond ;
shall bo filed in the office ofthe Sec- !
rotary ofthe Treasury, or in such
other place as he may direct.
HOWELL COBB,
President ofthe Congress.
Congress, I'eb. 1-1, 1861.
1 certify that the foregoing is a cor
rect copy of a resolution adopted this'
dav by the Congress of the Confeder
ate States of America.
J. J. HOOPER,
Secretary oi the Congress.
.1 j a solution to Continue in office the Of
ficers of the customs.
sal red by the (Snjederate States in
' (Amyress assembled, Tiiat, until other
wist' provided, that the several olficers
■ connected with the collection of cus
toms. duties and imposts in the sev
eral States of this Confederacy, bo
and they arc hereby confirmed and •
, continued as officers of the Govern-i
'ment of the Confederate States ol'
v America, with their pre cut salaries
tend emolument, until the first dav of
April next; and that the Secretary ;
of the 'Treasury be instructed to re
port to Congrc.--.-; a plan, to go into ei
feet at said date, whereby the expen-
: ses of collecting the revenue at each j
i custom house shall be diminished at ;
least fifty per cent.
HOWELL COBB,
President of the Congress. i
Congress. Feb. 1-1, 1861.
1 certify thatthe foregoing is a cor-■
rectcopyofan Act passed this day
by t.ie Congress ol the Confederate
States of America.
.1. J. HOOPER,
Secretary ol the Congress.
• j . I licsolution.
liesolvedby the Confederate States of
>' Aimricu m Conyress assembled, That
> i the President ol Congress instruct i
the col lectors of the Several ports of i
■ this Confederacy, to enforce the ex
isting revenue laws agiinst all for-
' ei m countries, excel t the State of
Texas. HOWELL COEB,
President of the Congress. j
I certify that the foregoing is a
correct copy of 1 he original resolutiW
lon Hie in my office, and which was
Ajidopted by Coiigrcsson the 16th day
I of
' * J. J. I [(TOPER,
Secretary of the Cqpgress.
Provisional Congress.
Montgomery, Ala. j
February 21, 1861. J
( The Convcnfion met at noon.
'The journals of yesterday were read ’
I and confirmed.
Mr. Chilton, of Alabama, said he
had two communications, sent to him .
| by a scientific gentleman—one in re- |
j lation to cast iron cannon and the I
! Otho 11 iIL
■ fciitlcman lias a
Iran render rilled cast iron guns fully!
j'qual to and perhaps superior to the!
Armstrong gun. He desires to try •
the experiment, and demonstrates to
the committee of Military affairs, the
. excellency of his cast iron guns. — j
One of these communications was re- I
ferred to the Military Committee and
the other to the Committee 6n Pat- I
! cuts.
Mr. Fearn, of Ala., presented a com- i
munication from Mr. Marshal, on the
. subject of metal eastings, which with
out reading was referred to the Mili
tary Committee.
Mr. T. R. R. Cobb, of Ga., offered
the following resolution, inquiring in- I
to the expediency of an export duty on
I cotton.
Ifrsolved, 'l’hat the Committee on
Finance lie instructed to inquire into
i the expediency of laying an export
duty on all raw cotton which maybe
exported from the Confederate Slates I
i to any foreign country, by any other ’
■ channel than through the seaports of
this Confederacy.
Mr. Cobb said: I propose merely,
Mr. President, to refer that resolution
to the Finance C< immittee at this time.
1 am not prepared to discuss the pol
icy of levying such a duty. That we t
have the power to do so there can Lie i
no doubt. I apprehend that we arc
j conscious of the power we hold in
our hands, by reason of producing :
that staple sq necessary to 1 lie world. '
I doubt not that power will exert an I
influence greater and mightier than:
armies and navies. We know that
by an embargo we could soon place,
not only the L'nited States, but many I
of the European powers, under the
necessity of selecting between such a '
recognition of our independence. as
| we require, or domestic convulsions '
at home. The inf wmation in our
possession, seems to justify such an :
enquiry as the re.-olution proposis.— ■
It is a fact, that, some of the cotton
now produced in tfiis Confederacy, is
already .-•'■•king a new channel to the
. sea. We are inforjned that at Pitts
burg, Pa., more than 20,000 bales of i
cotton have already been received,
anc conveyed thither up the
sippi and (Ohio rivers. We are also
informed that more than 20.000 bales '
,of cogon from Rome have been sent
I by rail road to seek a port at Nor
folk and Alexandria. \\ e are furth
er informed that the Directors of the i
Railroads. communicating with the!
principle lines in our Territory, are
now concerting schemes for the pur- ♦
i pose ol reducing freights on those .
roads, in order, in that wav, to entice ’
our cotton to market in Northern
' ports. ;
The result of such a course, if suc
cessful, would in the first place nec
essarily be to make the blockade ol‘
our ports a, matter ol no importance I
jto foreign nations. 2d. It would de
! stroy all commerce with our own sea
ports —and thirdly and most impor- ■
taut of all. it would compel us to re
ceive ail the imported goods we might,
need, after 'paying duties on them in
New York City. These considera
tions have induced me to oiler this
resolution of inquiry. Ido not think ]
that the resolution should elicit dis-j
(Mission at the present time, but after
the Committee have made their re
port, it may become a grave matter
for the consideration of this body.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr. Shorter, of Ala., Chairman of
• the Committee on Engrossments, re- |
ported as duly enrolled and ready for
the signature of the President, the ,
following Acts:
An Act to determine the salaries of
Vice President and the heads of
Depart merits.
I An Act to organize the heads of De
partments.
An Act to organize the Department
ol State.
An Act to establish the Navy De- \
pertinent.
An Act to establish the War Depart
i ment.
j An Act to organize and establish an
Executive Department,to be known
asilie Department of J usticc.
An Act. to establish the Post C Hico
Department.
, On motion Congress went into so- |.
cret session.
Congress adjourned about three
o clock.
None of the business transacted
was made public, with the exception
of the confirmations ol’ a portion of
; the Cabinet. There were no other
nominations made to Congress, to
: day by the President, than the fol
j lowing:
l or Setrotary of State, Hon. Robt.
Toombs, of Georgia.
• Secretary ol the Treasury, Hon. C.
; G. M ‘ ii ninger, of S. Carolina.
Secretary of War, Hon. L. Pope
Walker, oi' Alabama.
«he foregoing nominations were
confirmed, and Congress
I until to-morrow 12 o’clock. ■
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF
D’avis,
the Capitol in Montgomery
o/a February X&lh, 1860, at
1 o'clock., P. 3/,
Gentlemen of the Congress of the Con
federate States of America —
Friends ami Fellow-citizens:
! Called to and rcspon
i siblc station of Chief Executive of the
Provisional Government which you
! have instituted, 1 approach the dis
charge of the duties assigned to me
I withan humble distrust of inyabilities
but with a sustaining confidence in
j the wi.4lom of those who are to guide
iand aid me inihe administration of
huublic affairs, and an abiding faith in
Be virtue'rind patriotism of the ]>eo
Looking forward to the speedy es
tablishment of a permanent Govern
ment, to take the place of this, and
i which by its greater moral and physi
; cal power, will be better able to com
bat with the manv difficulties which
may arise from the conflicting intcr
' ests of separate nations, 1 enter upon
i the duties of the office, to which 1
have been (•boson, with the hope that
the beginning of our career, as a Con
federacy, may not be obstructed by
hostile opposition to our enjoyment
of the separate existence and inde
pendence which we have asserted,
and with the blessings of Providence,
intend to maintain. Our present con
dition, achieved in a manner unpre
cedented in the history of nations, il
lustrates the American idea that Gov
ernments rest upon the consent ofthe
governed, and that it is the right of
the people to alter or abolish
Governments whenever they be
come destructive ofthe ends for which
they were established.
The declared purpose of the com
pact of I nion from which we have
withdrawn, was "to establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide
for the common defense, promote the
I general welfare, and secure the bless
ings of liberty to ourselves and our
posterity;' and when, in the judg
i ment oi the Sovereign States now
| composing tins Confederacy, it had
; been perverted from th > purposes for
which it was ordained, and had ceas
>•■l I<> answer liie ends for which it
i wig cst -.bushed, a peaceful appeal to
the ballot-box demure I, so far as they
1 were cmicerned. the goermnehf er.-
■ ated by t hat eompm-t should cease to
exist. In this they merely asserted
a riglii. which the f>celaration of In-
I dependence oi 1.776. had defined !o
be muoiemible. (H'lhe time and oc
casion for its exercise, they, as sover
eigns, were the final judges. tach for
itself. 1 lie impartial and ( nliyhten
ed verdict of mankind will vindicate
the rectitude of our conduct, and Ho
who knows the hearts of nun will
judge of The sincerity with which we
labored to preserve toe 'government
'of o‘ur lathers in its spirit. The right
solemnly proclnmie 1 at the birtii of
the States, and which has b. e i as- ■
firmed and re-afiirmed in the hill of
i Rights of states siihso.o.icntlv admit
ted into the Ihiion of 1786, m.denia- 1
bly recognized, in the people, the •
|power to resume the authority dele- ’
, gated -or the pnrpo. es of government. ,
Thus the Sovei eign States here rep- I
resented, proceeded to form this Con
i federacy, and it is by abuse of lan- .
i guago mat their act has been domi- \
nated a revolution. Thee formed a
new alliance, but within eayli State its i
government has remained, the rights j
i of person and property have not been .
disturbed. The agent through whom
j tliev communicated, w ith loremu ua- i
lions is changed, but this dees no,
necessarily interiipt their mternation- •
al relations.
Sustained by the consciousness that ■
the transition from tin- former I nion
to the present Confederacy has not \
proceeded from a disregard on our '
part of just obligations, or any fail
are to perform ev< ry constitutional
duty—moved by no interest or pas
sion to invade the rights of others—
anxious to cultivate jieace and com- '
inerce with all nations, if we may
hope to avoid war, we may at least:
expect that posterity will acquit us'
ol having needlessly engaged m it.— ;
Doubly justified by the absence of
wrong on our part, and by waiilon i
aggression on the part of others, there i
can be no cause to doubt that the
courage and patriotism ofthe people !
of the Confederate States will be
found equal to any measure of de- )
icnce wnich honor ami security may
require.
An agricultural people—whose:
chief interest is the export of a com
modity required in every country —
our true policy is peace, and the free
cst trade which our necessities ■will
permit, ft is alike our interests, and
that oi all those to whom we would
sell and from whom we would buv,
that there should be the fewest prac
ticable restrictions upon the enter
change of commodities. There can
be but little rivalry between ours and
any manufacturing or navagitino
community, such as* the Nortmcast°
ern States of the American Union.
It must follow, therefore, that a mu
tual interest would invite good will
and kind offices. If, however pas
sion and lust of dominion should
cloud the judgment or inflame the
ambition of those States, we must
picpaieto meet the emergency and
maintain, by the lii a' arbitran ent of
the sword, the position which we
have assumed among the nations of
the earth. We have entered upon
the career of independence, and it
must be inflexibly pursued. Through
many years of controversy, with our
late associates, the Northern States,
we have vainly endeavored to secure
trampiility, and to obtain respect for
the rights to which we were entitled.
■ As a necessity, not a choice, we have
resorted to the remedy of separation;
and henceforth, our energies must be
directed to the conduct of our own
affairs, and the perpetuity ofthe Con
federacy which we have formed. If
a just perception of mutual interests
shall permit us, pcacably, to pursue
separate political career, my most
earnest desire will have been fulfilled.
But, if this be denied to us, and the
integrity of our territory and juris
diction be assailed, it will but remain
• for us to appeal to arms and invoke
the blowings of providence on a just
cause.
As a consequence of our new con
dition, and with a view to meet an
ticipated wants, it will be necessary*
to provide for the speedy and effici
ent organization of branches of the
Executive Department, having special
charge of foreign intercourse, finance,
military affairs, and the postal ser
vice.
For purpose of defence, the Con
federate States may, under ordinary
circumstances, rely mainly upon their
militia, but it is deemed advisable in
the present condition of affairs, that
there should be a well instructed and
disciplined army, more numerous
than would usually be required on a
I peace establishment. I akso suggest
' that for the protection of our harbors
and commerce on the high seas, a na
vy adapted to those objects will be re
quired. These necessities have doubt-
• less engaged the attention of Con
gress.
With a Constitution differing only
from that of'our lathers, in so far as'
it is ex; 1 natory of their well known
intent, freed from the sectional con
flicts which have interfered with the
pursuit of the general welfare, it is
unreasonable to expect that States
from which we have recently parted
may seek to unite their fortunes with
ours under the government we have
instituted. For this your Constitu
tion makes ample provision : but be
yond this.il 1 mistake not the judgmnt
and will of the people, a reunion with
the Slates from which we have sepa
rated is neither practicable nor desira
: bio. To increase the power, de vclope
the resources, and promote the hap
: pincss of the Confed racy, it i < requi
| site that there should be so much of
. homogenity that the welfare oi' ev
: erv portion shall be the aim of’ the
whole. \\ here this does not exist,
, antagonisms are in <mlcrcd which
: must and .-honid io: all in schura
tion.
Ac: liaftxi solely by the de.-iro to
• preserve oar own rights and ptoniote
•■our own welfare, the separation ofthe
|ConlederatcStates has been marked
I by no aggression up< a others, and fol
lowed by no domestic coiivmeon.
I Our industrial pursuits have n.ceivid
no check—the cuhivatk n of our
i finals has pf-ogressc 1 as h. rctofbre
I and c. ca should we be involved m
war, th,er.' would Lo no considerable
I diminutioi) in the prodmaion oi’ the
stapes v hick have constituted our
• exports, and wmc.i liic comim rcial
I world has an ini'r ■■■ | : • ! - ! - i 'iy <
! than our .own.
This common interest of the pro .
. dm er and coiiisumcr, can only be in-
■ terrupted by an exm. h w force, which
; should obstiuct its trm;.-mis ? ion to
ii- icign mm xcts—-a coms oi conduct
i wh:ch would be as unjust towards us
. as :t \ouio be < ;ctr. mem a 1 to inanu
lacturiiig and commercial interests
aj road. , Should reason guide the ac
tion ol tne Government ii'om which
. we have separated, a policy so detri
: mental to the civilized world, tjic
I Northern States included, could not
. be dictated by even the strongest de
ls! re to inflict injury upon us; but
otherwise, a, terrible resi.onsibility '
will rest upon it, and the suffcrino of
millionswill bear testimony to °the
folly and wickedness of ou'r aogres-
■ sors. _ In the mean time, them‘'will
lemam to us, besides the ordinary
means before suggested, the well
known resources of retaliation upon
■ the commerce of an enemy.
Experience in public stations of
subordinate grade to this which your
! kindness has conferred, has taught
i mi thaccaie, and tod, and disappoint
ment are the price of olliciaU eleva
tion. <m will see many errors to
forgive, many deficiencies to tolerate,
’ but you shall not find in me either
a want ol zeal or fidelity to the cause
that is to me highest in hope and of
most enduring affection. Your gen
eiosity has bestowed upon mean un
deserved distinction: one which I
neither sought nor desired. Upon the
continuance of that sentiment, and
upon your wisdom and patriotism, I
icly io direct and support me in the
pei fin mance ot the duty required at
my hands.
A c have changed the constituent
pai ts, but not tuc system of our gov
ernment. The Constitution formed
b\ our fathers is that of these Confed
erate States, in their exposition of it;
and in tiie judicial construction it has
received, we have a light which re
veals its true meaning.
Thus instructed as to the just in
terpretation of the instrument, and
ever remembering that all offices are
but trusts held for the people, and
that delegated powers are to be strict
ly construed, 1 will hope, by due dil ✓
igence in the performance of my du
t es, though I may disappoint your
expectations, yet to retain, when re
ti ing, something ot the good will and
confidence which welcomes my en- /y
trance into office.