Inaugural Of President Davis

Montgomery, Fob. 18. The inaugural ceremonies to-day were the grandest pageant ever wituessed in the South, Thero was an immense crowd on Capital Hill, oonsisting of a great array of tlio beauty, military, aud oitizens of the different States, Mr. Davia commenood precisely at one o'clock, He said: Gentlemen of the Congress of the Confedérate States of America, f rienda andfellowcitizens: - Caïled to the difficult and responsible station of cliief executive of the Provisional governnicnt whioh you havo instituted, 1 approach tho discharge of the dutics assigned me with an humble distrust of my abilities, but with a sustaining confidenoe ia tho wisdom of those who aro to guido and aid me in tho administration of public afiairs, and an abidiug faith iu the virtue and patriotism ot' the people, looking forward to the speedy establishment of a permanent government, to taka tho i place of this, and whieh, by its greater moral and physieal power, will bo better able to combat with the many difficultics which arise from the couflieting interests of separate n.itions. I enter upon the duties ot the office to which I havo been chosen, with the hoyo that the beginning of our carcor as a Oonfederacy may not be obstructed by hostile opposition to our onjoyment of the separate existence and I independenca which wo have asserted, and whioh, with tha blossings of Providenee, we intend to maintain. Our present condition, achieved in a manner unprecedented in the history of Natious, illustrates the American idea that governments rest upon the consent of the governed, and that it is ths right of the peo pie to alter and abolish governmouts whonever they become destructivo of the eads for which they were estabiished, The declared compact of the Union froin which we have withdrawn was to establish justice. ensurc domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to oursolves and our posterity, and when, in tho judgment of. the sovoreign States now composing this confederaey, it has been porverted from the purpose for which it was ordained, and ceased to answer the ends for which it was established, a poaccful appeal to the ballot box declared that so far as they were concerned, the goverument ereated by that compaot should cease to exist - In this they merely asserted the right which the Doelaration of Independence of 1776 defined to be inalienable. Of the time and oocasion of its exercise, they as sovercigns, were the final judge, each for itself. The impartial, enlightenod verdict of mankind will vindícate the rectitude of our conduct, and He who knows the heart of men will judge of the sincerity with which wo labored to preserve tho government of our üathers in its epirit. The right, solemnly proolaimed at the birth of the States, which has been affirmed and re-affirmed in the bilis of rights of the States subsequently admitted iuto the Union of 1789, recognizes in the poople the power to resume the authority delogated for the purposes of government. - Thus the sovereign States here represonted procceded to form the confederaey, and it is by the abuse of language that this act is denorainated revolution. They formed a uesv alliance, but within each State its government has retained the rights of person and property wbieh have not been disturbed. The agent through whoin he communicated with foreign nations is changed, but this does not interrupi their international .relations sustained by the consciousnoss that the transition from the formar Union to the present Oonfederacy has not proceeded from a disregara on our part of our just obligatious, or any failure to perform every Constitutional duty, moved by no interest or passion to invade tho rights of others, anxious to cultívate peaco and cominerce with all natious. If we may not hopS to avoid war, wo may at least expect that posterity will acquit us of having needles.ly engaged in it. Doubly justified by the absence of wrong on our part, and by wanton aggression on the part of others. There can bo no cause to doubt the courage and patriotism of tho people of the Confedérate States wü be fouud to bo equal to any mensures of defense which soon their security may require. An agricultural people whose chief interest is the export of a commodity rcquired in every manufacturing countr}', our true policv is peace and tho freest which our necessities will permlt It is alike our interest and that of all thoso from whom we could buy, that there should be the fewest practical restrictions upon tho interchauge of co:nmoditif!S. - There eau be but little rivalry betwoen ours and any m'anufacturing or navigatiug commuuity such as the tree States of tho American Union. It must, therefore, follow therefrom, that mutual ínter csts would invite good will and kind offices. If, however, passion or lust of domain should cloud the judgment or inflame the ainbition of those States, we must prepare to moot tho emergonoy and maintain by the tinal arbitramont of the sword, tho position which we have assumed ainong tho nations of the carth. - we have entered upon a carcer of independeuce whieh must bo inflexibly pursued through many )rcars of coutroversy, but our late association of Northern States may have vaiuly endeavored to secure tr..nqaility and obtain respect for tho righte to which we were entitled, as a neco-isity - not as a choice. We have resorted to tho rernedy of a separatíon, and henee our energies must bedireoted to the cancüiion ofaur affairs and the perpotuity of thü Confederaey which we have formed. If a just perqeptioD of' mutual interest shail pennit us peacoably to pursue our separate political oareer, my most carnest desiro will have been fulfilled. But if thisbo denied us and tho intogrity of our territory and jurisdiction bs assailod, it wiH but reinairi for us, whh firm reaolve, to appeal to arms and invoke the bledsing of ProviJonco on a juat cause. As a oonsequenco of our now condition, and with a view to meet anticipated wants, it will be necossary to provide a speedy and efficiënt organization of tho branches of the oxocutive department, having spocial charge of foreign iniercourse, !i:u!ice, military afiairs and postal service, for tho_purposo of dofense. Tho Confedérate Ututos may onder ordinary circurnstatniH-, rary mainly on thuir mil ti í; mi-t it is duemed advisable ■ rireecnt condition of afloire, tl I there should be a well-instructed, di.-:ciplioed army,more numerous than would iisnally bo requirtd oa a peace establishment. I also suggost tt.at, for (ho protectioa of our harbora and comrnereo on the high seas, a navy adequate to these objeots wil] be required. Theso neuessitios have doubtless engaged theattention of Congress. With a Constitution differing only from that of our tathenl in so far as it is explanatory of their well known intent, free fVorn sectional conflicto, which have ioterfered witn the pursuit of the general welfare, it is not unreasonable td expect that the States from which we have recently parted may ask to unite their fortunes with ours, uncler the government we have instituted. 'For this your Constitution makes adequate provisión; bui beyond thiu, if I mistake not, the jiidgmont and will of the people are, that Union with tb e States from which they have separatad is neither practicable nor deairable. To ncrease the power, develope the resources, and promote the happiness of a Confederacy, it is requisito that th-j weltare of everv portion should be the aim of the wholo. Iiero this does not exist. Antagonisms are engendered, which mast and should result in separadon, actuated eolely by a desire to preserve our own rights, and to promote our own welfare. ïhe separation of the Confedérate States have been tnarked by no aggress!on upon others, and followed bv no doraestio convulsions. Our individual pursuits have recoived no check; tho cultivation of our fieids progresses as hevetofore, and even should we be involved in war, there would be no incnsiderable diminution in the production of the staples which have nonstituted our exporta, in which the commercial world has an interest scarcely less than our own. This common interest of producer and consuiner can only be ir.torcepted by an extenor forcé, which should obstruet its tn.nsmission to foreign markets - a course of conduct which would bo detrimcntal to manufacturing and commercial interests abroad. Should reason guide the action oí the Government from which we have separated, a ppIVcy so detrimental to the civilized world, the Northern States inoluded, could not be deelared by eveu a stronger desire to infliot injustice upon us. But if it be otherwise, n terrible responsibility will rest upon it, and the suffering ot millions will bear te&timony to the policy and wickedness of the aggreesors. In the meantimo there will ïemain to up, besides the ordinay remedies before Sügge.'tod, the well known resources for retaliation upon the commerce ol an enemy Experlenr.e in public stations of a subordínate grado to this which your kindness has eonferrecj, has taught me that care, and toil, and disappointmonts are the price of official elevation. You will soo many errora to forgive, many deficiencies to tolérate, but you shall not find in me either a want of soul or fideiity to the cause, that is to me the highest in hope and of most endearing aff.iction. Your gencrosity has bestowed upon ino an undeserved distinction, which I neither sought nor de&ired. Upon a continuance of that sentiment and upon wisdom and patriotism, I rely to direct and support me in the performance ol' the duties required at my hand. We have changed the constituted parts but not the system of our govornment. The constitution formad by our fathers is that of these confederated States. In their explanation of it and in the judicial construction it has reeeived, we have a light which reveáis irs true meaning. Thus instructed as to the just interpretaron of that instrument, snd ever remembering that all of fices are but trusts held for the people, and that delegated powers are to be strictly construed, I will hope by due diligence in the performance of my duties, thotigh I rnay disappoint your expectations, yot to retain, when retiring, something of the good will and confidence which will welcomo my entrance to oñlce. It is joyous in the midst of perilous timos to look around uponapeoplo uni ted in heart, to hear one purpose of high rosoivo, animates and actuatesthe; wholo, whero tho saorifices to be made are not weighed in the balance against honor, right, liberty and equality. Obstacles may retard, but they cannot long prevent the progross ol a movement sanctioned by its justice, and sustained by a virtuoos people. Reverently let us invoko tho Ooi oí our fathors to guide, and próvido, and pro toet us in our eíforts to perpetúate the principies which, by llis blcssings, they were able to vidicate, and establish, and transmit to their posterity, aud with a continiianco of üís favor, ever gratefully acknowlodged, we may hopcfully look forward to succoss, to peace and prospei'ity.