PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. 



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posing this Confederacy, it has been perverted from 

 the purposes for which it was ordained, and ceased to 

 answer the ends for which it was established, a peace- 

 ful appeal to the ballot-box declared that, so far as 

 they were concerned, the Government created by 

 that compact should cease to exist. In this they 

 merely asserted the right which the Declaration of In- 

 dependence of 1776 defined to be inalienable. Of the 

 time and occasion of its exercise they as sovereigns 

 were the final judges, each for itself. The impartial, 

 enlightened verdict of mankind will vindicate the rec- 

 titude of our conduct ; and He who knows the hearts 

 of men will judge of the sincerity with which we la- 

 bored to preserve the Government of our fathers in 

 its spirit. 



The right solemnly proclaimed at the birth of the 

 States, and which has been attirmed and reaffirmed in 

 the bills of rights of the States subsequently admitted 

 into the Union of 17M 1 , undeniably recognizes in the 

 people the power to resume the authority delegated 

 for the purposes of Government. Thus the sovereign 

 States here represented, proceeded to form this Con- 

 federacy ; and it is by the abuse of language that their 

 act has been denominated revolution. They formed a 

 new alliance, but within each State its Government has 

 remained. The rights of person and property have 

 not been disturbed. The agent through whom they 

 communicated with foreign nations is" changed, but 

 this does not necessarily interrupt their international 

 relations. Sustained by the consciousness that the 

 transition from the former Union to the present Con- 

 federacy has not proceeded from a disregard on our 

 part of our just obligations or any failure to perform 

 every constitutional duty, moved" by no interest or 

 passion to invade tbe rights of others, anxious to cul- 

 tivate peace and commerce with all nations, if we may 

 not hope to avoid war, we may at least expect that 

 posterity will acquit us of having needlessly engaged 

 in it Doubly justified by the absence of wrong on 

 our part, and by wanton aggression on the part of 

 others, there can be no cause~fo doubt the courage and 

 patriotism of the people of the Confederate States will 

 be found equal to any measures of defence which soon 

 their security may require. 



An agricultural people, whose chief interest is the 

 export of a commodity required in every manufactur- 

 ing country, our true policy is peace, and the freest 

 trade which our necessities" will permit. It is alike 

 our interest 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 the inter- 

 change of commodities. There can be but little rivalry 

 between ours and any manufacturing or navigating 

 community, such as the northeastern States of the 

 American Union. It must follow, therefore, that mu- 

 tual interest would invite good-will and kind offices. 

 If, however, passion or lusf of dominion should cloud 

 the judgment or inflame the ambition of those States, 

 we must prepare to meet the emergency and maintain 

 by the final arbitrament of the sword the position 

 which we have assumed among the nations of the 

 earth. 



We have entered upon a career of independence, 

 and it must be inflexibly pursued through many years 

 of controversy with our'late associates of the Northern 

 States. We have vainly endeavored to secure tran- 

 quillity and 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 of the Confederacy 

 which we have formed. If a just perception of mutual 

 interest shall permit us peaceably to pursue our sepa- 

 rate political career, my most earnest desire will have 

 been fulfilled. But if this be denied us, and the integ- 

 rity of our territory and jurisdiction be assailed. It 

 will but remain for "us with firm resolve to appeal to 

 arms and invoke the blessing of Providence on a just 

 cause. 



As a consequence of our new condition, and with a 

 view to meet anticipated wants, it will be necessary to 



provide a speedv and efficient organization of the 

 branches of the Executive Department having special 

 charge of foreign intercourse, finance, military affairs, 

 and postal service. For purposes of defence the Con- 

 federate States may, under ordinary circumstances, 

 rely mainly upon their militia ; but it is deemed ad- 

 visable in "the present condition of affairs, that there 

 should be a well-instructed, disciplined army, more 

 numerous than would usually be required on "a peace 

 establishment. I also suggest that, for the protection 

 of our harbors and commerce on the high seas, a navy 

 adapted to those objects will be required. These 

 necessities have, doubtless, engaged the attention of 

 Congress. 



\V ith a Constitution differing only from that of our 

 fathers in so far as it is explanatory of their well- 

 known intent, freed from sectional conflicts, which 

 have interfered with the pursuit of the general wel- 

 fare, it is not unreasonable to expect that the States 

 from which we have recently parted may seek to unite 

 their fortunes to ours, under the Government which 

 we have instituted. For this your Constitution makes 

 adequate provision, but beyond this, if I mistake not, 

 the judgment and will of the people are, that union 

 with the States from which they have separated is 

 neither practicable nor desirable. To increase the 

 power, develop the resources, and promote the happi- 

 ness of the Confederacy, it is requisite there should 

 be so much homogeneity that the welfare of every 

 portion would be the aim of the whole. Where this 

 does not exist antagonisms are engendered which 

 must and should result in separation. 



Actuated solely by a desire to preserve our own 

 rights, and to promote our own welfare, the separation 

 of the Confederate States has been marked by no ag- 

 gression upon others, and followed by no domestic 

 convulsion. Our industrial pursuits have received no 

 check, the cultivation of our fields progresses as here- 

 tofore, and even should we be involved in war, there 

 would be no considerable diminution in the production 

 of the staples which have constituted our exports, in 

 which the commercial world has an interest scarcely 

 less than our own. This common interest of producer 

 and consumer can only be intercepted by an exterior 

 force which should obstruct its transmission to foreign 

 markets, a course of conduct which would be detri- 

 mental to manufacturing and commercial interests 

 abroad. 



Should reason guide the action of the Government 

 from which we have separated, a policv so detrimental 

 to the civilized world, the Northern States included, 

 could not be dictated by even a stronger desire to in- 

 flict injury upon us ; but if it be otherwise, a terrible 

 responsibility will rest upon it, and the suffering of 

 millions will bear testimony to the folly and wicked- 

 ness of our aggressors. In the mean time there will 

 remain to us, besides the ordinary remedies before 

 suggested, the well-known resources for retaliation 

 upon the commerce of an enemy. 



Experience in public stations of a subordinate grade 

 to this which your kindness has conferred, has taught 

 me that care and toil and disappointments are the price 

 of official elevation. You will see many errors to for- 

 give, many deficiencies to tolerate ; but you shall not 

 find in me" either want of zeal or fidelity to the cause 

 that is to me the highest in hope and of most enduring 

 affection. Your generosity has bestowed upon me an 

 undeserved distinction, one which I neither sought 

 nor desired. Upon the continuance of that sentiment, 

 and upon yonr wisdom and patriotism, I rely to direct 

 and support me in the performance of the duties re- 

 quired at my hands. 



We have changed the constituent parts but not the 

 system of our Government. The Constitution formed 

 by our fathers is that of these Confederate States. In 

 their exposition of it, and in the judicial construction 

 it has received, we have a light which reveals its true 

 meaning. Thus instnicted as to the just interpretation 

 of that" instrument, and ever remembering that all 

 offices are but trusts held for the people, and that dele- 

 gated powers are to be strictly construed, I will hope 



