The Inaugurations.
This day witnesses the inauguration of the first
President of a new Republic With this augury not our Government is permanently organized, and our Constitution put in complete operation.
Too ship of State is now fairly launched, and although a tempest rages and the waves are running mountains high, she has about timbers and is manned by a gallant crew, and has a commander who gathers fresh inspiration and strength from the presence of danger.
The last experiment of republican government is now to be made.
For in the
Northern Republic, so called not a vestige remains of political or civil rights.
It even freedom of religion exists.
It is only because the
Southern is form the crusade which was everywhere successful in the
North against the rights of conscience, and because it now has need of the weapons of the men who, but for the
South, would be the victim to-day of Know-nothing bigotry and ostracism.
Nothing but the forms and trappings of free government are left in the
North, nothing but the cold rigid outlines of a corpse from which the vital spirit has departed — A despotic mob, which known no law but its own vile passions, rules through its vulgar tool at the head of the
Government.
It has brought the very name of Republication the universal contempt by us own contempt for every political principle by which it professed to be governor, and by the moral debasement which is everywhere regarded as the legitimate fruits of be political training — The only refuge of genuine Republican on this contempt is that which in the
South spreads its trust before the civil and political fights of the people, and which is doing battle this day not only for its own freedom, but for the case of constitutional liberty in every labor.
We complete to day the foundations of a Government in which a mere numerical majority is not to give the law to society, Accompound by those conservative influences which are essential to the strength and stability of society.
We are safe in predicting for such a Republic, in which, whilst constitutional liberty to established on broad and deep foundations, the mob is not to be the master an existence as long and happy as the beginning is brilliant and glorious.
The President of the
South, the elective Chief of our nation, who will be inaugurated to-day, is the insurrection of the of the principles and spirit of the free and valiant people over whom he has been called to present.
No man could be found within our limits who possesses in a higher degree the qualities which are required for a civil and military leader in times like those.
The
North has chosen us its representatives.
Abraham Lincoln, the
South Jefferson Davis.
We are waiting that the civilized world should compare the two, and judge the merits of the two people, their inactivated spirit by their representative!
Let us all given sun a counting and united support.
Let all party dissension of the past to sailed a thousand deep, and party spirits of every kind be treated till this contest is over.
Let the only party be the party of the country, and our only enemies loose whose swords are drawn against one and all of it. If we are true to ourselves, this day will be the inauguration of of national prosperity and happiness never surpassed in the history of mankind.
