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Jefferson Davis' Inaugural Address
Written shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War, Jefferson Davis' inaugural speech is his provisional acceptance of the office of president of the newly formed Confederacy. The speech addresses some of the key concerns of the Confederate states, outlines its goals, and severely criticizes the Union for not following the intentions of the nation's founders. Moreover, Davis points to the "folly and wickedness of our aggressors" should they decide to wage war over the secession.
Jefferson Davis states, "it is the right of the people to alter or abolish governments whenever they become destructive of the ends for which they were established." It his statement is true then any time the citizens of a nation were divided over a political issue, a group of people could form a new government and threaten secession from the union. Davis' speech therefore illustrates the rashness of the Confederacy. Furthermore, when Davis states that the Confederate secession was "moved by no interest or passion to invade the rights of others," he makes painfully clear that African slaves made no difference to the Confederate government or to its citizens. Indeed, the Southern states invaded the rights not only of slaves but of countless Americans who supported the Union. Jefferson Davis also calls for "homogeneity," a concept which seems outlandish in today's diverse world but for men like Davis appeared to be a just and reasonable social goal.
The political and economic goals of the Confederacy, however, are reasonable: to preserve and maintain free trade, especially regarding key cash crops like cotton. Motivated mainly by economic interests, the Confederate States seceded largely to preserve their power as an agricultural powerhouse. Davis emphasizes that if the North does decide to invade that its act of war would be detrimental not only for the Union, but also for world trade. Davis' inaugural address comes across as being arrogant in its claims to know the "true meaning" of the United States constitution, but nevertheless stands out as an important document detailing the interests and intentions of the short-lived Confederacy.
" Thus, the address stresses in its intentions, the political and economic reasons for secession, as Davis is concerned that the Confederacy is still able to trade with other nations and conduct diplomatic relations. "An agricultural people, whose chief interest is the export of a commodity required in every manufacturing country, our true policy is peace, and the freest trade which our necessities will permit." The implications are as thus --
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