Jefferson Davis\' Inaugural Address

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.