Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-03-12
The Inaugural.

On the al, General Pierce was installed
in office. Ills inaugural address mos, of our
readers will have seen before we 20 to press.
The first part Of il is occupied by an eulogy
of the revolutionary fathers, which might
hive been very suitable for n college theme,
or 4th of July defamation. The latter
part of it which we copy, is decided de-
claraion of his determination TO maintain
the sacred rights of slavery, and TO execute
the fugitive slave law. And these two ends
of the speech are admirably in harmony with
previous example in the worlds history. IL
has been the fashion of men ever, when
they would crush liberty and cruelty its pro-
phois, TO cover their iniquily by building
monuments to the mnrtyred prophets of 9TH
er days. 1t is the old trick played and ex-
posed in Judea eighteen hundred years ago,
aud often since that time. General Pierce
aud model Democrats are not in the least
original. lie says:
The sentiments now announce were not
unknown before the expression of the voice
which called me here. My own position
upon this subject was clear aud uncquiyncal
| upon the record of my words aud my acts,
aud il is only REQUIRED to at this time, he
cause silence might perhaps he misconstrued.
| With the Union my best and dearest hopes
are entwined; without it what are we ind.
vidually or collectively? What becomes of
| the nobest field ever opened for the advance
ment Of Our race in religion, in government,
in the arts, aud in all that dignifies aud
and adorns mankind FROM Tint radiant
constellation which both illumines our own
way aud points out to struggling nations
their course, hut let single star he lost, and
if there be no utter darkness the lustre of the
whole is dimmcd.
DO my countrymen need any assurance
TINT such catastrophe is not to oyertake
them? while possess the power to stay IT,
IL is with me an earnest aud vital belief that
as the Union has been the source under Prov
idence, of our prosperity to this time, so il is
u pledge of continuance OF the blessings
we have enjoyed, aud which we are sacredly
bound 10 transmit undiminslled To our chill
dren. The field of calm and free discussion
in our country is open, and will always be so,
but il never has been and never can be trav-
ersed for good in spirit of sectionnlism, aud
uncllnritabent So. The founders of the Re
public dealt with things as they were pre-
sentcd TO them in spirit of selfsacrificing
patriotism, aud as time has proved with
comprehensive wisdom which il will always
| he snlc for us TO consult, every measure
tending to strengthen the lrniernnl feelings of
| all the members of our union has had my
! heartfelt appreciation. To every theory of
society, of government, whether the offspring
of ieverish ambition or of morbid enthusiasm,
calculated To dissolve the bonds of law aud
affection which unite us, | shall n,erposc
ready and stern resistance.
| believe that involuntary servitudc as il
exists in different States of this coniederucy,
is recognized hy the Constitution. believe
that it stands like any other admitted right
aud that the States where il exists are emit.
tied TO efficient remedies, To enforce the
constitutional provisions. | hold that the
laws of 1850, commonly called Compromise
Measures, are strictly constitutional, and to
he unhestatingly carried into effect. be-
lieye that the constituted authorities of this
Republic are bound to regard the rights Of
the South, in this respect, us they would
view any other legal aud constitutional right,
and that the laws TO enforce them should be
respected and ob1yed, not with reluctance
encouraged 10y abstract opinions as To their
proprety IN different state OF society, bur
cheeriully aud according To the decision Of
the tribunal TO which their exposition be-
longs. Such have been and are my con-
victions, and upon them shall net. | fer
veniy nope tllni the question is at rest, and
that no sectional or ambitious or fnnnlicnl
excitement may again threaten the durability
of our institutions, or obscure the light of
our prosperity.
But let not tho foundation of our hopes
rest upon mans wisdom. # viii not be
sufficient that sectional prcjudices find no
place in the public deliberations. 1t will
not be sufficient that the rash counselS of
human passion nre rejected; it must he felt
that there is no National security, but in the
nations humble acknowledgement of God
and His overrIiling Providence. We have
been carried in safety through n perilous
crisis; wise counsels like those which give
ns the constitution prevailed 10 uphold il,
let the period he remembered as an admo-
milton and not ms an encouragement in any
section of the Union TO make experiments
where experiments are irauglt with such
fearful hazard. Let il he impressed upon
all hearts that beautiful MS our fabric is, no
earthly power or wisdom could ever reuniie
its broken fragments. Standing as | do al
most in view of the green slopes of Monti-
cello, and MS il were, within reach of the
tomb of Washington, with all the cherished
memories of the pns', gathering around inc
like so many eloquent voices, of exhortation
from heaven, | can express no better hope
for my country, than that the kind Provi-
dence which smiled upon our fathers may
enable their children, to preserve the bles-
sings they have inherited.
! FRANKLIN PIERCE,