The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-03-11
RRESiDEsT BUCHANAk's ma AUGU.
RAJ ADDRESs.

fsrhInlly execute the office of Presiden. of
the United States, and will to the best Of my
ability, preserve, protect and defend the Con.
stitution Of the United Safes In entering
upon this great Office, I most humbly invoke
the God Of our Fail.ers for wisdom and firm
ness 10 execute ishgh aud responsible du.
Ties in such munner as 10 restore harmony
and ancient fdsndship among the people of
the several States, andto preserve our fee
institutions throughout many geuerations.-
Convinced that owe my election TO the to-
heren, love. for the Constitution and The Uni
on, which still animsles Ibe hearts Of The
American people, let me earnestly ask their
powerful support in sustaining all Just meas.
nres calculated le.pefpetuaie these, The rich.
est political blessing which Heaven has ever
bestowed upon any nation. Having deter
mined not to become candidate for re-
election, l shall have no motive 10 influence
my conduct in administering the Govern.
ment except the desire, ably and faithfully
TO serve my couniry, and to live in the grate-
ful memory Of my countrymen. We have
recently passed through Presidential contest
in which The passions Of our fslow-cilizens
were excited 10 the highest degree by ques-
lions OF deep and vital Importance. Blu,
when the people proclaimed their will, the
tempest at once subsided and all was calm.
The voice of the majority, speaking 10 the
manner prescribed by the Constitution, was
heard, and instant submission followed. Our
own country could alone have exhibited SO
grand and striking spectacle of the capacity
of man for self-govemmenl. What happy
conception, Then, was ii for Congress 10 apply
this simple rule, 'thal the viii Of the majority
shall govern" 10 the settlement Of the ques.
tioa OF domestic slavery in the .terriiories.--
Congress is neither ITO leeislate slavery into
any territory, nor 10 exclude it lherefrom,,
but 10 leave the people thereof perfectly free
10 form and regulate their domestic inslitu.
tions In their own way, subject only 10 the
Constitution of the United States. As nat
ural consequence, Congress has also prescr-
bed that when the Territory oil Kansas shall
ee admitted as Stale il shall be received
into The Union with or without slavery, as
their own Constitution may prescribe al The
time of their admission. A different opiuion
has arisen inregard 10 the point of lime when
ihe people of territory shallGecide the ques.
lion for themselves. This is happily mat
ter oil but liule practical importance; besides,
IL is a judicial question, which legilimateIy
belongs 10 the Supreme Court of the United
States, before whom il is now pending, and
will, ii is understood, be speedily and finally
settled. To their decision, in common with
all good citizens, | shall cheerfully submit,
whatever ,his may be, though it has ever
been my individual opinion that, under the
Nebraska- Kansas act, the appropriate period
will be when the number of actual residents
in The Territory shall justify the formation Of
a Constitution with view TO its admission
as State into the Union. But be this as il
may, IL is the imperative and Indispensable
duly of the Government OF the United States
10 secure 10 every resident inhabiiant the free
and Independent expression OF bis opinion bI
M, vote. This sacred right oil each individ
asl must be preserved. This being accom-
,pl;shed. nothing can be fairer than 10 leave
the people Of a Territory free from all foreign
in,erfeteace, to decide their own destiny fol
themselves, subject only TO the Constitution
of The United St, 'tes. The whole Territorial
question being TIM. settled upon the principle
Of popular sovereign "a principle as an
Glen. as free gevernm ent itself-everylhine
of a practical natuse has been decided. No
other question remains fer adjustment, be-
cause all agree that, under The Constitution
slavery in The States is beyond lde reach ol
nny human power except that OF ih respect
i've States themselves wherein it exists. May
we not, then, hope that the long ae iiati on on
this subject is approaching It's end, and thai
the geographical parties 10 which it has given
birth--so rnuch dreaded by the Father o. his
Couniry--will speedily become exlincti-
Most happy will ii be for the country when
the public mind shall be diverted from this
question 10 others OF more pressing aud prac-
teal importance. Throughout the whole pro-
gfess of this agitation, which has scarcely
known any intermission for more Than twenty
gears, whilst i, has been productive Of no
positive good to any human being, il has
been the prolific source Of great evils 10 the
muster, to lhe slave, and 10 the whole coun-
ary. Il has aienated and estranged the peo.
pie of sister States from zach other, aud has
even seriously slysendangered the very existence
of the Union. Nor has the danger yet en-.
iirely ceased. Under our system there is a
remedy for all mere political evils in the
sound sense and sober judgment of the peo-
pie. Time is great corrective. Political
subjects which but few years ago, excited
and ex xssperaisd the public mind, have pass
ed awas am! are now nearly forgotten. But
she question OF domestic Slavery is of far
greater importance than of any mere political
question: because, should the agitation con-
iinue, it may eventually enGangef the per.
sonal safety OF large portion Of our country.
men where the institution exists. In that
event no form of Govornment, however ad.
mirable in itself, however productive Of ma.
tsrial benefits, can compensa,e for the loss oil
peace and domestic security around the fam
lily altar. Letevery Uuio6-loving mar, there
fore, exert his best influence to suppress this
,<~.so.:1. II .,n.. a. loo ielaiiO0