Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-03-11
Mr.. Buchanan's inaugural Address.

Our readers will find in our columns to-day, the
Inaugural Address of JAMES BUCHANAN, fifteenth
President of the United States.
On the question of slavery in the States and Ter.
ritories, the address is all that could he desired
The Nebraska-Kansas act is broadly and fully ap.
proved and as to 1.-THE point of time when the peo.
pie of Territory shall decide this question for
themselves" the President maintains that the ap.
proprate period is, when they assume sovereignty
that is, when they form constitution with view
to admission as State into the Union. This is
popular" and not ''squatter sovereignty, and this
is the doctrine, which, in reply to the opposition
the late contest we insisted and showed was in the
Cincinnati platform and held by Mr.. Buchanan. No
power less than sovereign can create or abolish
property; and therefore, if the inhabitants Of
Territory, through their Territorial Legislature
should enact law destroying or impairing the
rights of the STAKEHOLDER, the Supreme Court Of the
United States, as We assured by the late decis
ion in the bred Scott case. would pronounce such
law null and void Territorial Legislatures may
regulate the relations of husband and wife, parent
and child, and master and slave; but they cannot
abolish them. This, as we understood it at the
time, was the doctrine of Gen. Cass's Nicholson let.
ter-at any rate. it is the doctrine of Mr.. Buchanan
and the national Democracy.
President Buchanan rebukes in the sternest terms
the agitation against slavery in the States. He
points to the inevitable results of such agitation
and appeals to every Union-Ioving citizen to unite
in the patriotic work of frowning it down and sup
pressing it.
The President refers to and approves the recent
reduction of duties on imports; and in this connec.
ton deprecates the accumulation Of large surplus
in the treasury. This surplus he regards as embar'
RAISING to the government, and calculated in its
very nature to put in peril the purity and integrity
of its agents; and he suggests what he considers the
natural and Constitutional ''modes of relief from
this embarrassment"
He also announces, in strong terms, his OPPOSE
ton to the recent squandering of the public lands
He says truly, that I'VE should never forget hatH
is our cardinal policy to reserve these lands as
much as may be, for actual settlers and this 81
moderate prices and while on this subject be makes
a kind and just allusion to "hose exes from foreign
shores who may seek in this country to improve
their condition, and to enjoy the blessings Of CIVIL
and religious liberty" ~
The President evirces profound sense Of Deepen
dence on Divine Providence, to guide and support
him in the performance Of his great duties. Speak
ing of the Union, and of tho immense benefits 1t
shedding all the States, he says 81 feel an hum
BILE confidence that the kind Providence which III
spired our fathers with wisdom to frame the m0s'
perfect form of government and Union ever de'seu
by man. will not suffer it to perish until 1t sns"
have been peacefully instrumental, by its examp''
in the extension of civil and religious liberty throoe.
out the world" Nothing will be wanting on LID
part to restore harmony to the States, and to pls
serve the Union according to the Constitution "
all the statesmen Of the old generation, he IS u.
last who will occupy the Presidential chair fu"'
the spirit that animated and governed the best "
them, with no motive to influence him but the CIV.
Of bis country and the appreciation of poster'ty .'
with powerful and patriotic party to sustain n'u
his administration cannot fail to be productive :"
great and lasting beneftss
The letter Of our Washington corresp0"s
ent has again failed to come TO hand in time for pun
LEGATION in the issue for which it was intended FROM
the character OF our for attention ~.
punctuality We are sstised the fault is not his 0u'
in the malta Ne had light SNOW and sleet ns'.
on Noaday morning and the probability is tn'' Wv
snow was quite heavy North, thus interruptins c'~
mpnication hyrailsoeds We received no Nor'ne'"