Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-03-13
Inaugural Address of President I'm.
Chanan.

ana VIII to the best of my ability preserve
protect and defend the Constitution of tn
United States.
In entering upon this great Office | mos
humbly invoke the God of our Fathers fl,
wisdom and firmness to execute its high ant
responsible duties in such a manner as Il
restore harmony and the ancient FRIENDSHIP
among the people of the several States, anc
to preserve our free Institutions through
out many generations. Convinced that
owe my election to the inherent love for tho
Constitution and the Union, which still
animates the hearts of the American People
lft me earnestly ask their powerful support
IN SUSTAINING all Just measures calculated to
perpetuatc these. and the richest political
blessings which Heaven has ever bestowed
/ upon any nation. Having determined not
to become candidate for reelection,
shall have no motive u influence my CON
duct in administering the Government OK
cept the desire ably and faithfully to serve
my country, and to live in the grateful me-
mory ot my countrvmcn.
We have recently passed through Pre-
sidential contest. in which the passions of
our fellow citizens were excited to the
highest degree by questions OF deep and
vital importance bat when the people pro-
claimed their Will, the tempest at once sub
sided and all was calm. The voic, of the
majority speaking in the manner pre-
scribed by the Constitution. was heard and
instant submission followed Our own
country could alone have exhibited SO grand
and striking "A spectacle Of the capacity of
man for self government. " hat a happy
conception then was it for Congress to ap-
ply this simple rule, that the will of the
MAJORITY governs, to the settlement of the
question OF domestic slavery in the Terrific
ries. Congress is neither to legislate
slavery into Territories or States. nor to ex-
clude it thererom. but to leave the people
perfectly free to form and regulate their do
nestle institutions in their own way, sub
jrct only to the Constitution of the United
States. AS natural consequence, Congress
has also prescribed that when the Territory
OF Kansas shall be admitted as a State, it
shall be received into the Union with or
without slavery. as their Constitution nav
prescribe at the time of their admission. i
difference Of opinion has arisen in regard to
the time when the people of Il territory
shall decide this question for themselves
This is, happily, a matter of but little prdc-
teal importance and, besides, it is a Judi
cial question, which lcgitimately belongs to
the Supreme Court Of the United States, be-
fore whom it it now pending, and will, it is
understood, be speedily and finally settled.
To their decision, in common with all rood
citizens shall cheeriully submit, whatever
this may be.
Though it has been my individual opin-
ion that, under the Nebraska Kansas act.
the appropriate period will be when the
num'er OF actual residents in the Territory
shall justify tue formation OF Constitution.
with view to its admission as II State into
the Union. But, be this as it may it is
the imperative and diSpensablc duty ofthe
Government of the United States to secure
to every resident inhabitant the free and
Independent expression. of HE "ri"i"" ',v
hi1 vote. Tbs sacred night OF each individ-
uai must Dc preserved. ms being accOmp-
n'Hed' hoth,nS can he ihlrrr than to leave
'ne people OF territory, Tree IRON all Tor
elsn interierence' to decide their Constitu-
'ioh' me whole territorial question being
mus settled upon the principle of
squa'''r sovereignty. lrlncllle as ancient
aS Tree Ncrhmont lseH' everything OF
ll"c''c"l haIurc mas bceh Gccided, ana no
o'her question remains ior Adjustment be-
cause al agree 'hat' uhucr the Constitution,
slavery IN 'he states Is Dey ma the reach ol
any "u"!a" io"tr' eNce!t thdt OF the res
lec'lVe states themselves wherein 1t exists.
-Hny we MOI tleh nope mat the long aSlta-
'atloh OF thls suUect Is approaching its
ent' ana th"t the geographical parties to
Wh!Gh !, mas gwen birth, so much dreaded
ny the fatner OF ms country VIII speedily
nec'me extinct MOST h4ppy Will 1t be for
the the country "heh the pubilc hlhd shall be
Inverted from thiS question to others OF more
pressing ana practical Importance -
inrouG"ouV ,he "ho'e progress OF TINS agi-
tlllOn. Nllct mas sCulrply known n
PERMISSION i9r more thah twenty years,
"n',St II haS oeeh productive OF I" positive
so"t ~ any human pe.hS' IL mas been the
lroi'Hc source o. great eVi,S-to the master,
70 t"G Sl"Ne' anu 10 'ho "h1le country, 1t
mas iaS ai'en".tu anu eS'r"hSed the people OF
'"' ''''el 7V''eS from thch oVher' ana mas
even seriously endangered the very existence
.! tnc uhio,' Nor mas the danger yet en-
,n,:d,, 'r'n u''S ,n nu'' uui :yS,e'h mere Is
sC''mJ Jor', u' "'I n,, i i"'itio". 't'.s ia l"'
r,io T;n,o NV ~ '0' y"uSn n,ent W '"e l,yo-
iInl;,;.oi '"u ,;t. s,TGs s,;s, 'T'i.ot'Ic. me
fo'' ','o''' " WV" wv ~" years
h., 90. ,,aso Wv i'"2lio iI!nu'
I''t *, ,,,,o",;,3 a''U ~
c,. . u. ;,.,,,''..D. o''''iy i VI
,;o,I ao,t;,,,, i,- '''"' ny my Pun
t;o, oi.,,t;,,,,' o.ou'i 'nc nS''a-
tha rcrsnraI s,c'+r nr, lnr,,a r ~
cnuatr,on cv rsUn' Srie % ot ,arse portion oi our
In tbai nvont nv f,rn ,"1 r'o.'ruslon eA''ts'-
o,or aJ,;,II, w. i.di. VI So'e'nl'en'' now
t;,o l"s, 'a'"'o :" i''eii' eau oollleisa'e ior
,.o aronnd .Ia criS rviLo "nu uIlleS'ic security
Il,;n', ''u 't,"''y ",.'' 10y cNery mon
lo,'"S ' "lau, .uereiore' exert ms pest inlu-
tho ~ rulpiGSs tiis "gi'atlon, winch since
| ..o icoe'' icSlSi"l'oi VI congress- Is with
0Oi "H' ies's;ii"te az ~. o,Ject. .
underta BON - " noloIa. "J .'"'es e. 'na. men naNe
,',I u,I "r ~ ~ oaioui'IS :he mere material
,r'uo " '''r Gnioh' Es'lih"'es nave Deen
pivS,,''' p,,'., VI NY lecun,arY pro'ts ana i'cni
S,atns ,5J s"at; "S"'u ci iosui' " inherent
tI,a a,,,,t''5 .'oii i'' uis'V'u'lo'i-oi
event eve wnnid ;ns;o, Jurtts Snie suIh an
tions Even dnsc.nJin, - ',IteS ,ii, hnu I d aeei
narrow view Of the weiobtv "no.tion ~" AL
"''o''y q"''''o"' al
ucl..e such caiculatlons are at iauit, The bare