The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1857-03-13
Bg1a C7Gg gzga23 Address
THE PRESIDENT OF TIE UNITED STATIs
H2&rcsG {, &a5 3.

FELLow-Cl lrlzaEs; | appear before you this aE to
take lie solemn cath E'that viii faithfully eNeca1e
the Office Of President OF the United States, and vf
10 the best OF my ability preserve, protect, and 4e
lend the constitution OF The United States;
In entering upou this great office must huuiilY
invoke the God of onr fathers for wisdom and itn-
ness to eNecute It's high and responsible dutIes-fn
such a manner as % restore harmony ard ancient
lrendhlp among the people Of The srgeial Statrs,
and 10 preserve free institutions throu1 1out ma
NY generations. Convinced that owe my eec ta45
10 the inherent love for the constitution ana the l.
mon wbich st aruates the hrarTs ot the American
people, let me earnestly ask their powerful supiFl
~ sustaining all Just measures calculated 10 nerpttu-
ate these, the richest political blessings which lte4-
ven has ever bestowed Upoa any nation. Hav!n4de-
iern'Hrd not 10 become candidate ior te-elec5 5ou
shali have no motive 10 iudoence my conduct dad
'n'alsterng 1hr government except lac desire Edy
and faithfully TO my country, and to live the
gratei9t memory oi my couutrymen.
" ? have recently passed through a presidential
contestiH which the passions of our teiiow-citieen
were excited to the highest degree by questjoas of
deep and vital Importance; hpf when the people pro-
claimed their Will. the tempest once sulsided and
all calm.
The VOC" Of the majority speaking in the nan
neE prescribed by the constitution, was beard, and
IostaGt submission .o!2vrd. Oay ovn country could
alone nave exhibited 20 grand and striking spet;a-
Gle ol thr capacity oi man Tor srIi-suverunent.
What happy conception, then, it oF Con
gfess 10 apply this simple fIegl.at the w,ll fihe
nW"rlty shall eoertnto the settlement ot The ll4>-
tioa OF domestic slavery In the Territories! Con
re>s IS neither '.to Ies!ate slavery into any Trr-
Tory or STATE nor to exclude ii thpretrom kM 10
leave IL" P"oPe thereof perfectly free to form al
regulate their domestic institutions in their sSsn
way SUBJECT only TO The constitution Of fGe g afei
States" As natural Consequences Congress Aas
also. prescribed that when tha Territory Of Essa3s
snail b' admitted State. 1t '',ha br rereivrfa
10 The LHioa, with or "ithouI slavery. as ihslTt
Stltut.oJ "ay prescribe at lac {Jne OF their 4H3ss>-
sioa.''
difference of opinion has arisen N regard 81 faa i
point oi time waen the people OF a Terrltoagseasl
decide this question Tor rhemselvrs
Ihls IS, happily. matter ol but l.ftle p##Rai
importance Besides il IS judicial qnestos.fs Is sFi
iegitImately belongs TO The supreme Caurt ofas s5-
nlteG States, before whom il IS now pe1afa# a4si
will, II Is understood, be speedily and fuasiy 81 IT.
10 their decision, common g.th ali good fftl
shall cheerfuiiy submit, whatever this Es.sa ss 81
though Il has ever been my individual opision fsf
under the Nebraska Kansas act, the appr0prias 41
rod vii be when the number Of actG8 resileiI3s 5a
the Territory shall justify the formation OIL qsaast
luton with view 10 rs admission as Sfags 5rfQ
The tn!oa But be this il may, tss the ffEfsra-4
tive and indispensable Ufy % the eovaHtDeftSH toes
tnItfd States 10 s"cnre 10 every prsar. 3nhasEsft
lhe tree and independent exprrssjaa 81 ne eisafs.s
by his vote This sacred right ri las. Hnii4tsle.4
must be preserved. That being afyaafg 1e4 ssoTlf-
M can 5~ ialrer than to leave tns oiEl of 4 Tarfl.
iofy, tree from all foreign iuteferrnee ta iteile
their own destiny for them Gives, sub5sEt only IL the
constitution Of the United StateSS
The whole territorial question being thus ssftied
upon the principle popular sogeregFty--a plsnc- L