M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1857-03-12

rettOtC- C(tS6HS L uppcdI Dc1olN
you on this day to take the solemn oath
that | will faithfully execute the office
Of President ofthe United States, and
will to the best ofmy ability to preserve,
protect and defend the Constitution of
the United States. In entering upon
this great Office | most humbly in
woke the God of our Fathers for
wisdom and firmness to execute its
high and responsible duties in such a
manner as to restore harmony and the
ancient friendship among the people
of the several States and to preserve
our free institutions throughout many
generations. Convinced that | owe my
election to the inherent love for the
Constitution and the Union which
still animates the hearts of the Ameri-
can people, let me earnestly ask their
powerful support in sustaining all
Just measures calculated to perpetuate
these, the richest political blessings
which Heaven has ever bestowed upon
any nation.
Having determined not to become
a candidate for reelection, l shall
have no motive to influence my con-
duct in administering the government
except the desire, ably and faithfully,
to serve my country, and to live in
the grateful memory of my country
men. We have recently passed
through a Presidential contest in
which the passions of our fellow-citi-
zens we're excited to the highest de.
gree by questions of deep and vital
importance, but when't the people pro-
claimed their will, the tempest at once
subsidized and all was calm. The voice
Of the majority speaking in the man
ner prescribed by the Constitution
was heard, and instant submission fol-
lows.
Our country could alone have ex-
hibited 50 grand and striking a spect-
acle Of the capacity Of man for self
government. What a happy concep-
ton, then, was it for Congress to apply
this simple rule, that the will ofthe
majority shall govern in the settle
ment of domestic slavery in the Terri
tories. Congress is neither to legis.
late slavery into any Territory or
State, nor to exclude it therefrom, but
to leave the people thereof perfectly
free to form and regulate their domes-
tic institutions in their own way, sub
,iect only to the Constitution Of the
United States.
AS a 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 may prescribe at the
time of their admission.
A different opinion has arisen in
regard to the time when the people Of
a Territory shall decide this question
for themselves. This is, happily, a
matter Of but little practical impOr-
lance, and besides it is a judicial ques-
ton, which ~egitimately belongs to
the Supreme Court of the United
States, before whom it ia nnw pond
ing, and will, it is understood, be
speedily and finally settled. To their
decision, in common with all good
citizens, / shall cheeriully submit,
whatever this may be, though it has
been my individual opinion that,
under the Nebraska-K Kansas Act, the
appropriate period will be when the
number ofactual residents in the Ter
ritory shall justify the formation of a
constitution with view to its admis-
sion as a State intothe Union; but, be
this as it may, it is the imperative
and Indispensable duty of the Gov
eminent of the United States to Sc
cure to every resident inhabitant the
free and independent expression OF
his opinion by his vote. This sacred
right OF each individual must be pre-
served. This being accomplished,
nothing can be fairer than to leave
the people of Territory free from all
influence to decide their own destiny
for themselves, subject only to the
Constitution of the United States.
The whole territorial question be-
ing thus settled upon, the principle of
popular sovereignty, a principle as an
cient as free government itself, every
thing Of a practical value has been de-
cided, and no other question remains
for adjustment, because all agree that
under the constitution slavery in the
States is beyond the reach ofany hu-
man power, except that of the respect
i've States themselves wherein it ex-
ists. May we not then hope that the
long agitation of this subject is ap.
preaching its end, and that the geo
graphical parties to which it has Civ
en- birth, so much dreaded by the Fa-
ther of his Country, will speedily be-
come extinct. Most happy will it be
for the country when the public mind
shall be diverted from this question to
others of more pressing and practical
Importance.
Throughout the whole progress of