Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-03-13
The Inaugural Address.

VIII faithfully execute the OAACS VI AiCS-
ident of the United States and viii to I
the best of my ability preserve, protect
and defend the Constitution ofthe United
States.
In entering upon this great Office,
most humbly invoke the God of our Fa-
theirs for wisdom and frmness to execute
its high and responsible duties in such !
manner as to restore harmony and the
ancient friendship among the people OF
the several States, and to preserve our
I free Institutions throughout many gener-
ations. Convinced that I owe my cleo
ton 10 the inherent love for the Consti-
tuition and the Union, which still animates
the hearts of the American people, let
me earnestly ask their powerful support
in sustaining all just measures calculated
to perpetuate them, and the richest poiit-
zeal blessings which Heaven has ever be-
slowed upon any Nation. Having de-
termired not to become a candidate for
reelection, I shall have no motive to in
/ fuence my conduct in administering the
Government, except the desire ably and
faithfully to serve my Country, and to
live in the grateful memory Of my coun-
trymen.
We have recently passed through a
Presidential contest, in which the pas
sions of our fellow citizens were excited
to the highest degree, by questions OF
: deep and vital importance but when the
people proclaimed their viii, the tempest
at once subsidized, and all was calm. The
: voice of the majority, speaking in the
manner prescribed by the Constitution,
: was heard, and instant submission follow
: ed. Our own country could alone have
/ exhibited so grand and striking a spec
= tacIe of the capacity Of man for self gov
: eminent. What a happy conception then
{ was it for Congress to apply this simple
rule, that the will of the majority govern
5 to the settlement of the question of do
t nestle slavery in the territories. Con
g gress is neither to legislate it into Terri
e tories or States, nor to exclude it there
g from, but to leave the people perfect.
=, free to form and regulate their do,nesti
5 institutions in their own way, subject onl.
:, to the Constitution Of the United States
e, AS natural consequence, Congress
Ie has also prescribed that, when the Terri
;e tory Of Kansas shall be admitted as
" State, it shall be received into the Unto
t. with or without slavery, as its constitu
4 ton may prescribe at the time of its ad
mission. A different opinion has arise
+. in regard to the time when the people {
Z territory shall decide this question fc
themselves. This is, happily, matte
lie of but little practical importance AM
r besides, it is judicial question, which
a. legitimately, belongs to the Suprem
" Court Of the United States, before whol
g, it is now pending, and viii, it is .unde1
to stood, be speedily and finally settled. I
their decision, in common with all GOO
citizens, I sball checrfully submit, wha
s. ever this may be; though it has been m
n. individual opinion that, under the n
braska-Kansas act, the appropriate per
cd will be when the number of actual r
sidents in the territory shall justify ii
formation of a constitution, with vie
to its admission as State into the Unio
But, be this as it may, it IS the imper
tive and indispensable duty Of the 60
eminent of the United States to secu
to every resident inhabitant the free al
independent expression Of his opinio
by his vote. This sacred right of ca
Individual must be preserved. This b
ing accomplished, nothing can be fair
than to leave the people Of Territor
free from all foreign interference, to Z
eide their Constitution. The whole t.
riy ritorial question, being thus settled up
the principles of squatter sovereignty,
vi principle as ancient as free governme
his itself, everything of practical natu
us has been decided, and no other questi
remains for adjustment, because all agr
that, under the Constitution, slavery
W. the States is beyond the reach of a
AS' human power, except that of the resp,
e"- tive States themselves wherein it ext:
May we not, then, hope that the 10
agitation of this subject is approach
Its end, and that the geographical part
to which it has given birth, so me
dreaded by the Father of his count
will speedily become extinct? III
% % happy will it be for the country, wi
' the public mind shall be diverted fr
this question to others of more press
and practical importance. Through'
-, the who'd progress of this agitati
which has scarcely known any intern