The Nevada Democrat. [volume] (Nevada, Calif.) 1854-1863, 1857-04-01
The Inaugural Address.

limited States. In entering upon this great Of
fee. / must humbly invoke the God OF our iatn-
ers for wisdom and firmnes to execute its high
and responsible duties in such manner as 10
restore harmony and the ancient friendship
among the people of the several States, and to
preserve our free Institutions throughout many
generations Convinced thatI owe my election
to the inherent love for the Constitution 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 these, the richest poll
teal blessings which Heaven has ever bestowed
upon any nation. Having determined not to
become candidate for reelection, / shall have
no motive to influence my conduct in admins
tering the Government except the desire ably
and faithfully to serve my country and to live
in the grateful memory of my countrymen.
We have recently passed through Prcsidcn-
tial contest in which the passions of our fellow
citizens were excited to the highest degree by
questions Of deep and vital Importance; but
when the People proclaimed their will, the tenn
pest 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 followed. Our own country
could have alone exhibited so grand and stri-
king a spectacle of the capacity of man for self
government What happy conception, then,
| was ~ IOE OOHBitSo w bppiy Wis SiWpiS AuiSj
that the will of the majority shall govern to the
settlement Of the question of Domestic Slavery
| i'm the Territories Congress is neither to leg
islate Slavery into any Territory or State, nor
to exclude it therefrom; but to leave the Peo-
pie thereof perfectly free to form and regulate
their domestic institutions in their own way,
subject only to the Constitution Of the United
States as o natural consequence Congress has
also prescribed that when the Territory of Kan
/ I. - t.Ax IL. -
ceivcd into the Union with or without Slavery,
as their Constitution may prescribe at the time
of their admission. A difference Of opinion has
arisen in regard to the time when the people OF
Territory shall decide this question for them
selves This is happily matter of but little
practical Importance, and besides, II IL Judicial
question: which legitimately belongs TO the Su-
preme Court of the United States, before whom
| il is now pending, and WILL ii is understood, be
speedily and finally settled. To their decision,
| in common with all good citizens, shall cheer
fully submit, whatever this may be, though it
has been my individual opinion that under the
Observation-Disclosures act, the appropriate period
will be when the number of actual residents in
the Territories shall justify the formation of a
Constitution with view to its admission rs a
State into the Union. But, be this as it may,
it is the imperative and indispensable duty Of
! the Government of the United States TO secure
! to every resident inhabitant the free and indie
pendent expression of his opinion by his vote.
This sacred right of each individual must be
preserved This being accomplished, nothing
can be fairer than to leave the people of u Ter
ritory free from all foreign Interference TO de-
eide their own destiny for themselves, subject
only to the Constitution of the United States.
The whole Territorial question being thus set
tied upon the principle Of popular sovereignty
q principle as ancient as free Government IT.
self-cvcrything of q practical nature has been
decided, and no other question remains for adj
justment because all agree that under the Cou-
sttution Slavery in the States is beyond the
reach of any human power, except that of the
respective States themselves wherein it exists.
May we not then hope that the long agitation
on this subject is approaching its end and that
the geographical parties to which it has given
birth, SO much dreaded by the Father of his
Country, will speedily become extinct. Most
happy will il be for the country when the pub
lie mind shall be diverted from this question to
others of more pressing and practical import
ance. Throughout the whole progress of this
agitation, which has scarcely known any inter-
mission for more than twenty years. while it has
been productive of no positive good to any hui
man being, il has been the prolific source Of
great evils to the master, to the slave and to
the whole country; it has alienated and estran-
gcd the people of the sister States, from each
other, and has even seriously endangered the
very existence of the Union. Nor has the dam
ger yet entirely ceased. Under our system
there is q remedy for all mere political evils in
the sound sense and sober judgment of the peo-
pie. Time is great corrective. The political
subjects which but few years ago cxasperated
the public mind have passed away and are now
nearly forgotten; but this question of Domestic
Slavery is of far greater Importance than any
mere political question. because, should the ag-
itation continue, it may eventually endanger
the personal safety of a large portion of our
countrymen where the institution exists. In
that event. no form of Government, however
productive Of material benefits, can compensate
for the loss of peace and domestic security
around the family altar. Let every Union-lov-
ing man, therefore, exert his best influence to
suppress this agitation, which, since the recent
! legislation of Congress, is without any legiti-
mate object 1t is an evil Of the times that men
have undertaken to calculate the mere material
value of the Union.
! Reasoned estimates have been presented Of
the pecunary profits and local advantages
which would result to different States and sec
tons from its dissolution and of the compare
| tive injuries which such an event would infiict
on other States and sections Even descending
to this low and narrow view Of the mighty ques-
ton, all such calculations are at fault The
pure reference 10 single CONSIDERATION VIII ne
conclusive on this point
! We at present enjoy free trade throughout
our extensive and expansive country, such as
the world never witnessed. This trade is CON
Quoted on railroads and canals, on noble rivers
and arms of the sea, which bind together the
North and the South, the East and the West of /
our confederacy. Annhate this trade, arrest |
its free progress by the geographical lines of
jealous and hostile States, and you destroy the |
prosperity and onward march of the whole and |
every part, and involve all in one common ruin
But such considerations, important as they
are in themselves, sink into insigniicance when |
we reflect on the terrific evils which would re-
suit from dsunion to every portion of the Con-
tederacy-to the North not more than to the
South, to the East not more than to the West. |
These shall not attempt to portray, because |
feel an humble confidence that the kind Provi- |
dence which inspired our fathers with wisdom
to frame the most Aperfect form of government
and union ever devised by man, will not suffer