Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-03-10

appear before you this day to take
the solemn oath that | will faithfully
execute the Office of President OF the
United States, and will to the best Of
my ability preserve, protect and defend
the Constitution Of the United States.
In entering upon this great office !
must humbly invoke the God Of our
fathers for wisdom and tirmness to ex-
ccu.e its high and responsible duties
in such a manner rs to restore harmo-
nv and the ancient friendship among
the people Of the several States and TO
preserve our free institutions through
out many generations. Convinced that
owe my election to the inheren, love
for the Constitution and the Union
which still animates the hearts OF the
American people, let me earnest .ask
their powerful support in sustaining all
Just measures calculated to perPetuate
these the richest political blessings
which Heaven las ever bestowed upon
any nation.
Having determined not to become a
candidate for rc-election,i shall have no
motive 10 influence my conduct IN All
ministering the government, except The
dcsre.abiy and faithfully to serve my
country and to live IN the grateful
memory oi my countrymen.
We have recently passed through a
Presidential contest IN which the pas
sions oi our fellow citizens were excited
to the highest degree 10y questions o!
deco and vltai importance but when
the people proclaimed their will the
tempest at once supslt-ci and All was
calm. The voice OF the m;,j or'ty speak
ing in the manner prescribed By the
constitution, Was heard, and Instant
submission followed. O.r "wn coun-
try could aio4e have exhibited % grand
spectacle of the capacity ol man ioI
self government.
What happy conception, then
was it for Congress to apply this s'n :
pie rule-that the will OF the majority
shall goyern-to the settlement OF the
question oil domestic slavery in t..c
Territories. Congress Is neither to
ierislatc slavery into any Territory OF
State, nor to exclude it thcrefroln, but
to leave the people thereof perfectly
free To form and regulate their domes-
tic institutions III their own way, sub
Iect only To the constitution of the
United States. As u natural consc-
quenc, Congress has also prescribed
that when the Territory oi Kansas
shall be admitted - State, IT shall
be received into the hion with OF
without slavery, rs their constitution
NAV prescribe at te time oil thir admis
sion
A different opinion ias ARISEN IN r"gstd
10 the tune when the people I a Territory
hall decide this queslltn tor Themselves
This IS. happily. matter but little prac'i-
cal importance. and b." des, Il ~ judicial
ques, on, which iegltu itely belongs 10 the
supreme Court Of the United States. before
who 1t Is now pending, AMI viii. 1t IS m
dersfro |. b. speedily ahd mall, s"t''ed.
To their decision. in common with all
good citizens | shall chcetlullv submit,
whatever thi may he, though il has hesn
nv individual opinion thai uuier ne Ne
braska Kansas act the appropriate period
will be when the number Of ac'uii residents
IN the TERRITORY sheli iusiify the formation
OF constitution with view 10 IT, admi,
SION . a State int" the Unio but he lhs
~ u NAV, it's III Imperative and indlsprns'
able duty Of the government Of the United
States to secure to every resident inhahiaht
the tree and Independent. expression of his
opinion Nv his vote THIS sacred right II
each Individual must he preserved. This
beng aceomrl,shrd. nothing can be fa'rsr
than 70 leave the people % a Territory free
from all foreign interference, 10 decide their
own destiny for themselves. subject only
10 thelConsii'uiion of the United States.
The whole Territorial question being
thus settled upon de principle OF pop
ular sovereicnty-a principle AS ancient
rs free government i,sef-cycry thing
OF practical nature has been decided,
and no other question remains Tor ad-
ius.nent, because all a-rec that under
the constitution, slavery in the State
is beyond the reach OF any human
power except that Of tho respective
States themselves wherein it eNists.-
MAY We not, then, hope that the long
agitation ON this subject is approach
ing its end, and that the geographical
parties to which it has gwen birth. So
much eaded bv thefather ofhis voun
Try will speedily become extinct p
Nest happy Will it lie 10 the country
when the public mind shall be diver
ted from this question TO others OF more
pressing and practical importance
Throughout the whole progress of tins
agitation. which La, scarcely known
any intor'nission for more than twenty
wears. whilst it has been productive
Of no positive good TO any human pei
NJ it has been the profile source Of
great evils 10 the master, to the slave.
ana 10 the whole country /: it has ali
enated and essraugcd the people OF the
sister States IRON each other, and has
even seriously endangered the very ex-
istencc o. the Union, nor has the dan
ger yet entirely ceased.
Under our system there is a remedy
for all mere political evils il, the sound
sense and sober judgement Of the rco-
pie. Time is u great corr GIVE. The
political subjects which but few years
ago excited and eAasperatcd the public
Mind. have passed away, and are now
nearly forgotten; But this question Of
domestic slavery is Of fair greater im-
portance than any more political ques.
ton; because, should the agitation con
time it NAV eventually endanger the
personal safety OF "a large portion OF our
countrymcn where the institution ex-
lists. In that event no form Of govern
mcnt, however admirable in itself,
however productive OF material bene-
hts, can compensate for the loss of
peaee and domestic securitv around