Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-03-12
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

dent of the United States, and will TO the
best of my ability, preserve, protect and de-
fend, the Constitution of the United States.
In entering upon this grea, office, most
humbly invoke the God of our fathers for
wisdom and irmness 10 execute its high
and responsible duties in such a manner as
to restore harmony and the ancient friend
ship 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 American
People, let me earnestly ask their power
full support in sustaining all just measures
calculated to preserve these, the richest po-
litical blessings which Heaven has ever be-
slowed upon any nation. Having deter
mined not to become candidate for re-c-
lection, shall have no motive to influence
my conduct in administering the Govern
ment 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
Presidential contest in which the passions
of our fellow-citizens were excited to the
highest degree by questions of vital impor-
tance; but when the People proclaimed
their will, the tempest was subsided, and
all was calm. The voice of the majority
speaking in the manner prescribed by the
Constitution, was heard, and instant sub
mission followed. Our own country could
alone have exhibited so grand and striking
spectacle of the capacity of man for self
government. What a happy conception,
then, was it for Congress to apply this sim
pie rule, that the will of the majority shall
govern to the settlement of the question of
Domestic Slavery in the Territories! Con
gress is neither to Legislature Slavery into
any Territory or State, nor to exclude it
thercfrom; but to leave the People thereof
perfectly free to form and regulate their
own domestic institutions in their own way
suject only to the Constitution of the Uni
ted States as natural consequence. Con
gress 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 Constitu-
ton prescribes at the time of their admis-
sion. A different opinion has arisen in re-
gard to the time when the people Of a Ter
ritory shall decide this question for them
selves. This is happily matter of but lit
tie practical Importance, and beside, it is
judicial question, which legitimately be-
longs to the Supreme Court of the United
States, before whom it is now pending, and
will, it is understood, be speedy and finally
settled. To their decision, in common
with all good citi :ens, l shall cheerfully sub
NIT, whatever this may be, though it has
been my individual opinion that under the
Nebraska Kansas act the appropriate peri
cd will be when the number of actual resi-
dents in the Territories shall justify the
formation of Constitution with the view
of its admission as 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 res
ident inhabitant the free and independent
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 peo-
pie of territory free from all foreign inter
ference to decide their own destiny for
themselves, subject only to the Constitution
of the United States. The whole Terrific
rial question being thus settled upon the
principle of popular sovereignty-a princi-
pie as ancient as free Government Itself
everything of a practical nature has been
decided, and no other question remains for
adjustment, because all agree that under
the Constitution, Slavery in the States is
beyond the reach of any human power, ex
cept that ofthe respective States themselves
wherein it exists May we not then hope
that the long agitation on this subject is
approaching its end, and 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
it be for the country when the public mind
shall be diverted from this question to 9th
ers of more pressing and practical impor-
tance. Throughout the whole progress of
this agitation, which has scarcely known
any intermission for more than twenty
years, while it has been productive of no
positive good to any human being it has
been the prolific source of great evils TO the
master, to the slave, and to the whole coun-
try: it has alienated and enstranged the
people of the sister States, from each other
and has even seriously endangered the
very existence of the Union. Nor has the
danger yet entirely ceased. Under our
system there is remedy for all mere po-
litical evils in the sound sense and sober
judgement of the people. Time is great
corrective. The political subjects which
but few years ago exasperated the public
mind have passed away and are now near
" forgotten; but this question Of Domes-
tic Slavery is of far greater importance than
any mere political question, because, should
the agitation continue, it may eventually
endanger the personal safety Of a large por-
tion of our countrymen, where the institu-
tion exists. In that event, no term of
Government, however productive of mate
rial benefits, can compensate for the loss of
peace and domestic security around the
family altar. Let every Union-loving man,
therefore, exert his best influence to sup
press this agitation, which, since the re-
cent legislation of Congress, is without any
Legitimate object. 1t is an evil ofthe times