The true Democrat., 1857-03-17
NJ. D0TTEE, $. r. FIELD. r. $. GARRETT.
RICHARD BRAGG. Sec'y
Inaugural Address.


 day to take the solemn oath that l will faitn- fully execute the office of President of the United S,ateS-aUd will to the best of my aO.- htv lreaerYe, protect and defend the coustitu- ton ot the United States. In entering upon this -rea, oiiice most humbIy invoke .Ae God of oUr Fathers for wisdom and frmuess 10 execute is high and responsible duties ]" slch manner as to restore harmony and the ancjeIt friendship among the people of the several States and to preserve our free institutions throughout many generations. Convinced that l owe my election to the inherent love for the constitution and the Union which still ani- mates the hearts of the American people. let me earnestly ask their powerful support n sustaining aii just measures calculated to per pctuate these, the richest political blessings which Heaven has ever bestowed upon any | nation.
 i Having determined not to become q candi- i late for e-electon. l shall have no motives to i influence my conduct in admiustern. the so- veruneut except the desire ably aud faithfully to serve my country, anI t. live in the grateful memory Q! my countrymen. We have recently passed through d Presidential contest in which the passions Of our fellow citizens were eXcit- ed to the highest degree by questions of deep and vital importance, but when the people pro- claimed their will, the tempest at once subsid- ed and all ,vas calm. The voice of the najo- rity speaking n the manner prescribed ny the constitution was heard, and instant submission follows
 Our own country could alone have exhibited so grand and striking spectacle of the capa- city oE man for self government. What a hap py conceptiou then, was 1t for Congress to ap- ply this simple rule, that the will of the ma ;,. K IL, II : question of domestic slavery in tine Territories Congress IS neither to leg5late slavery into any Territory or State, nor to exclude t there from, but to leave the people thereof perfectly free to form and regulate their domestic nsti- tutions in their own way, subject 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 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 z the time when the people of territory shall decide this question for themselves. This IS happily matter of but little practical impoY- tance, and besides 1t is judicial question which legtimately belongs 10 the Supreme Court of , the uited States, before whom its now pend- ing, and will it is understood, be speedily aud finally settled. To their decision, in common l with all good citizens, l shall cheerfuly sub | init, whatever this may be, though 1t h sa been my individual opinion that under the Nebras ka-kanSas act, the appropriate period wj,l be when the number of actual residents in the : territory shall justify tine formation of copsti- s tuition with a view to is admission as a State into the Union; but be this as 1t may, it is the imperative and indispensable duty of the go- vernment of the UDited States 10 secure to every resident inhabitant the free and indeuen- Q dent expression ot his opinion by his vote.- The sacred right of each individual must be , preserved. This being accomplished, nothing can be fairer than to leave the people of ter ritory free from all foreign influence to decide , their own destiny for themselves, subject only t to the constitution of the United States. ] The whole territorial question being thus Set- tied, upon the principle ot popular sovel eighty, prnclpie as aucient as free government itself, i every thing of a practical value has been de- clded and 10 other question remains for adjust ment, because all agree that under the cousti- tuition slavery in the States is beyond the reach of any human power except that of the re- spective States themselves where it exists !, May we not then hope that the long agitation q on this subject Is approaching is end, and tha. the geographical parties to which it has given birth, so much dreaded by the Father of his country, speedily become extinct? Most hap- c py will it be for the country when the public iaind shall be diverted from this question to others of more pressing and practical impor- tance.
 Throughout the whole progress of this agi- taton which has scarcely known any intermis- si"n for twenty years, while it has been produc. tive 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 country. It has alienated and estrauged the people of the sister States from each other, and endangered