The Tiffin tribune. [volume] (Tiffin, Ohio) 1848-1859, 1857-03-13
Tnaururai Address.

best ot my hOlutY preserves yfoWct anu
defend she Constitution Of the United
States. In entering upon The great office
most humbly invoke the God Of our
Fathers for wisdom and frmness to exc
cute its high aud responsible duties in
such a manner MS TO restore harmony and
the ancient friendship among The people
of the several States aud to preserve our
free institutions throughout many gene
ratious. Convinced that owe my eles.
tion to The inherent love for the Conslitu
tion and the Union which still animatos
the hearts Of tho American people, let
me earnestly ask their powerful support
in sustaining all just measures calculated
10 perpe;uNe these, the richest political
blessings which Heaven has ever bestow
cd upon any nation.
Having determined not TO become a
candidate foT recollection, shall have no
motive to influence my conduct in ad-
mioistering the government except the
de ire, ably and faithfully to serve my
country, and to live in the grateful mem.
ory Of my oountrymen. We have re-.
GENTLY passed through Presidential con
test in which the passions Of our fellow
citizens were excited TO the highest de.
gree by questions Of deop aud vital i'm
psrtanco but whom the p1ope proclaimed
their will, the tempest at once sGhsided
aud all was calm, The voice Of the ma
ioriiy speaking in the manner prescribed
by the Consti;clion WAS hoard, aud in
slant submission follows.
Our own country could alone have
exhibited so grand and striking a spccta.
Gle Of the capacity OF man for self gov.
ernment. What happy conception,
then, was il for Congress TO apply this
simple rule, that the will Of tho majority
shall govern in the settlement Of the
question Of domestic slavery in tho Ter
Titories. Congress is neither 10 legishte
slavery into any Territory or State, nor
to exclude it therelrom, but to leave the
people thereof perfectly free to form and
regulate their domestic institutions in
their own way, subject only to the Con.
stitution Of the United States.
As natural consequence, Congress
has also prescribed that when the Terri
tory Of Kansas shall be admitted as a
State, il shall bo received into the Union
with or without slavery, as its Consttu.
ton may prescribe at the time Of their
admission.
A different opinion has arisen in regard
20 the time when the people Of Terrific.
~ shall decide this question fyr ,hom.
selves THIS is happily matter Of but
little practical importance, and besides IL
is ajudiOlal question which logitimatelv
belongs to the Supreme Court Of the u.
nited States. before whom il is now
pending and will, tits understood, be
speedily and finally settled 10 their de-
oision, in common with all good citizens.
shall cheeriuly submit, whatever this
may be, though il has my individual
opinion that under the Nebraska Kansas
act, the appropriate period will be when
the number of actual residents in th,
Territory shall justify the formation Of n
constitution with view TO its admission
as State into the Union: hut be this Ms
it may. It is the imperative and indispan.
sable duty Of the Government OF the u.
nited States to secure 10 every resident
inhabitant the FREQ and independent ex.
preston Of his opinion by his vote. This
sacred right Of each individual must be
preserved. This being accomplished,
nothing can be lairer than to leave the
people Of Territory free from all foreign
influence TO decide their own destiny for
themselves, subject only to the Couslitu.
tion Of the U. s.
The whole territorial question beinv
thus settled upon the principle Of popu
lar Sovereignty a principle as ancient As
free government itself, everything Of a
practical value has been decided aud no
other question remains for adjustment,
because all agree that under the Consti.
tuition slavery in the States is beyond the
reach Of any human power excepting
that of the respective States themselves
wherein il exists. May we not then hope
that the lorg agitation on this subject is
approaching its end. and that tho geo.
graphical parties to which il has given
birth, so much dreaded by the father of
his country, viii speedily come extinct.
Most happy win Il be for tho country
when che public mind shall be diverted
from this question TO others Of more
pressing and practical importance.
Throughout the whole progress Of this
agitation which has scaro,ly known any
intermission for more than twenty years,
while it has been the prolific source of
great evils to the whole country. Ii has
aIienated and esirauged the people of sis.
ter States from each other, and ondanger.
ell the very existence Of tho Union, nor
has the danger yet entirely ceased I'M
der our system there is remedy Tor an
mere political evils 10 che sound sense q
sober judgment og the people Time is a
great corrective.
The political subjects, which but few
years ago excited and exasperated tho
public mind, have passed away and are
now nearly forgotten. But this question
Of domestic slavery is Of Ear greater i'm.
porlance than any mere political question
because. should the agitation continue, il
may eventually endanger the personal
safety Of large portion Of our country.
men whore the institution exists. Ia that
event no form Of government, however
admissible in itself--however produo i've
OF material benefits can compensate for
the loss Of peace and domestic securit
around the family altar Let every I'm.
iOn. lavinor tnan thap4fa~a ,s-,,t ~. j..