Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-03-12
Observation-Disclosures.

President of the United States, and will
to the best of my ability preserve, pro-
tect and defend the Constitution of the
United States. In entering upon this
great Office l most humbly invoke the
God Of our Fathers for wisdom and firm
ness to execute its high and responsible
duties in such a manner as to restore
harmony and the ancient friendship
among the people Of the several States
and to preserve Cur free institutions
throughout many generatio ms. Con-
vlnced that L " my election to the in
herent love for the Constitution and the
Union which still animates the hearts of
the American people, let ME earnestly
AJAX taeir powerful support in sustaining
all just measures calcul.teI to perpetu-
ate these, the richest political blessings
which Heaven has ever bestowed upon
any nation.
Having determined not to become 4
candidate for reelection, 1 shall have no
motive to influence my conduct in ad-
minIstering the government except the
desire, ably and faithfully, to serve my
country, and to live in the grateful mem
DRY Of my country men. We have re-
Gently passed through a Presidential
contest in which the passions of our fell
low-citizens were excited to the highest
degree by questions of deep and vital
Importance, but when the people pro
claimed their will, the tempest at nee
subsidized and all was calm. The voice
of the majority speaking in the name
prescribed by the Constitution was heard,
and instant submission follows.
Our own country could alone have
exhibited so grand and striking a spec
tacle of the capacity of man for self gov
ernment. What a happy conception,
then, was it for Congress to apply this
simple rule, that the will of the MAORI
ty shall govern in the settlement of the
question of domestic slavery in the Ter
r~itorics. Congress is neither to legis-
late slavery in any Territory or State,
the people thereof perfectly free to form
and regulate their domestic institutions
in their W way, subject only to the
Constitution of the United States.
As a natural consequence, Congress
has also prescribed that when the Ter
ritory of Kansas shall be admitted as a
State, it shall be received into the Union
with or without slavery, as their consti-
tuition may prescribe at the time oftheir
admission.
- A different opinion has arisen in re-
gard.to the time when the people Of a
Territory shall decide this question for
themselves. This is, happily, a matter
of little practical Importance, ami be-
sides it is a judicial question, which le-
ultimately belongs to the Supreme Court
of the Cnit>d States, before whom it is
now pending, and will, it is understood,
be speedily and finally settled. To their
decision. in common with-al good citi-
zens I shall cheerfully submit, whatever
this may be, though it is my individual
opinion that, under the Nebraska-Kan-
sas Act, the appropriate period will be
when the number of actual residents in
the Territory shall justify the formation
of constitution with a view to its ad-
mission as 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 res
ident inhabitant the free and independ-
ent expression of his vote of his opinion
by his vote. Tbs sacred right of each
individual must be preserved. This be-
ing acconplishc |, nothing can be fairer
than to leave the people of a Territory
free from all foreign influence to decide
their own destiny for themselves, sub
jcct only to the Constitution Of the Uni
ted States.
The whole territorial question being
thus settled upon, the principle of pop
ular sovereignty, a principle as ancient
as free government itself, everything of
a practical value has been decided, and
no other question remains for adjust
ment, because all agree that under the
Constitution slavery in the States was
beyond the reach ofany human power
except that of the respective States
themselves wherein it exists. May we
not hen hope that the long agitation Of
i ssubject 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 it be
for the country when the public mind
shall be diverted from this question to
others of more pressing and practical
Importance.
Throughout the whole progress ofthis
agitation, which has scarcely known
any intermission for more than twenty
years, while it has been productive ofno
positive good to any human being, is
has been the prolific source ofgreat evilt
to the master, to the whole country
1t has alienatcd and estranged the peo-
pie of the sister States from each other
and endangered the very existence of
the Union; nor has the danger yet en-
tirely ceased. Under our system there
is a remedy for all mere political evils
in the sound sense andsober judgement
Of the people. Time is a great eorrec-
tive.
The political subjects, which but a
few years ago excited and exasperatcd
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 poll
teal question, because, should the agi-
tation continue, it may eventually en-
danger the personal safety of a large
portion of our countrymen where the
institution exists. In that event no