The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-03-10
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
OF the President of the U. States.

vi the President Oh the u. states,
FELLOW IT1zENs:-I appear before you
/ this day to take the solemn oath ..that
| viii 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 frmness to execute its high and
responsible duties in such a manner as to
| restore harmony and ancient friendship
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 ami
mates the hearts of the American people.
let me earnestly ask their powerful support
in sustaining all just measures calculated
to perpetuate these, the richest political
blessings which Heaven has ever bestowed
upon any nation. Having determined not
to become candidate for reelection,
shall have no motive to influence my con-
duct i'm administering the government ex-
cept the desire ably and faithfully to serve
my country, and to live in the grateful
memory of my countrymen.
We have recently passed through a pres
ideptial contest in which thepassions of our
fellow citizens were excited to the highest
degree in questions of deep and vital i'm
portance; but when the people proclaimed
their will, the tempest at once subsidized, and
all was calm.
The voice of the majority, speaking in the
manner prescribed by the constitution, was
heard, and instant submission followed
Our own country could alone have exhibit
ed SO grand and striking a spectacle of the
capacity of man for government.
What happy conception, then, was it
for Congress to apply this simple rule-that
the settlement of the question of domestic
slavery in the Territories! Congress is
neither ''to legislate slavery into any Ter
ritory or State nor to exclude it therefrom
but to leave the people thereof perfectly
free to form and regulate their domestic in
situations 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 difference of opinion has arisen in re-
gard to the point Of time when the people
of Territory shall decide this question for
themselves.
This is, happily, matter of but little
practical Importance. Besides it is a judi
cial question, which legitimately belongs
to the Supreme Court of the United States,
before whom it is now pending, and will, it
is understood. be speedily and finally set
tied. To their decision, in common with
all good citizens, shall cheerfully submit
It, a. L. - L..
been my individual opinion that, under the
Nebraska-Kansas act, the appropriate Pc
Rod will be when the number of actual res
idents in the Territory shall justify the for
nation of a constitution with view to it's
admission 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 resident
inhabitant the free and independent ex-
preston of his opinion by his vote. This
sacred right of each individual must be
preserved. That being accomplished, moth
ing can be fairer than to leave the people
of the 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 territorial question being thus
settled upon the principle of popular SOW
ereignty-a principle as ancient as free
government itself-every thing of a practi
cal nature has been decided. No other ques-
ton remains for adjustment; because all
agree that, under the constitution, Slavery
in the States is beyond the reach of any hu-
man power, except that of the respective
States themselves wherein it exists. May
we not, then, hope that the long agitation
on this subject 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 di-
verted from this question to others of more
pressing and practical Importance
Throughout the whole progress of this agi-
tation, which has scarcely known an inter-
mission for more than twenty years, whilst
it has been productive of no positive good
to any human being, it has been the proli
fic source of great evils to the master, to
the slave and to the whole country. 1t has
alienated and estranged the people of the
sister States from each other, and has even
seriously endangered the very existence of
the Unicn. Nor has the danger yet entire
ly ceased. Under our system, there is
remedy for all mere political evils in the
sound sense and sober Judgment of the peo
PIE. line Is great COiFtGtNo' oiltlCui
subjects which but few years ago excited
and exasperated the public mind have passed
away and are now nearly forgotten. But
this question of domestic slavery is of far
graver Importance than any mere political
question, because, should the agitation con-
tinue, it may eventually endanger the per-
sonal safety of large portion of our coun-
trymen where the institution exists. In !
that event. no form of government, however
admirable in itself, and however produc !
tive of material benefits, can compensate
for the loss of peace and domestic security
around the family altar. Let every Union |
loving man, therefore, exert his best inhu |
ence to suppress this agitation, which, /!
since the recent legislation of Congress, is
without any legitimate object.
It is an evil omen of the times that men
have undertaken to calculate the mere ma-
terial value of the Union. Reasoned esti-
mates have been presented of the pecuniary
profits and local advantages which would
result to different States and sections from
its dissolution. and of the comparative in
iuries which such an event would inflict on
other States and sections Even descend