Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1857-03-17
Presidents inaugural .Adaress.

go - III II q p -sfsEc-.fs ="
7 Fsl7ouz Citizens ): I appear before
yon this day to take the solemn oath
"that'I will faithfully execute the of,
fee Of President Of the United States,
and viii, TO hetbest of my ability,
preserve, protect and defend the Con
stitution Of the United States"
III entering upon this. great Office,
I must humbly invoketlle God Of our
fathers for wisdom and firnness TO
execute its high and responsible du,
ties in a manner as TO restore harno-
ny and ancient friendship among the
people of the several States, and to
preserve our free institutions through
out many generations. Convinced
that owe my election tothe inherent
love for the constitution and the
Union, which still auimates. the hearts
ofthe American people, let me earn.
|estly ask their powerful support in
sustaining adjust measures calcula-
ted to perpethate these. the richest
political blessings which. a govern
ment has bestowed: upon a nation.
Having determined MOTTO become a
candidate for reelection, ] shall have
no motive to influence my conductrill
administering the government, except
the desire ably and faithfulyto serve
my country, and TO live I'M the CRATE
Fful memory Of my countrymcn. ( ,-..
We have recently passed through a
presidential contest in which tile pas
sions of orr fellow citizens wereuex =,
cited to the highest degree by'ques-
tions Of deep and vital Importance;
but when the people proclaimed their
will, the tempest at ence subsidel
EalM all was calm ~ Z - -
Il The voice of the majority, speak
ing instlie manner prescribed by the
constitution, was heard, and instant
submission followed. Our own corn-
try could 4alone have exhibited 50
grand and striking a spectacle of-the
Of man for self-government.
- What q happy conception, then,
was it for Congress to apply this sim-g
;ple.ruie-that the will of the ma ority.
shall gorern--to the settlement Of the
Question of domestic slavery in the
territorial Congress is neither '''to le-
gislate slavery into any Territory or
State nor to exclude it thereffom; but
TO, leave tile people thereof perfectly
free to form and regulate their domes-
tic institutions in their ewn way, sab.
.iect only to the Constitution of the
United States ASA natural conse-
.quence, Congress has also prescribed
that when the Territory 'of Kansas
llbeadmitted as aState, f."ltslall
be received into the Union. with or
without slaterystas their constitution
may prescribe at theltime oftheir ad.
mission t Ks ! Eth Ok gyusiz
"A different opinion has arisen in
reganl te-the point of time when the
people of a territory shall decide the
ouestioAefor themselves. 4s~E3 ~
This,is, happily, a matter Of but lit
tie practical Importance: Besides, it
is q judicial question which lesiti-
mately belongs to the Supreme Court
Of the United States. before whom it
Is now pending. and will, It is under
stood. be speedily and finally settlel:
To their decision. iTi common with all
good citizens, | shall cheerfnlly sub
nit; whatever this may be, though it
has ever been my individual opinion
that under tile Nebraska. Kansas act
the appropriate period will be when
fine number Of actual residents In the
territory shall justify the formation Of
a constitution witraetiest % its' adj
mission as d State into the Unipnr-
But be this as II may. tits the imper-
alive and indispensable duty OF the
government of the United States to
secure to every resident inhabitant
the free and independent expression
OF bis opinion by his vote. This So.
cred right Of each individual inust be
preserved. That being accomplished,
nothing can. be fairer than to leave
the people ofaterritory, free from all
foreign interference, to decide their
own destiny for themselves, subject
only to the constitution ofthe United
States. q. So ss>.,li =
ThsWholet erritorial question being
then settled upon the principle Of pop
Mar sovereignty-a principle as an