The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-03-18
resident Buchanan's Inaugural Address


fstsa the constitution of the United States
Tn entering upon this great office I must humbl
invoke the God of our fathers for wisdom and firm
mesa to execute its duties IN suc
manner as TO restore harmony and ancient friend
ship among the people Of the several States and t.
preaerye free institutions throughout many genel
alions Convinced that owe my election To the in
harsnt love for the constitution and the Mon Whcs
stla animate The hearts OF the American people le
Earnestly ask their powerful support In sustaining
Just measures calculated to perpettlate these tn
richest political blessings which heaven has ever be
slowed upon any nation. Having determined not t
nseafne candidate for reelection shall have no
" infiuencem my conduct ii administering theg gov
eraent except the desire ably and faithfully To serv,
Country and to live in the grateful memory of my
e0Antrymen. #ss ...@B# @&@ II
IN have recently passed through presidential con
SaSt8n which the passions of feIlowc citizens wer
exaed to the highest degree by questions Of deep
YsAaa Importance; but when the. people proclaimed
thasg will, the tempest ut subsidized and all wa
calin. a# 65a z.a.
he voice of the majority, speaking in the manner
prescribed by the constitution was heard, and nstan
Bnhmission followed. Our own country could alone
hare exhibited grand and striking spectacle Of tn.
caracity of man for sef-government.
aM hat q happy conception, then, it for congress
M apply this simple ruletha the will Of the MAORI
tY sha govern-to the settlement of the question O
dohesc slavery in the terrtories Congress is neithe
egislate slavery into any territory State nor Il
exSlude it thererom; but to leave the people thereo
pE41Ettly Tree W ana their domestic
stlEut1ons IN their way, subject only To the con
stisntion Of the United States" AS natural conse
quance, congress has also prescribed that when TIL
taa11tory Of Kansas shall be admitted as State il
nal be received into the Union, with or without
slavery their constitution NAV prescribe at the time
of their admission a%
difference Of opinion has arisen in regard to the
poInt Ct time when the people of territory shall de
eide this question for themselves. %a=e 4s% u#$s
This is, happily, matterof but little practicalnl
NJ Besid is iudicia1 7vhi
Iiamately belongs to the supreme court of the United
SAates before whom it is pending and will, is
understood, be speedily and finally settled To THEN
decision in common with all good citizens shall
cheerfully submit whatever this may be, though it
haseger been my individual opinion that, under the
Nebraska Kansas act, the appropriate period will be
Wen the number Of actual residents in the territory
shall justify the formation of constitution with
vlew to its admission State into the Union. But
Wis as it may it is the imperative and ndispensa
beduty Of the government of the United States to
every resident nhabitant the free and indepen
dent Expression Of his opinion by his vote. This
caed right Of each individual must be preserved -
That being accomplished, nothing be airer than
MI eave the people Of territory, flee from ali foreign
Interference, to decide their destiny for them
ses, subject only to the constitution OF the United
States.
The whole territorial question being thus settled
upon the principle of popular sovereignty-a princ
pleas ancient as free government itsef-every thing
ofHa practical nature has been decided No other
uaastion remains for adjustment because all agree
al, under the constitution slavery in the States isl
beyond the reach of any human power, except that of
tharespective States themselves wherein it exists
Mar not, then hope that the long agitation this
SUBJECT is approaching its end, and that the geogra
nhical parties to which it has given birth, SO much
dreaded by the Father of his Country, will speedily
bespme extinct? Most happy will it be for the coun-
tYWhen the public mind shall be diverted from this
QUESTION to Others of pressing and practical i'm
portance Throughout the whole progress of this ag
taten which has scarcely known any intermission fo
more than twenty years. whilst it has been productive
of 10 positive good to any human being, it has
ben the prolific Of great evils to the master
tohe slave, and to the whole country. Ihas aliena-
ted and estranged the people Of the sister States from
each other and has seriously endangered the very
existence of the Union. Tor has the danger yet en-
tiEely ceased. Under our system there is remedy
Orn mere political evils in the sound and sober
Judgment of the people, Time is great corrective
Political subjects which but few years ago excited
and eyasperated the public mind have passed away,
and are nearly forgotten. But this question of
duestc slavery Is Of far glaver Importance than any
mare political question: because should the agita-
ton continue 1t may eventually endanger the personal
safety OF large portion OF eountrymen where the
institution exists In that event form Of govern
ment, however admirable in itself and however pro-
duetive of material benefits compensate for the
loss of peace and domestic security around the family
altar Let every Union loving man, therefore, exert
his best influence to suppress this agitation, which,
since the OF congress, IS wthouta any
legitimate object. e2H fss -@ ~s&a j. s7T s*f."Sf
Its an evil omen Of the times that men have I'M
dertaken to calculate the material value of the
Union. Reasoned estimates 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 injuries which
such event would inflict other states and sec
lions. Even descending to this low and narrow
view of the mighty question: all such calculations
eli fault. The bare reference to singular consider
alton will be conclusive on this point We at pres
emit enjoy free trade throughout extensive and
expanding country, such as the world has wit
messed. This trade is conducted on railroads and
canals-on noble rivers and arms of the sea-which
bind together the north and the SOUTH the and
thsWest Of our eonfederacy. Annihiiate this trade,
arrest its free progress by the geographical lines of
Jealous and hostile states, and you destroy the pros
perty and onward march of the whole and every part
and involve all IN one common ruin. But such con-
sderatons, important as they are in themselves sink
in6n nsignifcance when reflect the terrific evils
which would result from disunion to every portion
of the confederacyto the north not than to the
south, to the east not than to the west These
shall not attempt portray because feel an humble
confidence that the kind Providence which inspired
our Fathers with wisdom to frame the most perfect
form Of government and union devised by man
Will not suffer it to perish until it shall have been
peacefully instrumental by its example, in the extern
sion Of civil and religious liberty throughout the
world 7 s-a1@ a~@~f@*
Next il Importance to the maintenance Of the con
government free from the taint the suspicion
oIcorrupton. Public virtue is the vital spirit of re-
rublics; and history proves that when this has de-
cred and the love of money has usurped its place,
although the forms of free government may remain
for d season, the substance has departed forever
Our present financial condition is without paral-
Kiln history. No nation has ever before been EN-
baFrassed from too large surplus in its treasury.
This almost necessarily gives birth to extravagant
legisaton. Itproduces wild schemes Of expenditures,
and begets Of spectators and jobbers, whose
Ingenuity j. exerted in eontriving and promoting
psaients to obtain public money. The purity Of Off
ciM agents, whether rghtfuly wrongfully. is sus
peeted, and the character of the government suffers
the estimation of the people. This is in itself
very great evil. S
he natural mode of relief from this embarrassment
IA 10 appropriate the surplus in the treasury great
rational objects, for which clear warrant can be
fonnd in the constitution. Among these / might
mention the extnguishment of the public debt,
sunable increase Of the navy, which is at present in
aequate the protection of our vast tonnage ahoat
new greater than that Of any other nation well
taIhe defence Of our extended seacoast. # a9@"
~ is beyond all question the true principle that
more revenue ought to be collected from the people
tn the amount necessary to detray the expenses OF
mine, economical and efficient administration Of the