Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-03-07
Inaugural Address.

dom and tirmnesS to execute its high and res.
ponSiblc duties in manner as to restore har-
mony and ancient friendship among the people
: tof the several States and to preserve our free
Institutions OughoutWany generations Com
WINGED that owe my election to the inherent
love for the constitution and the Union which
still animates the hearts of the American pe0.
pie, let me earnestly psk their powerful support
in sustaining all just measures calculated Ia
: perpetuate these the richest political Blessings
which Heaven has ever bestowed upon nation.
Having determined not to become candidate
for reelection, shah have motive TO intiu-
Ience my conduct in administering the govern
itnent except the desire ably and faithfully to
serve my country, and to live. in the grateful
memory OF my cOnntrymen.
We have recently passed through preSiden.
Itial contest in which the passions of our fellow.
lcitizens were excited to the highest degree by
tquestions ofdeep and vitalimpDrtance; but when
the people proclaimed their will, the tempest at
once subsidized and all was calm.
The voice of the majority, speaking in the
i manner prescribed by the constitution, was
Z. heard, and instant submission followed Our
Town country could alone have exhibited 50
grand and striking spectacle of the capacity Of
man for seif.government.
i What happy conception, then, was it for
Congress to apply this simple rnlc-thnt the
will of the majority sh1ll goyern-to the settle
nlent Of the question Ofd0meStic slavery in the
slavery into any Territory or State nor to cx-
cludeit therefrom; bnt to leave the people there
of perfectly free to form and regulate their do
1 nestle institutions in their own way, subject
only to the constitution of the United States
as natural consequence, Congress has also pre-
scribed that when the Territory of Kansas shall
be admitted as State, it shall be received into
the Union with or without slavery, as their con-
sstitution may prescribe'at the time of their al
mission
/ A different opinion has arisen in regard to
the point of time when the people of a territory
shall decide the question fur themselves,
i This is, happily, aInattcr of but little prac-
teal importdilce. Besides, it is judicial quos-
ton which legitimately belongs to the Supreme
1 Court of the United States, before whom it is
now pending, and will, it is understood, be spec
! idly and finally settled To their decision, in
Icommon with all good citizens, ] shall chcerfully
submit whatever this may be, thoughit has
ever been my individual opinion that under the
Nebraska Kansas net the appropriate period
will be when the number of actual residents in.
the territory shall Justify the formation ofa COM
1stitutiOn with ayiew to its admission as State
into the Union. But be this as itlnny, it is the
I imperative aud indispensable duty Of the gov.
Iernlnent of the United States to secure to every
resident inhabitant the free and independent eX-
preston Of his opinion by his vote This sa
lcredsright of each individual must be preserved.
That being accomplished, nothing can be fairer
than to leave the people ola territory, free from
all foreign interference to decide their own des
ttiny Tor themselves, subject only to be consti-
tuition of the United States.
The whole territorial question being then set.
tied upon the principlcof popular sovereignty
la principle as ancient rs the government Itself
Everything of a practical nature has been deci-
ded. No other question remains for adjustment;
because all agree that, under the constitutions
slavery in the States is beyond the reach Of any
human power, except that of the respective
States themselves wherein it exists MAY we
not then, hope that the long agitation OF this
subject IS approaching its cnd, and that the
! geographical parties to which it has given BIRTH
| so 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
ldiverted from this question to other of more
pressing and practicalimportauce. Throughout
the whole progress of this agitation, which has
scarcely known any intermiSsion for more than
/ twenty years, whilst it has been productive of
| no positive good TO any human being, it has
been the prolific source Of great evils to the
master, to the slave and to the whole country
1t has alienatcd and cstranged the people of the
sister States from each other, and has even so
riously endangered the very existence of the
i Union.
Nor has the danger etentirely ceased. Under
ollr system there is aremcdy for nil mere polite
cal evils in tho sound sense and sober judgment
4 " GHe peop4e. lime is great corrective.
! Political subjects which but few years ago cx.
cited and eXaSperated the public mind have pas
| sed away aud are now nearly forgotten But
this question of domestic slavery is of fnr graz
yer Importance than any mere political ques-
| ton, because, should the agitation continue, ii
may eventually endangcr the personal safety of
atlargc portion OF our countrymeIi where the
institution exists. Tnthat event no form Of gov
tcrnment, however admirable in itself, and how
ever productive ofmatcrial benefits, can compen-
safe for the loss of peace aud domestic security
around the family! alter. Leteyery Union.loving
man, thereforesS exert his best influence to sup.
press this agitation, which, since the recent lie.
Igislation of Congress, is without any Legitimate
lo6ject
Its an evil omen of tho times, that men have
undertaken to calculate the mere mnterial value
tof the Union. Reasoned estimates have been
presented of the pecuninry profits and local atl.
svantagcs which would result to different States
/ aud sections from its dissolution, and of the
4 comparative injuries whichsuch an event would
Intiict on other States and sections Even des.
cending to this low and narrow view of the
4 mighty question, all such calculations are All
4 fault. The bare reference to siUgl e.conSideFa-
/ ton will be conclusive on this point We at
present enjoy q free trade throughout our extern
sive and expanding country, such as the world
never witnessed. The trade is conducted on
railroads and canals-On noble rivers aud arms
of the sea-which bind together the North aud
the South, the East and the West of our. con-
ifederacY.
Annihilate this trade, arrest its free progrets
by the geographical lines of jealous and hostile
/ States, and you destroy the prosperity and on
ward march of the whole and every part, aud
involve all in one common ruin. But,snch con-
slderatonS Important rs they are in themselves,
sink into inslguifcance when we reflect on the
terrific evils which would result from disunion
to every portion of the confederacy-to the
North not more than to the South, to the East
not more than to the West. These shall not
tattetnpt TO portray, because I feel an humble
confidence that the Kind Providence whichgin-
splred our fathers wisdom to frame the most
Iperleet form of goYCrntnent and Union ever az.