The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-03-06


their renowned old banner, displaying the working
mens emblems and the date of their organization.
The stately Liberty Pole, drawn by six beautiful
horses furnished by VaDderwerken and the noe
miniature ship attracted the myriad Oh rhe vas.
multitude and won general admiration. The car
on which the pole was borne was decorated WIN
various embiems and devices. Peace. War, Com
merce. Art, Agriculture, Mechanism the Fine Arts'
and the Aborigine, were all portrayed on the sew
eral pansls OF Ih8 in graceful, artistic style,
. living representative Of. the Genius of Amsrica
surmountiug the whole. On the rear panel OF the
car was mprinted the noble sentiment of the Pres
ident elect, that Labor 10 the foundation OF the
" wealth of every country" A gorgeous liberty cap
crowned the summit OF the pole, from which was
gaily floating in the breeze 3 brilliant American
flag thirty feet in length, At height OF seventy
feet. This beautiful ornament was constructed Dy
the mechanics of the Navy Yard, under the drec-
tion Of the energetic Rainbow. The handsome
miniature ship Constitution" drawn also by six
richly caparsoned horses, and constructed oy our
Navy Yard friends, was likewise the observed OF
all observer. She was full rugged and equipped,
bssring forIaidable-lookiDg battery, was manned
by several youths dressed in sailor costume, and
bore the Union Jack and two American ensigns
Her stern and quarter boats were beautiful little
models. and her anchoTs and chains arranged in
regular man-of,war style.
THE SCENE AT THE CAPITOL.
There were perhaps $4,000 persons in the Capl
tol and around the grounds The crowd was al
most entirely composed of well dressed people,
male and femae-substautial and intelligent cti
2sGs all of them. Great interest was depicted on
their copntenaoces indeed. AsJames Buchanan
appeared or the inaugural platform, such shout
over the triumph o. our system of Government
its principles and results as went up from their
hearts through their thrcsts, vas never before
heard in any country. Such, indeeG, il was all
difference in politics and personal feelings being
evidently impulsiveiy ignored, as it were.
The appearance of the Supreme Court, in their
robes, and all the dignitaries of this Government
with nearly all the foreign Ministers and their les
cations upon the platform, was sight goOdly to
be seen, indeed 1t embodied mora OF the true
spirit of country and its growing institutions
than we can express
The venerable Chief Justice Taney administer.
ed to James buchanan the oath of Office, amid the
sky rendng shouts CT the multitude
After the administration OF the oath, and the de-
livery of the inaugural commenced, remarkable 81
lence rcigned throughout the vast assembiage,
though not one person In five hundred of those as
sembled could hear its delivery. Good order pre-.
vailed everywhere there, so tar as we could PERI
ceive.
The appearance Of the military, ranged as they
were, in the most picturesque positions of the
scene gave air of briliisncy to the whole ceres
mony that was never before paralleled in this
country.
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Fellop Citizens appear before you this day to
take the solemn oath that will 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 ofiice must humby
invoke the God OF our fathers for wisdom and hru-
ness to high and responsible duties nsnch
: manner rs to restore harmony and ancient friend
ship among the people of the several States, and
to preserve our free institutions throughout many
gen nera.ions. Convinced owe my election to the
Inherent 'ove for the Constitution and the Union
which still animates the heart of the American
people, let me earnestly ask their powerful support
in sustaining all just measures calculated to per
petuate these the richest political blessings which
Heaven has ever bestowed upon any nation. uav
ing determined not to become a candidate for res
election, shall have no motive to influence my
conduct in administering the government except
the desire ably and faithfully to serve my coun.
try, and to live in the grateful memory of my
countrymen.
We have recently passed through Presidential
contest in which the passions of our fellow citizens
were excited the highest degree by questions of
deep and vital Importance, but when the people
proclaimed their will the tempest at once subsi-
ded and all was calm.
The voice of the majority, speaking in the man>
ner prescribed by the Constitution, waslheard, and
instant submission followed Our own country
could alone havs exhibited 20 grand and striking
spectacle of the capacity of man for selfsgoverns
ment.
What happy conception, then, wasit for Com
gress to apply this simple rule-that the will of
the majority shall goyern-to the settlement Of
the question OF QOm6StC SAVeTJ III tu6
Congress is neither to legislate slavery into any
Territory or State nor to exclude it therefrom;
but to leave the people thereof perfectly free to
form and regulate their domestic institutions 10
their own way, subject only to the constitution Of
the United States" As Q natural consequence
Cor gress has prescribed that hen the Territory
of Kansas shall be admitted as State 1t "shall be
received into the Union with or without slavery,
as their constitution may prescribe at the time Of
their admission"
Opininr has ariapn in rd IN hA
point of time when the people of territory shall
decide the question for themselves.
This is, happily, matter of but little practical
Importance. Besides. it il judicial question
which legiim2tely belongs to the Supreme Court
of the United States, before whom 1t il now
pending, and WILL it is understood, be speedily
and finally settled. To their decision in common
with all good citizens, shall cheerfully submit
whatever this may be, though it has ever been my
individual opinion that under the Nebraska Kansas
sct the appropriate period will be hen the mum.
Der of actual residents in the territory shall justify
the formation of . constitution with view to its
admission as State into the Union. But be this
As it may, II ID the imperative and indispenss be
duty of the government Of the United States to
secure to every resident inhabitant the free and
Independent expression Of his opinion by his vote.
This sacred right of each individual must be pre-.
| served That being accomplished, nothing can be
fairer than to leave the people OF territory free
from all foreign interference, to decide their own
destiny for themselves subject only to the const.
tuition of the United States.
The whole territorial question being then set.
tied upon the principle OF popular sovereignty-a
principle as ancient as free government itself
everything of practical nature has been decided.
No other question remains for adjustment; because
all agree that under the constitution, slavery In
| the States is beyond the reach Of any human pow
er 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
end, and that the geographical parties to which it
has given birth, sQ DREADED by the Father of his
| country will speedily become extinct Most happy
VIII it be for the country when the public mind
shall be diverted from this question TO others OF
mere pressing and prrctcal Importance. Through
out the whole progress of this agitation, which has
| scarcely known any intermission for more than
| twenty years whilst 1t - been productive of
no positive good to any human being, IL has been
the prolific 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 Union.
Nor has the danger yet entirely ceased Under
our system there is remedy for s!l mere political
evils in the sound sense and sober Judgment OF the
| people Time is . great corrective, Political
subjects which but few years ago excited and ex.
| asperated the public mind have passed away and
| are now nearly forgotten. But this question OF
Domestic slavery Ia of far graver importance than
any mere political question. beeause, should the