Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-03-19
Mr. 8ufbanull'5 snau9urul.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS,

fore 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
Office, ] must humbly invoke the
God of our Fathers for wisdom and
firmness to execute its high and re-.
sponsible duties in such manner as
to restore harmony and the ancient
friendship among the people of the
several States, and to preserve our
free institutions through many gen.
erations. Convinced that / owe my
election to the inherent love for
the Constitution and the Union which
still animates the hearts of the A
merlcan 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 be.
slowed upon any nation.
Having determined not to become
candidate for reelection, | shall
have no motive to influence my co.,
duct in administering the govern.
ment except 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 Presidential con-
test in which the passions of or fell
low citizens we're excited to the
highest degree by questions of deep
and vital importance, but when the
people proclaimed their will, the
tempest at once subsided, and all
was cain. The voice of the major
ity speaking in the manner prescri-
bed by the Constitution was heard,
and instant submission follows.
Our own country could alone have
exhibited so grand and striking
spectacle Of the capacity Of man for
self government. What happy
conception, then, was it for Congress
to apply this simple rule, that the
will of the majority shall govern the
settlement of the question of domes-
tic slavery in the Territories. Con-
gress 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 in
stitutions in their own way, subject
only to the Constitution Of the T.
nited States.
AS natural consequence, Con-
gress has also prescribed that when
the Territory Of Kansas shall be ad-
mitted as State, it shall be received
into the Union with or without slave
ry, as their Constitution may pre-
scribe at the time of their admission.
A different opinion has arisen in
reg rd to the time wien the people
of Territory shall decide this ques-.
ton for themselves This is happily
matter of but little practical i'm
portauce, and besides, it is judi
cial question, which legitimately be-
longs to the Supreme Court of the
United States, before whom it is now
pending, and viii! 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
been my individual opinion that un'
der the Nebraska Kansas act, the ap.
propriate. period will be when the
number of actual residents in the
; Territory shall justify the formation
of a Constitution with view to the
admission as State into the Union
but be this as it may, it is the i'm
peratiye and Indispensable duty o.
| the Government of the United States
to secure to every resident iDhabl
tant the free and independent expires
sion of his opinion by his vote
This sacred right Of each individua
must be preserved. This being &C
|, complished, nothing can be fairel
than to leave the people Of a Terri
tory free from all foreign influence
to decide their own destin5 for them
selves. subject only to the Constitu
ton of the United States.
The whole territorial question be
ing thus settled, upon the principl
of popular sovereignty, principt