The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-03-20
PRESIDENT BUCHANAN'S INAUGU.
RAJ ADDRESS.
FELLOW C1T1zENs:-

Il ELLOW ClTlLENS.-
Iappear before you this day to take the
solemn oath that l will faithfully execute
the office of President ofthe United States
In entering upon this great Office mos,
humbly invoke the God of our Fathers
for wisdom and tirmness to execute its
high and responsible duties in such man.
ner as to restore the harmony and the an.
cient friendship among the people of the
several States, and to preserve our free
institutions throughout many generations.
Convinced that owe my election to the
love for the Constitution and the
Union which still animates the hearts OF
the American people, letme earnestly ask
their powerful support in sustaining all
just measures calculated to perpetuate
there the richest blessings which Heaven
has ever bestowed upon any nation.
Having determined not to become can
dida:e for reelection, shall have no mo-
tive to influence my conduct in admins
tering the government, except the desire
10 ably and faithfully 20 serve my country
and to live in the grateful memory ofmy
countrymen. ....s
We have recently passed through Pres.
idenia contest in which the passions OF
our fellow citizens were excited to the
highest degree by questions of deep and vi.
tai importance but when the people pro.
claimed their will the tempest at once
subsidized and all was calm. The voice oI
the majority speaking in the manner pre-.
scribed by the constitution, was heard
and instant submission followed. Our
own country could alone have exhibited
so grand and striking spectacle>of the
of man for self-government.
What happy connection, then, was il
for Congress to apply this simple rule
that the will of the majority shall govern
to the settlement of the question of do.
mestic slavery in the Territories. Con.
yress is neither to legislate slavery into
any Territory or State, nor to exclude i,
therefrom, but to leave the people thereof
perfectly free to form and regulate tEeil
domestic Institutions in their own way,
subject only to the constitution of the Uni.
ted States. AS natural consequence
Congress has also prescribed that wher
the Territory of Kansas shall be admit.
ted as a State, it shall be received into
the Union with or without slavery,as theil
constitution may prescribe at the time O
their admission. A different opinion
has arisen in regard to the time when tie
people of the Territory shall decide this
question for themselves. This is kappi
ly, a matter of but little importance, an,
besides it is a judicial question, which IL
ultimately belongs to the Supreme Cour
Of the United Safes. before whom it il
now pending, and will, it is understood
be speedily and finally settled. To thei
decision, in common with all good citizens
! shall cheerlully submit, whatever tEi:
may be, though it has been my individu
al opinion tina! under the Nebraska Kansa:
acs the appropriate period will be whel
the number OF actual residents in he Ter
ritory shall justify the formation of a con
stitu ion with view to its admission as
State into the Union; but be this as ma,
j. is the imperative and indispensable du
ty of the government of the United States
to secure to every resident inhabi;ant the
free and independent expression of his
opinion by his vote. This sacred right o
each individual must be preserved This
being accomplished, nothing can be iai'el
than to leave the people Of Il Territory
free from all foreis sn interference, to de
eide their own destiny for themselves, sub
ject only to the constitution of The United
States. The whole Territorial question
being thus settled upon the principle o.
popular sovereignty-a principle as an
Gent as free government ilsel.-every
thing ola practical nature Las been deci
ded, and no otEer question remains Tor al
jus. ment, beca. Sc all agree shat under tie
constitution, slavery in the States is be
yond the reach of any human power ex
cept that Of the respective States them
selves wherein it exists. May we not
then, hope that the long agitation on thi:
subject is approaching its end, and tha
the aphical parties to which it la:
gi,ei, birth so much dreaded by the Faith
er of his country will speedily become ex
sinct ? Most happy will it be for the
country when the public mind shall be di
verted from this question to others 0
more pressing and practic:l Importance
Throughout the whole progress Of this az
i.ation, which has scarcely known any in
termissien for more than twenty years
whilst it has been productive Of no posi-
tive good to any human being it . as bee,
the prolific source Of great evils'to the mas
ter, to the slave, and to the whole coun
try; it.has alienated and estranged the peo
Pile of the sister States from each other
and has even seriously endangered th'
very existence of the Union, nor has tn,
danger yet entirely ceased.
Under our system there is remed,
for all mere political evils, iii the sount
sense and sober judgment of the people
Time is a great corrective. The politica
subjects which but Il few years ago excit
ed and exasperatcd the public mind, hav
passed away, and are now nearly forgot
ten, but this question of domestic SLAYER,
is of far greater Importance than any mer,
political question because, should th'
agitation continue, i. may eventually en-
danger the personal safety of a large por
tion of our country where the institution
exists. In that event no form of govern
=