Minnesota weekly times., 1857-03-21
5fliuseeseta Giaes,

I'll :
! aPnEsIDENT RUCHANAN,s
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
{, FEtlow CIrIzsss :-Iappear before you this day
10 take the solemn oath that will faithfully ex,
ecute the Office Of President Of the United States,
and will to the best Of my ability, preserve, pro1
tsct and defend che Constitution Of the United
States. In entering upon this great Office, Unjust
humbly invoke the God of our fathers for wisdom
and 6rmness to execute its high and responsible
duties in such o manner as tv restore harmony
and the ancient friendship among the people Of
the several States, and to preserve our free IN
stitutions throughout many generations. Con-
vinced that owe my election to the inherent love
for the Constitution and the Union which still
animates the hearts Of the American People, let
me earnestly ask their powerful support in sus-
tanning all just measures, calculated to perpetu.
ate these, the richest political blessings which
Heaven has ever bestowed upon any nation
Having determined not to become candidate for
reelection. ] shall have no motive to influence
my conduct in administering the Government ex-
cept the desire ably and faithfully to serve my
country. and to live in the grateful memory OF
my countrymep. 'n .,.iss.- 10 ias.
We have recently passed through Presiden-
tial contest, in which the passions 1t our fellow.
questions OF deep and vital ~portance, but
when the people proclaimed their viii, the tenn
pest at once subsided and all was calm. The
voice Of the majority, speaking in the manner
prescribed by the Constitution, vas heard, and
instant submission followed. Our own country
could alone have exhibited 90 grand and striking
spectacle Of the capacity Of man for self gov
eminent. What happy conception, then, was
it for cSngre:. to apply this simple rule, tha. the
OF the question of Domestic Slavery in the Terri
tories. Congress is neither to legislate Slavery
into any Territory or State, nor to exclude it
thsrefrom, bnt to leave the people thereof per-
fectly free to form and regulate their domestic
institutions in their own way, subject only to the
Constitution of the United States AZ q natural
consequence. Congress has also prescribed that
rs u State, it shall be admitted into the Union
with or without Slavery, as their Constitution
may prescribe at the time OF their admission.
A different opinion has arisen in regard to the
time when the people of Territory shall decide
this question for themselves. This is happily a
matter of but little practical Importance, and be-
sides, it is Judicial question which legitimately
belongs to the Supreme Court of the, United
States, before whom lis now pending, and will,
it is understood, be speedily and finally settled.
To their decision, in common with all good citi.
sens, shall cheerfully submit, whatever this may
be, though it has been my individual opinion that
under the Nebraska Kansas act, the appropriate
period when the number of actual residents in the
territories shall justify the formation of q Con-
stitution with q view to its admission as State
into the Union. But, be this as it may, it 10 the
imperative and indispensable duty Of the Govern
ment of the United States to accrue to everv res.
ident inhabitant the free and independent express
sion Of his opinion By his vote. This sacsed right
Of each individual must be preserved. This be-
ing accomplished, nothing oan be fairer than to
leave the people of territory free from all for
sign interference to decide their own destiny for
themselves, subject only to the Constitution Of
the United States. The whole territorial ques.
tion being thus settled upon the principle Of pop
ular sovereignty--a principle as ancient Is free
government itself-evsrything of q practical ma
tule has been decided, and no other question re-
mains for adjustment, because al agree that un.
der the Constitution 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
on this subject is approaching its end, and that
the geographical parties to (Which it has given
birth, SO much dreaded by the. Father of his
Country, will speedily become extinct. Most
happy will it be for the country when the public
MINI shall be diverted from this question to 9TH
ers of more pressing and practical Importance
Throughout the whole progress of this agitation,
which has scarcely known nny intermission fol
more than twenty years, while it has been pro-
ductve 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
it has alenated and estranged the people of the
sister States from each other, and has seriously
endangered the very existence of the Union. MOI
has the danger yet entirely ceased. Under our
system there is = remedy for all mere political
evils in the sound sense and sober Judgment ol
the people. Time is great corrective. The po.
itical subjects which but few years ago exas.
perated the public mind, have passed away, and
are now nearly forgotten; but this question oi
than any mere political question, because, should
the agitation continue, it may eventually endan-
ger the personal safety of u large portion of ouI
countrymen where the institution exists. In thai
event, no form of government, however product
i've of material benefits, can compensate for the
loss Of peace and domestic security around ths
family altar. Let every Union. loving man, there
fore, exert bis best influence to suppress this sg
tation, which, since the recent legislation of Con
gress. is without any legitimate object. It Is al
evil of the times that men have undertaken Il
calculate the nero material value Of the Union
Reasoned estimates have been presented Of th
pecuniary profits and local advantages whicl
would result to different States and sections from
its dissolution, and Of the comparative ipjurie
which such an event would inHict on other State
and sections. Even descending TO- this low AM
narrow view Of the mighty question, all such cal
culations are at fault. The bare reference to
single confederation will be conclusive on thi
point. 10 :: r!sERa - 1IIaI
Weat present enjoy free trade throughout on
extensive and expansive county, such % th
world never Witnessed This tTrde 10 conducte
on railroads and canals, on noble rivers and arm
of the sea, which bind together the North an
the South, the East and the West Of our confed
eracy. Anpihilate this trade. arrest its free prog
ress, BY the geographical lines Of jealous and hos
tile States, and You destroy the prosperity an
onward march Of the whole and every part, an
involve all in one common ruin.
But such considerations, important % they Al
in themselves, sink into insigni6cance when "
reflect on the evils which would result from di,
union to every portion Of the confederacy- th
North not more than to the South, to the Ea,
not more than to the West. These shall mot o,
tempt to portray, because feel an humble conf
dcnce that the kind Providence which inspire
our fathers with wisdom to frame the most pei
feet form Of government and union ever devise
by man, will not suffer it to perish until 1t Sha
have been peacefully instrumental, by its exam
pie, in the extension Of civil and religious libert
throughout the world. - - -
Next in importanoe to the, maintenance of th
Constitution and the Onion is the duty Of pre
serving the Government free from the taint q
even the suspiciou of corruption. Public virtu
is the vital spirit ct Rebublcs, and history prove
that when this has decayed and the love Of NOR
ey has usurped its place, although the forms q
free governments may remain for season, th
substance has departed forever. Our present
nnnoial condition 10 without parallel In histor,
No nation has ever before been embarrassed froii