The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-03-19
The Inaugural Address.


The Inaugural Address.
Mr.. Buchanan's Inaugural Address is on the
whole a very well written document, but for
anght we can see, would do about as well for
Fourth of July Grafton as it does for an In
augural. II has the same old story which we
have all heard thousand times, about the ca :
pacity of the people for self government, and
that style of talk, which is all very true and
all well enough, but still does not serve to dis
tinguish an Inaugural Address.
There are two points in the Address which
are worthy of particular notice. One Is Mr..
Bachanan's declaration that'he will not be a
candidate for re-elec ton, and consequently he
can perform his duties with more freedom, or
something to that amount. We imagine tina,
this was rather a hit at the retiring President
who has been VIGOROUSLY shaping his whole
official course with a view of receiving the
nomination Of his Party for second Term.
If intended as a rebuke to Mr.. Pierce it was
deserved and well directed But however that
NAV ne, Mr.. Bnchanan's solemn declaration
IN his Inaugural, that he will not be candi-
date for Second Term is very important one,
and we sincerity hope that he may, unlike his
predecessor, regard his promise, and make no
effort to secure q. second election. We cannot
expect an Administration to be useful or
ever an innocent one, when it aims, not a.
the good of the Country, but rather to secure
its own continuance IN power. On this point
then there is a prospect that Mr.. Buchanan
will introduce change for the better.
But the most important feature Of the Ad-
dress, are the views which it expresses on the
great question at issue in reference to Slavery.
As nearly as we can make out, Mr.. Buchanan
has not only abandoned his former opinion,
that Congress has the power to prohibit Slave
ny in the Territories, but he has gone clear
over to the extreme Southern view of the ques-
ton, without ever stopping to rest at squatter
sovereignty. He says that the decision Of the
question as to whether or not slavery shall be
prohib tied rests with the people of Territory,
but he says there is a difference Of opinion as
to when they shall exercise this right, but
that in his opinion it is when the Territory be-
comes State and adopts State Constitution.
It must be admitted now that Squatter Sow
ereignty is defunct humbug It was only
gotten up to tickle the fancies VI those Dem
ocrais, who are more ardent than circumspect,
who rely implicitly upon anything which goes
by the name Democracy and never bother
themselves to find out whether it is really Dem.
ocratic or not. 1t has served its day, it has
helped to elect President and now thai
President gives it last kick and knocks
out the last breath Of life it had in it's body.
Reqniescat in pace.
This is the position which Mr.. Buchanan
occupies on the question Of Slavery extension.
Congress has not the right to prohibit Slavery
in the Territories nor have the people Of the
Territories the right to do so, it can only be
done when they come to form State Consti-
tuition. This gives slavery complete chance
to become established as fully as the time
win allow which II requires FOR a Territory to
acquire a sufficient population to entitle it to
admission into the Union as State. II may
60 wherever it pieases, and do whatever il
pleases when it gets there. Holding these
views Of the question, Mr.. Buchanan could
very well say that he W ,uld ckeerfully abide
by the decision Of the Supreme Court. Well,
the Supreme Court or rather the Slaveholding
majority Of II, have decided that the Constitu-
ton recognizes property in slaves, that con
seqnently slavery is national, and that II can
not by any power be prohibited in the Terito-
ries, aud also that If STAKEHOLDER takes his
slaves into free State the laws Of that State
do not operate to make them free. We imagine
that this doctrine expressed by Mr.. Buchanan,
together with the decision of the Supreme
Court Of the U. S. will waken up some Of
those who have such an adherence Of agitation
to sense Of the danger which awaits them
and the whole Country.
Otherwise than on these two points there is
nothing in the Address which Is worthy Of
especial condemnation or approval. How
ever, on this and all other points our readers
can Judge for themselves. The Address will
be found on our first page. q IT'S
CO The immaculate Eads, has been re-