Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-03-12

md Holy Ghost. Sc No drunkard can inherit c
the kingdom of HoaYen," and l should think |
no drunkard maker. REF0RMER.
The Inaugural Address. a..
FRLLow CITIZENS ~ appear before you thls
doy 10 take the solemn oath I" that will faith |
fuilv execute the office of President Of the United
states. and will, to the best of my ability, pre-
serve. protect and defend the Constitution oil
the United States" In entering upon this great
office. most humbly invoke the God OF our
Fathers for wisdom and frmness to execute Its
high and responsible duties in such manner us
to restore harmony and ancient friendship among
the people Of the several States, ana 10 preserve
our reeinstitutions throughout many generations.
Convinced that owe my election to the inherent
lave for the Constitution and the Union, which
still animates the hearts 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 on any nation.
Having determined not to become a candidate
for re- election shall have motive to influence
my conduct in administering the Government,
except the desire, ably and faithfully to serSe my
country, and to live in tue grateful memory OF
my countrymen.
We have recently passed through Presder-
tnl contest in which the passions OF our fellow
citizens were excited to the highest degree by
questions of deep and vital Importance. But
| when the people proclaimed their will the tenn
| pest at once subsidized, aud all was calm. The
| voice Of the majority, speaking in the manner
prescribed by the Constitution, was heard, and
| instant submission followed. Our own cot ntry
could alone have exhibited so grand and strik-
ing spectacle of the capacity Of man for self
| government What II happy conception then,
was it for Congress to apply this simple rule,
that the will Of the majority shall govern" to
the settlement of the question Of domestic sla-
very in the territories. Congress IS neither . to
legislate slavery into any territory, nor to ex-
clude it therefrom," but to leave the people
thereof Serfecty free to form and regulate their
domestic institutions in their own way, subject
only TO the Constitution Of the United States
As a natural consequence, Congress has also pre-
scribed that when the territory Of Kansas shall
be admitted as State, it shall bo received into
the Union with or without slavery, as their own
Constitution may prescribe at tho time of their
admission.
different opinion has arisen i'll regard to the
point of time when the people Of n territory shall
decide the question for themselves. This is
happily matter of but little practical import
ance; besides it is judicial question which le-
ultimately belongs to the Supreme Court Of the
U, States before whom it IL now pending, and
will it is understood be speedily and finally set
tied. 10 their decision, in common with all good
citizens, | shall cheerfully submit, whatever
this may be, though il has ever been my indi-
yidual opinion that, under the Nebraska Kansas
act, the appropriate period will be when the
number Of actual residents in the Territory
shall justify the formation of Constitution with
u view to its admission as State into the Union.
But be this as it may, it is the imperative and
indispensable 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 preserved. This 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 Constitution oil
the United States The whole Territorial cues
, ton being thus settled upon the principle ofPop-
, uer Sovereignty principle as ancient as free
government itself-eyery thing Of practica
nature has been decided
: No other question remains for adjustment, be
cause all agree that, under the Constitution
i slavery in the States is beyond the reach Of any
f human power except that Of the resp ctiye Sat
n themselves wherein it exists May we not, then
Ii hope that the long agitation on this subject j
o approaching its end, and that the geographica
t parties to which it has given birth-so muc
t. dreaded by the Father his Countrywide speed
If lily become extinctf Most happy will it be 70
in the country when the public mind shall be di
D. verified from this question to others OF more press
is ing and practical Importance. Throughout til
in whole progress of this agitation which has scarc
O. ly known any intermis4ion for more than twent
I'd years, whilst it has been productive Of no pos
h, tive good to any human being, it has been pr
al life source of great evils to the master, to IL
Ii slave and to the whole country 1t has alternate
IT. and estranged the people of sister States fro
is each other, and has even seriously eniangert
lal the very existence Of the Union. Nor has Il
re danger yet entirely ceased. Under our systt
I'M there is remedy for all mere political evils
tut the sound sense AMI sober judgement of the pc
Ter pie Time is great corrective Political gu
ne jects which, but few years ago, excited al
me exasperated the public mind, have passed ava
Az and are now nearly forgotten. But the questi
Is of domestic Slavery is of far greater importan
DC than mere political questions because should
agitation continue it may eventually endane
OF personal safety of large portion of our count
VI men where the institution exists In that eve
81 81 no form Of government, however admirable
- itself, however productive of material benet
.,' can compensate for the loss of peace and dom
W. tic security around the family altar Let eve
~ Union-loving man, therefore, exert his best
"a fuence to suppress this agitation, which, sil
%, the recent legislation of Congress, is without
~ legitimate object It'll an evil omen of the tin
l.; that men have undertaken to calculate the m
ra- material value of the Union, reasoned estima
ino have been presented of the pecuniary profits
of local advantages which would result to differ
ond States and sections froTa its dissolution, and
nv the comparative injuries which such an ev
vcd would intlict on other States and sections. Il
esn descending to this low and narrow view Of
and mighty question: all such calculations are at fl
lble the bare reference to single considerat
reat will be conclusive on this point. We at pres
nee enjoy free trade throughout our extensive
lold expanding country such as the world never
our messed. This trade is conducted on railroads
ONE Canals on noble rivers and arms of the sea, wi
high bind them together the North and the South,
ably Fast and the West OF our COntederacy' A
up hilate this trade arrest its free progress by
ter geographical lines of jealous and hostile Sta
% of and you destroy the prosperity and onH
not march Of the whole and every part, and Inv
lnts. all in one common ruin. But such consderati
ney- important as they are in themselves, sink
!, we insignifcance, when we reflect oil the ter
I the evils which would result from disunon to e.
N in portion Of the confeleracy. To the North
his more than to the South-to the Fast not i
tlord than 10 the West These | shall not attemI
ware portray, because feel an humble confidence
be, the kind Providence which inspired our fat
with wisdom TO frame the most perfect for
Government and Union ever devised by man,
not suffer it to perish, until it shall have
peacefully instrumental by its example, in
u. extension of civil and religious liberty thro
a re- out the world.
ong Next IN Importance TO the maintenance o.
l. To Constitution and the Union is the duty of
serving the Government free from the tai
o the even the suspicion Of corruption. Public vi
gy,) is the vital spirit Of Republics and history pi
&c. that when this has decayed, and the lo'
wish money has usurped its place, although the {
! are Of free Government may remain for season
substance has departed forever.