Volcano weekly ledger., 1857-04-04
Inaugural Address.

the united states, and VIII, 10 the DeSO OF
my ability, preserve, protect and defend the
Constitution Of 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 as to re-
store harmony and the ancient friendship
among the people of the several States, and
to preserve our free institutions throughout
many generations.
Convinced that I owe my election to the
inherent love of the Constitution and the Un-
ion which still animates the hearts of the
American people-let me earnestly ask their
support in sustaining all just measures cal
culated to perpetuate the richest political
blessing which Heaven ever bestowed upon
any nation Having determined not to be-
come a candidate for reelection, | shall have
no motive to influence my conduct in admin
istering the government except the desire
ably and faithfully to serve my country and
to live in the grateful memory of my country
men.
We have recently passed through Presi-
dental contest, in which the passions of our
feoweitizens were excited to the highest
degree by questions of deep and vital impor
tance But when the people proclaimed
their will, the tempest at once subslded and
all was calm The voice of the majority
speaking in the manner prescribed by the
Constitution was heard, and instant submis-
sion followed Our own country could alone
have exhibited so grand and striking spec
tace of the capacity of man for self-goveTn-
ment. What happy conception, then, was
it for Congress to apply this simple rule, that
the will of the majority shall govern the set
tlement of the question of domestic slavery
in the Territories
Congress is neither to legisate slavery in
to any Territories or State, or to exclude it
therefrom, but to leave their domestic inst-
tutions in their own way, subject only to the
Constitution of the United States AS nt =
tural consequence, Congress has also prescrib-
ed that when the Territory of Kansas shall
be admitted as a State, it shall be received
into the Uuion with or without slavery, as
the 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 the question them
selves This is happily matter Of but little
importance, and, besides, is a judicial ques-
ton which legitimately belongs to the Su-
preme Court of the United States, before
whom it is now pending, and will, it is under
stood, be speedily 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. under the Kansas Nebraska Act the
appropriate period will be when the number
of actual residents in the Territories shall
4 e. = tl,o Of with
view to its admission as a State into the
Union But be this as it may, it is the inn
perativc duty of the Government Of the
United States to secure to every resident in
habtant the free and independent expression
of his opinion by his vote. This sacred
right of each individual must be preserved
and 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 Of the United States
The whole Territorial question being thus set
tied, upon the principles of popular sover-
eignty-a principle as ancient as free govern
ment itself-eyerything of practical nature
has been decided, and no other question re-
mains for adjustment, because all agree that
under the Constitution, slavery in the States
is beyond the reach of any human power ex-
cept that of the respective States themselves,
where it exists.
May we not then hope that the long agi-
tation on this subject is approaching its end
and that the geographical parties to which it
has given birth, so much dreaded by the fa-
ther of his country, will speedily become ex-
tinct Most happy will it be for the country
when the public mind shall be diverted from
this question to Others of more pressing and
practical Importance Throughout the whole
progress of this agitation which has scarcely
known any intermission for more than twen-
ty years, while it has been productive of no
positive good to any human being, it has
been the prolific source Of great evils to the
master, to the slaves, and the whole country,
and the whole country has alienated and es-
tranged the people Of the sister States from
each other This even seriously endangered
the very existence of the Union, nor has the
danger yet entirely ceased. Under our sys-
TEN, there is remedy for all mere political
evils in the sound sense and sober judgment
of the people Time is a great corrective
The political subjects which but few years
ago exasperated the public mind, have pass
ed away, and are now nearly forgotten. But
this question of domestic slavery is of far
greater Importance than any mere political
question, because should the agitation contin-
ue, it may eventually endanger the personal
safety of a large portion of our countrymen
where the institution exists. In that event.
no form of government however productive
of material benefits, can compensate for the
loss of peace and domestic security around