The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1857-03-11
-esNAUetRAL ADpREss
JAS BUCHANAN.
President OCthe Uniicd states.
Dcl'r;rel IA BoeijagtoH Cas, .gaut I, Is57

Dd,rsrel IA WosijagioH Cfs Mark I, ls57
FEIow CiTHENs ~ appear before You this
day to k ihe solemn oath 'tint { Nill aiih-l
fully excrlic the Office Of PreSheut ofthc-li ni-
tel States, AMI will, to The lest nf my shilitv,
preserve, proisct and defend the Constitution of
the Cnitel States"
iuenseIlng upon this great Office, I must hum
blv invoke the God OF our fathers flr wisdom
and RrmneSs 10 execute It's hi.a ard lc,,sn,illy.
,lulias 10 ainlaner a. 70 restore harmony ani
ancient friendship among the people OF the sew
enil States, and to preserve our ice institution;
throughout many generations Cunviuccd that
| owe IN, election 10 the inherent love Tor the
Constitution and the Unioh which sill alnnateS
the hearts Of the AmJricn pcpple. let me ear.
nes,Iy ask tier powerful support in Sustain;nc
all irrst measures calculated to pelglctnalr these
the richest p0lnieal blessings which heaven has
ever bestowed upon nation. Having deter
minsd not to obeeOme a candidate iOr reelection.
sh III have no motive TO influence my conduct in
administering the government except the desire
ably and faithfully 20 serve my country. and to
live in the grateful memory Of my countrymen.
ANe have recently passed through preSiden-
tal contest in which th, passions of our fellow
citizens were excited to the highest degree by
q,t.suons Of deep and vital Importance; but
when the people proclaimed their will, the tenn
pSt at once subsidized and all was calm.
The voice OF the majority speaking in the
manner prescribed by the Constitution, was
heard and instant submission followed. Our
own country could alone have exhibited so grand
and striking spectacle of the capacity of man
for ,eitgoycrRment.
" hat happy conception, then, was it for
Congress- 10 apply this simple rule--that the
VIII of the majority shall goyern-to the settle
went OF tie question Of domestic slavery in the
territories. Congress is neither Ito legiSlatc
slavery into any Territory or State nor TO ex-
clpc il thcfe.iom; but TO leave the people there
Of re to lhrn and regulate their domestic in
sGtutonS in their own Eay, subject only to the
Constitution Of the United States" AS a nat
ural consequence, Congress has also prescribed
that when the Territory Of Kansas shall be ad
mitted as ii State it ''Shali be received into the
Union with or without slavery as their consti-
tuition may prescribe at the tine OF its admis-
SION
A different opinion has arisen in regard to the
port Of time when The people of a territory
shall decide The queS6ou for themselves. This
is,hlppily, matter of but little practical I'M
portanee Besides, it is judicial question
which legitimatoly belongs to the Supreme
Court Of the United States, before whom it is
now pending, and will, it is understood be spec
div and finally settled. 10 their decision, in
common with all good citiz.hs, slall cheerful
ly submit; Whatever tins may though it has ev-
or Been my individual opinion that under the
Nebraska hausas act the appropriate period will
be when the number of actual residents in the
territory shall justify the formation of consti-
with view TO its admission as State into the
Union. Eat be this as it may, it is the imper-
ative and indispensable duty OF the government
ofthe United States to secure to every resident
asa jnnGbitant the free and independent express
sion OF his opinion by his vote. This sacred
right must be preserved, That being accom-
phshed, nothing can be fairer than to leave the
people of territory free from all foreign inter-
renee, to decide their own destiny for them
selves, subject only to the constitution Of the
United States.
The whole territorial question being then set
tied upon the principle Of popular sovereignty
principle as an ancient as the government it.
sqIf--everything Of practical nature has been
decided. No other question remains for ad-
iu;tment; because all agree that, under the Con-
stitution, slavery in the States is beyond the
reich of any human power except that of the
respective States themselves wherein it exists
Nav W. not then, hope that the long agitation
the geographical parties 10 which it has giyer
blr,h, so 'eaded By the Father of his Country
Will speedily become extinct! Most happy vii
it be for the country when the public mind shall
be Inverted from this question to others of more
lressing and practical importance. Throughou
the whole progress OF this agitation, which ha
scarcely known any internssion for more thai
twenty years, whilst it has been productive Q
no positive good to any human being it ha
been the prolific source Of great evils to th
master, to the slave and the whole country.
has aiienated and estIauged the people of th
sister S Gtes rom each other and has even Sc
rinrsl endangered the very existence Of til
Un:ol.
Nor has the danger yet entirely ceased Ur
der our system there ia q remedy for all mer
political evils in the sound sense and sober judy
ment of the people. Time is a great corrective
Political subjects which but few years ago ex
cited and exasperated the public mind, hay
passed away and are now nearly forgotten Bu
this question Of domestic slavery is of far grea
er importance than any mere political question
because, should the agitation continue, it ma
eventually endanger the personal safety of
lar0e portion Of our countrvmen where the il
stitulion exists. In that event, no form Of goV
ernment however admirable in ITSELF and how
pate or The loss Of peace and pomestic securit
afou III thefamily alter. Let every Union-lo,
ing man, therefore, exert his best influence t
suppress this agitation, which, since the recer
legislation of CopgIess, is without any legit
mate object.
1t isan evil omen of the times that men hay
undert; ken to calculate the mere material valu
Of the Z Mon. Reasoned estimates have bee
Presented of the pecunary profits and local ad
Y%nsaees which would result to different State
and sections from its dissolution and Of tn
comparative injuries which such aneyent woul
iuhict. on other States and sections. Even de
scending to this low and narrow view ofth
,u ghty question, all such calculations are a
flult. The bare reference to a single considers
ton will be conclusive on this point. We a
present enjoy a free trade throughout orr eX
iensive ard expanding country, such as th
wo III lneeef witnessed. The trade is eondcute
OF ra irolls and canals-or noble rivers an
arms Of the sea--wlich bind together the Mort
and the South, the last and the West Of ou
conledsracy.
Annihilate this trade, arrest its free progres
by geographical lines OF jealous and hostll
s. ate and you destroy the prosperity fnl or
ward march ofthe whole and every part, an,
involve all in ono common ruin But such con
sdsrations important as they are in the .nselve
sink into insignihcance when reflect on the tel
rfi evils which would result from disunion I
every portion oil the confedeIacy--to the Mort
not mole than to the South, to the East nC
more than f0TIle West. These / shall not nj
tempt 10 portray bacau-e feel an humble cor
fdefce that the kind Providence which insp'ri
ouf fathers wisloin to frame the most periet
firm Of g0vefnmentand Union ever devised Il