Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-03-13
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
or tho President OF the United States,
March &, 1857.

E4LL0W i Ntpook
this day q, take the solemn oath that !
will faithfully execute the office OF the
President OF :he United Safes. and will.
TO the best of my ability. preserve, pro,
teot. and defend the constitution OF the
United States"
In entering upon this great office. l
must humbly Invoke the God OF our Ia
ahSfszfor wisdom and drmuess TO execute
,ts high aud responsible duties in such
manner as to restore harmony and ancient
friendship among The people OF the seye-
raj states, and to preserve our free insti~
Il tutions throughout many generations
riCohvinced that owe my election
IN TO the inherent love for the consti'
sqtntion and the Union which still ami
mates she hearts of the American PEG.
pile, let me- earnestly ask their powerful
support in sustaining all just measures
calculated to perpetuate these. the richest
political blessings which Heaven has ever
bestowed upon any nation. Having de.
3iternined not to become candidate for
s.rs-elecion. shall have no motive toIndu'
ence mr. conduct iu administering the gov
ernmsnt except the desire ably and faith
fully to serve nv country, and TO live IN
the grateful memory OF my counerymen.
1--WE have recently passed through
presidential 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 tempest at
once subsidized. and all was calm.
-a The voice Of the majority. speaking in
the manner prescribed by the constitution,
S-eS1V fall
cd. Our own country could alone have
exhibited so grand and striking aspecta-
Gle OF the capacity Of man for self.gov-
.ernmenI.
What happy conception. then, was il
for Congress to apply this simple rule
-thst3the will OF the majority shall govern
to the settlement of the question OF do
nlestic slavery in the Territories Con-
lRress is neither "to legisla:e slavery into
any Territory or State nor to exclude il
ftherefrom but to leave the people there
of perfectly free to form and regulate
their domestic institutions in their own
way, subject only to the constitution OF
tho United States" AS natural conse-
.quence, Congress has. also. prescribed
that when the Territory Of Kansas shall
be admitted as State, it "shall be re-
,seiTed into the Union. with or without
slavery, as their constitution may pre-
scribe at the time Of their admission"
g8s A difference of opinion has arisen in re.
gard to the point Of time when the people
Of Territory shall decide this question
for themselves.
a-sThis is. happily. matter Of but little
practical Importance. Besides, it is ia
deal question. which. legitimately belongs
to9EtKe Supreme Court of the United
States. before whom it is now pending
and will, tits understood, be speedily and
'dnalIy settled. To their decision. in com
mon With all good citizens. shall cheer
fully submit, whatever this may be
though it has ever been my individual
.upiaior that, under the Nebraska, Kansas
act, the appropriate period will be wher
the number Of actual residents in thu
Territory shall Justify the formation of
constitution with view to its admission
asa State into the Union. But be this a
IL may. il is the imperative and indiSpen
aablesduty Of the government Of the Uni
ted States TO secure to every resident in
hEbitaat the free and independent ex
preston of his opinion by his vote. Thi
Sacred right Of each individual must b
preserved. That being accomplished
nothing can be fairer than to leave tn
people Of a Tcrritosy free from all foreig
Interference. 10 decide their own destin
for themselves, subject only 10 the con
stitution Of the United States. -
1.-The whole territorial question bein
thus settled upon the principle of popula
Eovereignty-a principle as ancient as FIRE
government itself-everything of prat
teal nature has been decided. No othe
question remains for adjustment be
cause all agree that, under the constitr
ton, slavery in the States is beyond th
reach Of any human power, except thf
ofthe respective States themselves where
IN it exists. May we not. then. hop
that the long agitation on this subject
approaching its end. and that the gee
graphical parties to which it has give
birth. SO much dreaded by the Father {
his Country. will speedily become extinct
Most happy will it be for the countr
when the public mind shall be civerte
from this question to others Of more press
ing and practical Importance. Through
out the whole progress OF this agitation
which has scarcely known any intermis
sion for more than twenty years. whilst
has been productive Of NO positive goo
to any human being. it has been the pro
li6c source OF great evils % the master. t
the slave. and 10 the whole country. !
has alienated aud estranged the peopl
Of the sister States from each other. ant
has even seriously endangered the YER
existence Of The Union. Nor has th
danger yet entirely ceased. Under on
syssem. there is remedy for al mere pc
li.ical evils in the sound sense and sobe
Judgment of the people. Time is grea
corrective. Political subjects which Blu