Arkansas intelligencer., 1857-03-27
Inaugural Address.

| the United States-and will to the best ofmy
ability preserve, protect and defend the con
stitution Of the United States. In entering
upon this great office, most humbly invoke
the God of our Fathers for wisdom and firm
ness to execute its high and responsible du-
ties in such maner as to restore harmony and
the ancient friendship among the people of
| several States aud 10 preserve our free insti-
tutions throughout many generations. Con.
vinced that | owe my election TO the inherent
love for the constitution and the Union which
still anifnates the hearts Of the American
| people, let me earnestly ask their powerful
support in sustaining all just meaaures calcu
lated TO perpetuate these, the richest political
blessings which Heaven has ever bestowed
upon any nation.
Having determined not TO become candi.
date for re-electiod, | shall have no motive TO
Influence my conduct in administering the
government except the desire ably and faith
fully to serve my country, and 10 hive in the
Greateful memory of my countrymen. 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 subeided and all was calm.
The voice Of the majority speaking in the
manner prescribed by the constitution Was
heard, and instant submission follows
Ourown country could alone have exhibetcd
so grand and striking Il spectacle of the ca
Paclty OF man for self government What
happy conception, then, was ii for Congress t.
apply this simple rule, that the will of the
. majority shall govern in the settemeur of the.
question of domestic slavery in the Territories.
Congress Is neither to Iegisate slavery into
any Territory or State, nor TO exclude 1t thereof
I perfectly free to form and regulate their do
mestic institutions in their own way, subject
only to the constitution of the United States.
As natural consequence, Congress has
also prescribed that when the Territory Of
| Kansas shall be admitted "A State it Shall
. be received into the Union with or without
slavery, as their constitution may prescribe at
| the time of their admission.
A different opion has arisen in regard to
the time when the people of territory shall
decide this question for themselves. This is
happily practical matter OF but little impor-
tance, and btsdes it is a Judicial question
which legitamatey belongs to the Supreme
Court of the United States, before whom it is
now pending, and will, it is understood, be
speedily and finally settled. TO their decision
cheerfuly submit, whatever this NAV te.
though it has been my individual opion that
undeI the Nebraska k,n>as act, the appropri
ate period will be when the number OF actual
residents in the territory shall Justify the for
nation of a constitution with a view to its
admission into the Union; but be this as it
may it is the Imperative and indispensable
duty of the government the United States
. Z to tn b.b IL.
free and independent expression of his opin-
ion by his vote. The sacred right Of each
individual must be preserved. This being
accomplished, nothing can be fiiler than to
leave the people of territory free from all
foreign influence, to decide their own desti-
ny for themselves, subject only to the con-
stitution of the United States.
The whole territorial question being thus
settled, upon the principle Of popular sover-
gnty, principle ancient as free govern
ment itself, everything OF a practical value
has been decided and no other question re
mains for adJ Ju>tmeut, because all agree that
under the constitution slavery in the States is
beyond the reach Of any human power except
that OF the respective States themselves where
TT exists May not then hope that the
l2ng agitation on this subject is approaching
its>end, and that the geographical parties TO
which~lt has given birth, so much dreaded
10y the Father Of his country, speedily become
extinct? Most happy will it be for the coun-
try when the public mind shall he diverted
from this question to Others of more lressin.
IA practical importance.
Throughout the whole progress Of this agI
tation which has scarcely known any iuteI-
mission for twenty wears, while il has been
e Il
being, it has been the prolific source Of great
evils to the master, To the slave anl to the
whole country. 1t has alienated aud cstran-
ged the people of the sister States from each
other, and endangered the very ,x;>t,nce Of
the Union, nor has the danger vet entirely
ceased. Under our system there is "A remedy
for all mere political evils in the sound -~n-r
and sober judgement of the people. Time is
great correctiue.
The political subjects which but few years
ago excited and exasperated the public mind,
have passed away and are now nearly forgot
ten. But this question of domestic slavery
Is of far greater Importance than any mere
political question, because, should the agita-
ton continue, it may eventually endanger the
personal safety Of large portion of our coun-
trymen whore the institution exists. In that
event no form OF government, however, al
mirable in itself-however productive of ma
teria benefts-can compensate for the loss
of peace and domestic security around the
family altar. Let every Union loving man,
therefore, exert his best influence to suppress
the agitation which, since the recent legisla-
ton of Congress, is without any legitimate
effect. 1t is evil of the times that men
have undertaken to calculate the mere mate
rial value of the Union.
Recent estimates have been presented of
the pecuniary profits and local advantages
which would resul: 10 different States and