Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-03-12
81 EE G A z z = = e
THE INAUGURATION.

The 4th of Marclswas gala day IN
Washington city. The crowd of people
Affected together to witness the Inaugural
t;bn of JAMES BUCHANAN was immense.
macs ana banners waved from all the
unbIic and many private houses on Penn
svlvania avenue. The procession got in
notion at II o'clock, m. A large number
of military companies and fire companies
were in the procession, as well as thousands
of private citizens, from all quarters.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
AFElIow CITIzENs.-I appear before you
this day to take the solemn oath that | will
faithfuilv execute the Office Of President of
The United States, and will, to the best of my
ability, preserve, protect and defend the
Constitutiun of the United States" In en-
tefing upon this great Office, | most humbiy
;nroke the God Of our Fathers for wisdom
aad frmness to execute its high and re-
rrnnsible duties in such manner as to re-
siora harmony and ancient friendship among
the neorle of the several States, and to pre-
serye our free institutions throughout many
generations. Convinced that owe my cleo
fian to the inherent love for the Constitution
and the Union, which still anlmates the
taearts of the American people, let me earn
estly ask their powerful support IN sustain
inp ali lust measures calculated to perpetuate
these, the richest political blessings which
Heaven has ever bestowed upon any nation.
Having determined not 20 become candl-
date for reelection, | shall have no motive
to Influence my conduct IN administering
the Government, except the desire, ably and
faith fully to serve my country, aud To live In
the grateful memory of my countrymen.-
We have recently passed through Prcsl-
dental contest in which the passions OF our
fellow citizens were excited to the highest
degree by questions Of deep and vital impor-
tarlce But when the people proclaimed their
viii. the tempest at once Subsided, and all
was calm. The voice Of the ma ajOrty, speak
ing in the manner prescribed by the Consti-
tution. was heard, and instant submission
,foilowed Oar own country could alone have
exhibited 50 grand and striking Il spectacle
Of the capacity Of man for self government.
What happy conception, then, was 1t for
Eongress to apply this simple rule, that the
viii Of the mrirrity shall govern, to the set
tleinent of the question of domestic slavery
an the ItTGlIUEIeN. COt5itoS &c HCttiIcL ~
lar slate slavery into any territory, nor to
exrlud. il ticrrirom, tut to leave the people
thereof nerf,ctlv free to form and regulate
fbeir domestic institutions in their own way,
soi,irct only to the Constitution Of the United
.Ssatcs. As a natural nsequence, Congress
l,as also prescribed that " hen the Territory
of Kansas shall be limited as State, it shall
lie received into the Union with or without
Siayery, as Their own Constitution may pre-
scribe ut the time Of their admission. \
different opinion has arisen in regard to the
noint of time when the people Of a territory
shall decide the question for themselves
This is happily q matter Of but little practi
cal Importance: besiies, it is a judicial guCs-
ton which legitimately belongs to the Su-
nreme Court Of the United States, before
whom it is now pending, aud Will, it is un-
derstnud, be speedily and finally settled. To
their decision, in common with all good citI-
zef<, | shall cherriu!ly submit, whatever this
may he; though II has ever been my IndI-
yidCHl opinion that, under the Nabra>ka-
Kansas act the appropriate period will be
when the number ui actual residents in the
Terrtory shall Justify the formation Of Il
Constitution with Il view to its admission Is
a State into the Union. Bat he this as it may
ii Is the imperative and in iiSPenSable duty
of the government of the Uuited States, to
SECURE to every resilient intah tant the free
and Indepcntent cx preston If his opinions
isy his vote. This sacred ri Lht If each i'll
dlyiduni must be preserve !. This beng ac
CON ;,.is;lrd, nothing can be farcr than to
leave the people Of IL Territory free from all
fsreign Interference. H. decide their own
destiny for themselves subject only to the
Cssnsti,utiun of the lifted States. The
Who territorial question icing tt.u, settled
apen the principle Vi popular Sogerei 5nty-
Il princire as ancient as free government
asself--everythinE Of frtctIeal nature has
beer dcciled. No other question remains
for adjustment; because all agree that, under
AIie Constitution, slavery III the States is be-
.yonl the reach Of any humau power, except
that Of tn" respective States themselves
wherein il exists. May we not, them hope
tina: the long agitation "u this subject is ap-
spFvaching its end. and that the geographical
parties to which it has given birth--sJ much
dreaded lv the Father OF his c0uRtry-wIll
+speediy become extinct? Most happy will
JIG be Tor the country when the public mind
shall be diverted from this question to others
Of more pressing and practical Importance.
Tlruug ghout the whole progress of this agita-
ton which has scarcely known any inter
mission for more than twenty years, whilst
i has been productive Of no positive good to
any human b ing, it has been the prolific
sure OF great evils to the master to the
siase, and to the whole country. 1t has
alienated and estranged the people of sister
State from each other, and has even seri-
0asly endangered the very existence Of the
UniUn Nor has that danger yet entirely
,ceaseI. Under our system there Is II remedy
for all mere political evils in the sound sense
and sober judgement Of the people. Time
isa great corrective Political subjects which,
but a few years ago, excited and exasperated
the puJlc mind, have passed away and are
now nearly forgotten. Bat the question Of
domestic slavery is of far more greater i'm
portance than any mere political question,
becau should the agitation continue, it may
eventually endangcr the personal safety of
large portion Of our cuantrymen where the