Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-03-07
Tur,S,vGr..L Address.

STATES.
serve. protect aad defend the Constitution Vi ~
United States.
In entering upon this great office, l must mum
bly, invoke the God at our fathers tor wisdom
and frinnpss to execute its high and responsible
duties in manner a. 10 restore harmony ana an
cent friendship among the people ct the SEVERN
States and !, preserve our free institutions
tlroup hut many generations. Convinced thhtS
| owe my election to the inherent love Tor Inc
constitution and the onion which still aninates
the hearts nf the American people, let me ear
ne-tly ak their powerful support IN sustaining
al Just measures calculated to pefpetuate these
the richest political blessings which Heaven has
ever bestowed upon nation. Having detefmi-
ned not 10 become candidate for re-electioh'
shall have motive 10 influence my conduct III
administering the government except the desire
ably aud faithfully to serve my country, ana TO
live in the grateful memory otmy counirymen.
We have recently passed through "A preslden-
tal contest in which the passions Of eur fellow
citizens were excited 10 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.
The voice of the majority, speaking in the
manner prescribed by the CONSTITUTE on, was
heard. and instant submission followed. Oar
own country could alone have exhibited grand
aud striking a spectacle Of the capacity of man
for self government.
w nat II hhppyl conception, inPH, WIS IL ioi
Congress to apply this simple rule-that the will
ofth majority shall goyern-to the settlement of
the question of domestic slavery in the terrific
res. Congress is neither to legislate slavery In
10 my territory or State nor TO exclude 1t there
from: but TO leave the people thereof perfectly
free to form and regulate their domestic institu-
tons in their own way, subject only to the CON
stituton of the United States. As natural con-
sequence, Congress has also prescribed that when
the Territory Of Kansas shall be admitted
State. it .shall be received into the Union with
or without slavery, as their constitution may
prescribe at the time of their admission
different opinion has arisen in regard to the
point Of time when the people of territory SHALL
decide the question for themselves.
This Is happily matter of but little practical
importance. Besides it is a judicial question
which iegitmately belongs to the Supreme Court
of the United States before whom i, is now pend
ing, and will it is understood, be speedily and fl
nally settled. To their decision. in common with
all good cidzens,l shall cheertully submit; what
ever this may be, though it has ever been my in
di,idual opinion that under the Nebraska Kan
act the appropriate period will be when the
number of actual residents in the territory shall
Justify the formation of constitution with
view to its admission a State into the Union
But be this as it may, it is the imperative and
Indispensable duty of the government of the Uni
ted States to secure to every resident inhabitant
the free and Independent expression OF his opin
ion by his vote. This sacred right of each indl-
vdual must be preserved. That being accom-
pli-hcd, nothing can be faircr than to leave the
people of a territory, free from all foreign inter
ference 10 decide their own destiny for them
selves, subject only to the constitution Of the L.
nted States.
The whole territorial question being then set
tied upon the principle of popular Sovereignty
principle as ancient rs the government itself
every HING n n praptical nature has been dpCi-
ded. Ne other question remains for adjustment;
because all ugree that under the constitution
slavery in the States is beyond the reach of any
human pewerexeept that of the respective States
themselves wherein 1t exists. May we not then,
hope TINT the long agitation of this subject is ap
proaching is end, and that the geographical par
ties to which il has given birth dreaded by the
Father his Country will speedily become ex-
tinct! Most happy will it be for toe country
wh,n the public mind shall be diverted from this
question 10 diners of more pressing ana practical
importance. Throughout the whole progress of
this agitation, which has scarcely known any
mtrrmlssiun for more thnn twenty years. whilst
it ha, been productive elmo positive good to any
| human being, it has been the prolific source IT
great evils to thr master, to the slave and to the
whole country. 1t has alicnated and estranged
the people of the sister States from each other.
and has even seriously endangered the very ex-
| istence Of the Union.
Nor has the danger yetentircl ceased, Under our
system there rcmc5 Tor All mere political evils
! II thc .3onI sease and sober Judgment Of the peo
| pie Time is "a great corrective. Political subjects
which hHt a tcH YEATS az excited and cAaspcrated
the pubtle mind have pissed away and are near
y forgotten Bat thl, question OF domestic slavery
! is OF Tar gr,eer Importance than any mere political
question, because, should the agitation continue, it
may eventually enilugef the personal safety ETA
large portion , our touu1r> men where the iuStitu-
ton exists. In that event no form of government
however odmi rlbt itself and however productive