The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-03-19

ITO be continaed nerf ,reek.
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THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Fellow CITIzENs: | appear before you
this day to take the solemn. oath that will
execute the Office OF President Of
the United States, and will, to the best Of my
ability preserve, protect and defend the Con-
stltution Of the United States. In entering up
on this great Office, must humbly invoke the
God Of our fathers for Wisdom and frmness
to execute its high and responsible duties in
such manner as to restore harmony and the
ancient friendship among The people Of the
several States, and to preserve our free institl-
tions throughout many generations. Convinc ed
that owe my election to the inherent love
FOR the Constitution and the Union which still
animates the hearts Of the American people,
let me earnestly ask their powerful support in
SUSTAINING all just measures calculated to per-
petuate these, the richest political blessings
which Heaven has ever bestowed upon any
nation Having determined not to become a
candidate for reelection, Il shall have no mo-
tive to influence iny conduct in administering
the Government except the desire ably and
faithfully 10 serve my country and to live in
the grateful memory ofmy couatrymen.
We have recently passed through Presi-
Dental contest in which the passions of oui
fellow -citizens were excited to the highest
degree by questions Of deep and vital import.
ance; but when the People proclaimed their
will, the tempest at once subsidized, and all
was calm. The voice Of the majority, speak
ing in the manner prescribed by the Constit,l-
ticn, was heard, and instant submission follow
et. Our own country could alone have ex-
hibited SO grand and striking spectacle Of the
capacity Of man for self-government. What
a happy conception, then, was it for Congress,
to apply this simple rule, that the will of the
majority shall govern the settlement Of ths
question Of Domestic Slavery in the Terrific
ries! Congress'is neither to legislate Slavery
into any Territory or State, nor to exclude il
therefrom but to leave the people thereof per.
fectly free to form and regulate their domestic
institutions in their own way. subject only tc
the Constitution of the United States, as nat
ural consequence. Congress has also preseri-
bed that when the Territory Of Kansas shall
be admitted as State, it shall be received into
the Union with or without Slavery, as their
Constitution may prescribe at the time Of theil
admission. A different opinion has arisen il
regard to the time when the people Of the Ter
ritory shall decide this question for themselves
Tins is happily matter Of but little import
ance, and beside, 1t is q judicial question
which legitimately belongs to the Supren'
Court Of the United States, before whom It !.
now pending, aud will. it is understood, be
speedily and finally settled. To their dscis.
ion, in common with all good citizens, I shall
cheerfally submit, whatever this may be
though it has been my individual opinion tina
under the Nebraska Kansas act the Appr"pri
ate period will be when the number OF actua
residents IN the Territories shall justify tn,
formation Of Constitution with view to it.
admisslon a. State into the Union. But, b
this a. II mays II is the imperative and indis
Rpensible duty If the Government Of the Unite,
States to secure to every resident inhabitan
the free and independent expression Of hi.
opinion by his vote. This sacred right of eacl
individual must be preserved. This beng &C
complished, nothing can be faires than to leav'
the people Of . Territory free f,on all foreig'
interference to decide their own destiny fo
themselves, sobject only to the Contribution o
the Uaited States. The whole Territorial
question being thus settled upon The principl
Of popular sovereignty--a principle as ancien
as free Government itself-everything OF
practical nature has been decided, and no 9th
er question remains for adjustment, becaus
all agree that under the Constitution Slavery
in the States is beyond the reach Of any humal
power, except Of the respective States them
selves wherein it exists. May we not the'
hope that the long agitation on this subject i
approaching its end, and that the geographical
parties to which it has given birth, 90 ,mncl
drsaded by the Father Of his Country, will
speedily become. extinct. Most happy will
be far the county when the public mind shal
BE- diverted from this question to others o
more pressing and practical Importance =
Throughout the whole progress Of this agita
tion, which has scarcely known any intermis
sion FOR more than twenty years, while !, ha
been productive Of no positive good to any hu
man being, it has been the prolific source Q
great evils to the master, to the slave aud /
the whole country il has alienated and es
tranged the people Of the sister States, fror
each other, aud has even seriously endanger
ed the very existence Of the Union. Nos Ia
the danger yet entirely ceased. Under ou
system there 10 . remedy for all mere polite,
evils in the sound sense and sober judgment o
the people. Time is great corrective. tn
political subjects which but . Few years az
exasperated the public mind have pas sed ava
and are now nearly forgotten but this ques
ton Of Domestic Slavery is Of far greater i'm
portance than any moro political question, b
cause, should the agitation continue, II ma
eventually sndsngsr the personal safety Of
large portion Of our eountrynen where the il
stitution exists. In that event: no torn {
Government, however productive Of nateri;
benefits, can compensate for the loss Of peat