The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1857-03-12
MIR. BUCHANANS
Inaugural Address.

MIX. BUCHANANS .
Inaugural Address.
FELLOW CITIZENS IL appear before you this
day to take the solemn oath that | will faithfully
execute the office of President of the Unite States
and will TO the best of my ability preserve, pro-
tect and defend the Constitution of the United
States. In entering upon this great office most
humbly invoke the God OF our Fathers for wis
dom and frmness to execute its high and rcsponsi-
BILE duties il such manner as to restore harmony
and the ancient friendship among the people OF the
several States and to preserve our free institutions
throughout many generations. Convinced that
owe my election to the inherent love for the Const-
tuition and the Union which still animatcs the
hearts of the American people, let me earnestly
ask their powerful support in sustaining all such
measures calculated to perpetuate these the rich
est political blessings which Heaven has ever be-
slowed upon any nation.
Having determined not to become q candidate
for reelection shall have no motive to influence
my conduct in administering the government ex-
cept the desire, ably and faithfully to serve my
country and to live in the grateful memory of my
conntrymcn We have recently passed. through
Presidential contest in which the passions of our
fellow citizens were excited to the highest degr.e
| by questions of deep and vital importance, but
when the people proclaimed their will, the tempest
at subsidod and all was calm. The voice of the
majority speaking in the manner prescribed BY the
constitution was heard and instant submission fol-
| lows.
! Our country could alone have exhibited so gran |
sul striking u spectacle Of the capacity of man
for selfgoverument. What happy conception,
then, was it for Congress apply this simple rule
that the will Of the majority shall govern i'll the
| settlement of the question of domestic slavery w
the Territories. Congress is neither 10 legisIaie e
slavery into any Territory or State, nor 10 exclude
it therefrom, but 10 leave the people thereof per-
cctly free to form and regulate their domestic in
stitutons in their way, subject only the Con.
stituton Of the United States.
As a natural consequence 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 their constitution
may prescribe at the tine Of their admission.
4 different opinion has arisen in regard to thee
time when the people al Territory hall dccid
this question for themselves. This is happily a
matter of bnt little practical Importance and be.
sides it is judicial question which egimately be-
lonLs to the Supreme Court OF the United States,
befor. whom it is now pending aud will, it ia un-
deFstood be speedily and finally settled. 70 their
decision in common with al good citizens, shall
cheeriully submit, whatever this may b., though II
has been my individual opinion under the Nebras-
ka Kansas 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 as a State into the Union
but be this a. it may il is the imperative and III
dispensabe duty of the Government OF the United
5 atcs to secure To every resident inhubtant the
free and independent expression Of his opinion by
his vote. This sacred right of each individual
must b. preserved. This being accomplishednoth
ing can be fairer than to leave the people OF d
Territory free from all foreign influence to decide
their own destiny for themselves, subject only te
! the constitution of the United States.
- \ IL. Al. L.
upol, the principle Of popular sovereignty, prin
, ciple as ancient as Tree government ITSELF every
thing of practical value has been decided and NJ
other question remains for adjustment because al
1 agree that under the constitution slavery in tht
States is beyond the reach of any human powe
except that of the respective States Ihcmselve
wherein it exists May we not then hope that The
long agitation on this subject is approaching it
end and that the geographical parties to which i
hss given birth, SO much dreaded by the Father o
his country, will speedily become extinct Mos
happy will it be for the country when the public
mind shall be diverted from this question to 9th
ers of more pre- eSsng and practical Importance.
0 Throughout he whole progress of this agita
ton which has scarcely known any intermission 70
more than twenty years while it has been produc
tive of no positive good to any human being, i
has been the prolific source OF great evils to tn
( master, to the slave and to the whole country. |
has alinested and enstranged the people of the sis
ter States from each other. and endangered tn
very existence of the Union, nor has the DANCE
vet entirely ceased. Under nor system there is
n remedy for all mere political evils in the sount
S sense and sober judgement Of the people Time
a great corrective.
The political subjects which but few years agt
d excited and exasperated the public mind have pass
j ed away and are now nearly forgotton But thi
question of domestic slavery is of far greater i'm
X portance than mere political questions becaus
should the agitation continue, it may eventually en-
6 danger the safety Of large portion of our coun
u trymen where the institution exists. In that even
p no form of government however admissible in il
It seIf-can compensate for the loss Of peace AMI do
nestle security around the family altar. Let ever
Union loving man therefore exert his best infuenc
y to suppress the agitation which, since the recen
d legislation of Congress, is without any egitimat
n object 1t is an evil of the times that men hay
undertaken to calculate the mere material value
- the u ion.
Recent estimates have been presented of the Pc
y cuniary profits and local advantages which woul
result to different States and sections from its dissc
II luton, of the comparative injuries which such a
MI event would inaict on other States aud sections
even descending to this low and narrow view OF tn
u mighty question Als calculations arr at taul
The bare reference to q single consideration will b'
eecclEsTc On tbs VoirS We a. paeSaa. ei73