The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1857-03-21
Gbe feliti;na 1emotrat.
TIE INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF THE PRESIDENT OF TIE UNITED STATES

fully execute the Office Of President Of the
United States, and will, to the best of my
ability preserve protect. and defend the Con-
stitution of the United States
IN entering upon this great Office must
humbly invoke the Coz Of our fathers for Wis
dom and lirmness to execute its high and re.
sponSible duties in such manner as to restore
harmony and ancient friendship among the
people OF the several States. and to preserve
our free institutions throughout many genera
tions Convinced that I 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 meas
urcs calculated to pcrpetnatc these, the richest
political blessings which Heaven has ever be-
slowed upon any nation. Having determined
not TO become candidate for reelection. 7
shall have no motive to influence my conduct
in administering the government except the
desire ably and faithfully to serve my country
and to live IN the grateful memory of my coun.
trymcn.
We haze recently passed through Prcsi-
dental contest in which the passions Of our
fellow-citizcns were excited to the highest de-
anrc; 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 Constitution
was heard and instant submission followed.
Our own country could alone have exhibited
50 grand and striking spectacle Of tie capac-
ity of man for sclfgoycrnmcnt
What happy conception, then, was it for
Congress to apply this simple rulc--that the
will Of the majority shall govern--to the set.
tlcmcnt of The question Of domestic slavery in
the Territories! Congress is neither "to legis-
late slavery into any Territory or State, nor
to exclude it thcrcfrom; but TO leave the pco,
pie thereof perfectly free TO foim and regulate
their domestic Institutions in their own way.
subject onIy TO the Constitution of the United
state" As natural consequence, Congress
has also prescribed that when the Territory of
Kansas shall be admitted as Il State it "shall
he received into the Union with or without
slavery, as their constitution may prescribe at
the time of their admisson.n
A difference of opinion has arisen in REGARD
to the point Of time when the people of u
Territory shall decide this question for them.
selves
This is, happily, matter Of but little prac.
tical Importance. Besides, it is n judicial Gncs.
ton which cgitimatcv belongs TO the Supreme
Court of the United States, before whom il is
now pending, and will, it is understood, be
speedily and finally settled 10 their decision
in common with all good citizens, shall cheer
fully submit whatever this may be, though it
has eyer been my individual opinion that under
the NebraSka-knnsns act the appropriate peri
od will be @hen the number Of actual residents
in the Territory shall Justify the formation Of
q constitution with view TO its admission rs
4 State into the Union But, be this as it
may, it is the Imperative and Indispensable
duty Of the government Of the United States
to secure to every resident inhahitant the free
and independent expression Of his opinion by
his vote. This sacred right of each Individual
must be preserved. That being accomplished,
nothing can be Iaircr than to leave the people
of a Territory free from nIl foreign interference
to decide their own destiny for themselves,
subject only to the Constitution of the United
States
The whole territorial question being thus
settled upon the principle Of popular sovereign
ty-a principle as ancient as free government
itseIf--eyorything Of practical nature has
been decided No other question remains for
because all agree that under the
Constitution slavery in the States is beyond
the reach Of any human power except thai of
the respective States themselves wherein it
exists May we not then, hope that the long
agitation on this subject is approaching its end,
and that the geographical parties to which it
has given birth, so much dreaded by the Faith
cr Of his Country will speedily become extinct?
Most happy will it be for the country when
the public mind shall be diverted from this
question to others Of more pressing and prnct-
cal Importance Throughout the whole pro-
greSs Of this agitation, which has scarcely
known amy intcrmission for more than twenty
years. Wills it has been productive of no posi-,
tive good to any human being, it has been the
prolific source Of great evils to the master, to
the slave, and to the whole country. 1t has
alicnatcd and cstranged the people of the SIS
ter States from each other and has even seri-
onsy endangered the very existence of the
Union Nor has the danger yet entirely ceas,
ed. Under our system there is remedy for
all mere political evils in the sound sense and
sober Judgment Of the people. Time is a great
corrective. Political subjects which but a
few years ogo excited and eNosperated the