The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-03-11
9 PRESIDENT BUcHANANs
INAU GURAL ADD r q 3 s


that will faithfully execute the Office
of President of the United States; aud
will to tho best Of my ability preserve, |
protect and defend the Constitution Of
the United States.
In entering upon this great office, l
must humbly invoke the God Of our
fathers for wisdom and firmness TO exc
cute its high and responsible duties, in
such a manner as to restore harmony and
the ancient dsbip among the people
Of the several States and preserve our
free institutions throughout many gen.
eratons Convinced that owe my cleo
ton to the inherent love for the consti.
tuition aud the Union, which still ami
mates tho hearts of the American peo-
pie let me earnestly ask their powerful
support in sustaining all just measures.
calculated to preserve these, the richest
political blessings which heaven has be-
slowed upon any patton. Having deter
mined not to become a candidate for re.
election, shall have no motive to infu
ence my conduct in administering the
government, except the desire, ably and
faithfully TO serve my country, and live
in the grateful memory Of my country
men.
We have recently passed through
Presidential contest in which the pas
sions of our fellow citizens we're excited
TO 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, speak
ing in the manner prescribed by the Con.
stitution, an instant submission followed
Oar own country could alone have ex'
bibted so grand aud striking spectacle
Of the capacity of man for sclf-govern.
ment.
What happy conception then was it
for for Congress to apply this simple
rule, that the will Of tho majority shall
govern, to the settlement of tho ques
ton of domestic Slavery, in the Terri.
tories Congress is neither to legislate
Slavery into any Territory or State, nor
to exclude it therefrom, but to leave the
people thereof perfectly free to form and
regulate their domestic institutions in
their own way, subject only to the Con-
stitution Of the U. s. Asa natural con
sequence, Congress has also prescribed
that when the Territory Of Kansas shall
be admitted as State. it shall be re.
ccived wiki or without Slavery, as their
Constitution shall prescribe at the time
Of their admission.
A difference of opinion has arisen in
regard to the time when the people of
the Territory shall decide this question
for themselves. This is, happily, mat
ter of but little practical Importance;
and, besides, is judicial question which
legisimately belongs to the Supreme
Court Of the United States, before whom
it is now pending. and will, it is under
stood, be speedily aud finally settled
TO their decision, in common with all
good citizens, shall cheerfully submit,
whatever this may be, though it has been
my individual opinion !as' p P!bp.. The
period will be when the number Of act.
ual residents in the Territory shall jus.
fly the formation Of Constitution, with
view to its admission as State into
the Union.
Bat, be this as it may, il is the imper.
alive and indispensable duty of the gov
eminent of the United States to secure
to every resident nhab itant the free aud
independent expression of his opinion by
his vote. This must be preserved. This
being accomplished, nothing can be fairer
than to leave tee people Of a territory,
free from all foreign iutcl ference, to de.
eide 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 poru.
lar sovereiguty-a principal as ancient
as free government itself everything Of
. practical nature has been decided, and
no other question remains for adjustment.
because all agree that under the Consti
tuition, slavery in the States is beyond
the reach of any human power, except
that Of the respective States them.
selves wherein il exists. May we not
then hope the long agitation of this sub
ject is approaching its end, and that the
geographical parties, to which it has Civ.
en- birth. so much dreaded by the Father
Of his Country. will speedily become ex.
tinct2 Most happy will it be for the
country when the public mind shall be
diverted from this question TO others of
more pressing and practical Influence.
Throughout the whole progress of this
agitation, which has scarcely known any
intermission for more than twenty years,
whilst 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 alienated and estrapged
the people Of the sister States from each
other and has seriously endangered the
very existence Of the Uaion. Nor has
the danger yet entirely ceased. Uudcr
our system, there is remedy for all
mere political evils, in the sound, severe
aud sober judgment Of the people. Time
is great corrective. The political sub.
jects which, but few years ago existed
and exasperated the public mind, have
passed away, and are now nearly forgot.
ten. But this question of domestic slsv-
cry is of far ereater importance than