Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-03-17
The Inaugural Address.

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serve, protect and defend the Constitution of the
United States In entering upon this great Of
fee, must humbly invoke the God OF our faith
ers for wisdom and firmness to execute its high
and responsible duties in such manner as to re-
store harmony and the ancient Friendship among
the people OF the several States. and To preserve
our free institutions throughout many genera
tions. Convinced that | owe my election 70 the
Inherent love for the Constitution and the Union
which still GnimareS the hearts of the American
People let me earnestly ask their powerful sup
port ID sustaining oil Just measures calculated TO
perpetrate these. the richest political blessings
which Heaven has ever bestowed upon any ma
ton. Having determined not to become a can
didate fer reelection. shall have no motive to
influence my conduct in administering the Gov
eminent, except the desire ably aud faithfully
to serve my country, and to live III The grateful
memory OF NY ccuntrymen.
We have recently passed through q Presjdeu-
tial contest in which the passions 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, speaking in the man
ner prescribed by the Constitution, was heard,
and instant submission followed. Our own coun-
try could alone have exhibited SO grand and
striking a spectacle of the capacity Of man for
sclf-goyenIneut. What 4 happy conception,
then, was II for Congress 10 apply this simple
rule that the will OF the majority shall govern
10 the settlement Of the question Of Domestic
Slavery in the Territories Congress IS neither
10 legislate Slavery into any Territory or State,
nor to exclude ii therefrom but to leave the
People thereof perfectly free 30 form and regu-
late their domestic Institutions iii their OWL
way, subject only to the Constitution of the
United States as Il natural consequence. Con
lre-s has also prescribed that when the Territory
of Kansas shall be admitted a State, it shall
be received into the Union with or without Sla-
very, as their Constitution may prescribe at the
admission. \ different opinion has arisen in re-
gard to the time when the people Of Territory
shall decide this question for themselves. This
is happily matter Of but little practical i'm
porJance, and, besides, it is judicial question,
which lcgitimately belongs to the Supreme
Court Of the United States, before whom it is
now pending. and viii, II is understood. be
speedily aud finally settled Torhcir decision,
in common with all good citizens. l shall cheer
fully submit, whatever this may be, though it
has been my individual opinion that under the
NebTask a- Kansas act the appropriate period viii
he wien the number of actual residents in the
territories shall Justify the formation Of a Con-
SrItUtlon with view 10 It's admission as a State
into the Union. But, be this as il may, It's the
imperative and indispensable duty IF the Gov
eminent Of the United States to secure TO every
resident inhabitaut the free and independents
expression Of his opinion by his vote. THIS sa-
cred right must lie preserved. This being uc-
compliSEcd, nothing can he laircr than to leave
the people Of q territory free from q foreign in
tcrleTCncc TO decide their own DESTINY tCr them
selves, subject only 10 the Constitution Of the
United States. The whole Territorial question
being thus settled upon the principle Of popular
sovereIgnty-a principle as ancient IS free gov
eminent itsclf-eyerything of a practical nature
has been decided, ard no other question remains
for adjustment. because all agree that under the
Constitution Slavery in the States is beyond lu-
man power, except that Of the respective States
themselves wherein il exists. Nav We not thcn
hope that The long agitation on this subject is
approaching IFS end and that the geographical
parties TO which it has given birth. SO much
dreaded by the Father OF his Country. viii
speedily become extinct. Most happy VIII If
be for the country when the public mind shall
be diverted from this question to others of more
pressing and practical importance. Throughout
the whole progress Of this agitation, which has
scarcely known any internission for more than
twenty wears, while il has been productive Of no
positive good 10 any human being, il has been
the prolific source of great evils to lie MASTER
to the slave and 10 the whole country: it has
alenacd and estrangcd che people Of The sister
States, from each ether. and has even seriously
endangered the very existence Of The Union
Nor has The danger ret entirely ceased
Under our system there is Il remedy for All
mere political evils in The omd sense and sober
IudglEcu. OF the people. Time is great cor
rcciiyc. The political subjects which but a few
years ago cXa-pcrateG the public mind have
PASSED away and are now nearly forgotten but
this question CT Domestic Slavery is OF far ureat-
CT Importance than amy mere political question,
because, should the agitation continue it may
eventually onoaIgcr The personal safety Of q
large potion If our couutrvmcn where The in
stitution exists In That event. TO form OF Gov
eminent howeverPr productive Of material benefits.
s.4gf Pl, Irt- .Ft fs tors Ne rs I .
tie security around Tie family altar. Let every
JMon LOVING man therefore, exert his best M
tiucnce TO suppress this agitation, which, since
the recent Legislation of Congress-, is without
any legitimate object. It's an evil Of the times
that men nave undertaken 60 calculate The mere
material value OF the Union
Recently estimates have been presented OF the
pccUniary profits and local advantages which
would result TO different States and sections
from its dissolution and Of the comparative in
jurIes which such an event would iuhict ON other
States and sections. Even descending 10 this
low and narrow view Of the mighty question
all such calculations are at fault. The bare re-
ference To 4 single consideration Will be con-
elusive ON this point.
" e at present enjoy a free trade throughout
our extensive and expansive country, such rs
the world never Witnessed This trade is con-
Quoted on railroads and canals, on noble rivers
and arms OF the sea, which bind together. the
al tAt me hcGtIl the Ei~U ana the "
our coLiedcracy. AnHIhilatc this trade arrest
its free progress by the geographical lines Of
jealousy and hostile States and you destroy the
prosperity and onward march of the whole and
every part, and involve al in one common ruin.
But such considerations. important as thew
are IN Themselves sink into insgni6cance when
We reflect on the terrific evils which would re-
suit from disunion TO every portion Of the Con-
the \ orth not more than to the
South, TO the East not more than to tho Vest
These ] shall not attempt TO portray because I
feel an humble confidence that the kind Provi-
dencc which inspired our fathers with wisdom
to frame the most perfect form OF government
and union ever devised by man, viii not suffer
il to perish until it shall have been peacefully
Instrumental, by its example, in the extension If
civil and religious liberty throughout The world.
ext IN importance to the maintenance of the
Constitution and the Union, is the duty Of pre-
serving the Government free from the faint or
even the suspicion Of corruption. Public virtue
Is the vital spirit of Republics. ard history