The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-03-21
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
WASHINGTON, March 4

! Fellow CITIZENS IL appear before yo,
this day to take the solemn oath that will
faithfully execute the Office of President O
the United States, and will, to the best o
my ability, preserve, protect, and defend tn,
Constitution of the United States. In enter
ing upon this great Office, must humbll
invoke the God of our fathers for wisdom
and frmness to execute its high and respon
sible duties in such a manner as to restor,
harmony and the ancient friendship amons
the people of the several States, and to pre-
| serve our free institutions throughout many
geneEations. Convinced that l owe my
election to the inherent love for the Consti
tuition and the Union which still animatei
the hearts oS,the American People, let me
earnestly ask their powerful support in sus
| tanning all just measures, calculated to per.
petuatc these, the richest political blessings
which Heaven has ever bestowed upon any
nation. Having determined MOTTO become a
| candidate for reelection, shall have no mo-
tive 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 countrymen
We have recently passed through Pres.
idential contest, in which the passions of our
lfellOw-citiZens were excited to the highest
tNegree by questions of deep and vital impor-
haance, but when the people proclaimed their
will, the tempest at once subsided and all
was calm. The voice of the majority, speak
ing in the manner prescribed by the Consti-
tuition, vas heard, and instant submission
followed. Our own country could alone have
exhibited SO grand and striking spectacle
of the capacity of man for self-government.
What happy conception, then, was it for
Congress to apply this simple rule, that the
will of the majority shall govern to the set
Element of the question of Domestic Slavery
in the Territories. 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 reg
ulate their domestic institutions in their own
way, subject only to the Constitution of the
United States as natural consequence.
Congress has also prescribed that when the
Territory of Kansas shall be admitted as a
State, it shall be received into the Union
with or without Slavery, as their Constitu-
ton may prescribe at the time of their ad-
mission.
A different opinion has arisen in regard to
the time when the people of Territory
shall decide this question for Themselves
This is happily matter of but little prac-
tical importance, and beside, it is judicial
question, which legitimately belongs to the
Supreme Court of the United States, before
| whom it is now pending, and will, it is un-
derstood, be speedily and finally settled
| To their decision in common with all good
| citizens, shall cheerfully submit, whatever
this may be, though it has been my individ-
ual opinion that under the Nebraska Kansas
act the appropriate period when the number
of actual residents in the territories shall
justify the formation of a Constitution with
| view to its admission as a State into the
Union. But, be this as it may, it is the i'm
perative and indispensable duty of the Gov
ernment of the United States to accrue to
eve, resident inhabitant the free and inde-
pendent expression of his opinion by his
| vote. This sacred right of each individual
must be preserved. This being accomplish
ed, nothing can be fairer than to leave the
| people of territory free from all foreign in-
| reference to decide their own destiny for
themselves, subject only to the Constitution
of the United States. The whole Territori-
al question being thus settled upon the prin-
| ciple of popular sOvereignty-a principle as
| ancient as free Government itself-every-
thing of pract cal nature has been decided,
| and no other question remains for ADJUST
| ment, because all agree that under the Con-
stitutlon Slavery in the States is beyond the
| reach of any human power, except that OF
| the respective States themselves wherein it
exists.
May we not then hope that the long agi-
tation on this subject is approaching its end,
and that the geographical parties to which
it has given birth, so much dreaded by the
Father of his Country. will speedily become
extinct. Most happy will it be for the coun-
try when the public mind shall be diverted
from this question to others Of more press
ing and practical Importance. Throughout
the whole progress of this agitation, which
has scarcely known any intermission for more
than twenty years, while it has been pro-
ductive OF no positive good to any human
being it has been the prolific source ofgreat
| evils t. the master, to the slave, and to the
whole country it has alienated and estrang-
ed the people of the sister States from each
| other, and has seriously endangered the very
existence of the Union. Nor has the dan
ger yet entirely ceased. Under our system
there is q remedy for all mere D ltical evils
in the sound sense and sober judgment OF
the people. Time is a great corrective. The
political subjects which but few years ago
exasperated the public mind have passed
away, and are now nearly forgotten; but
this question of Domestic Slavery is of far
greater importance than any mere political
question, because, should the agitation con-
tinue, it may eventually endanger the person
al safety of large portion of our country.
men where the institution exists. In that
event, no form of government, however pro-
ductive of material benefits, can compensate
for the loss Of peace and domestic security
around the family altar. Let every Union
loving man, therefore, exert his best infu-
ence to suppress this agitation, which, since
the recent legislation of Congress, is withou,
any legitimate object 1t is an evil of the
times that men have undertaken to calculate
the mere material value of the Union.
Reasoned estimates have been presented
of the pecuniary profits and local advantage:
which would result to different States anG
sections from its dissolution and of the com
parative injuries which such an event wouo
inflct on other States and sections. Ever
descending to this low and narrow view O
the mighty question, all such calculations arr
at fault. The bare reference to single con
sideration will be conclusive on this point
/ We at present enjoy free trade through
out our extensive and expansive. country
such as tie world never witnessed Thi
trade is conducted on railroads and canals
on noble rivers and arms of the sea whicl