Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-03-13
nTAuouRAL AppRnss.


faithfully execute the Office Of President Of
tho United States, and will, to the best Of
my ability, preserve, protect and defend the
Constitution Of the United States. In en-
tering upon this great office, | must humbly
invoke the God Of our fathers for wisdom
and frmness TO execute its high and respon-
uible duties in such manner as TO restore
harmony and the ancient friendship among
the several States, and to preserve our free
institutions throughout many generatious--
Convinced that owe my election to the
inherent lovo for tho Constitution and the
Union which still animates the hearts Of the
American People, let me earnestly ask
their powerful support in sustaining all just
measures calculated to perpetuate these, the
richest political blessings which Heaven has
ever bestowed upon any nation. Having
determined not to become candidate for
reelection, shall have no motive to inhu-
snce my conduct in administering the Gov
ernmenl except tho desire ably and faith
fully to serve my country and to live in the
grateful memory Of my eouutrymen.
We havo recently passed through Pres
idential contest in which the passions Of our
fellow citizens were excited TO the highest
degree by questions Of deep and vital i'm
portancc: but when the People proclaimed
their will, tho tempest at once subsidized, and
ali 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 so grand and
striking spectacle of the capacity of man
for selfgovernment. What happy con-
ception, then, was it for Congress to apply
this simple rule, that the will Of the major
ity shall govern to the settlement of the
question Of Domestic Slavery in the Terri
toriesl Congress is neither to legislate
Slavery into any Territory or State, nor to
exclude it thercfrom; but to leave the Peo-
pie thereof perfectly free to form and regu-
late 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 Ter
ritory shall decide this question for them
selves. This is happily matter of but lit
tic practical Importance, and besides 1t is
judicial question, which legitimately belongs
to the Supreme Court of the United States,
before whom it is now pending, and will, il
is understood, 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 will be when the
number of actual residents in the Territories
shall Justify the formation of Constitution
with q view to its admission as 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 inhabitant the free and in
dependent expression of his opinion by hi:
vote. This being accomplished, nothing
can be fairer than to leave the people of (
Territory free from all foreign interference
to decide their own destiny for themselves
subject only to the Constitution of the Uni
ted States. The whole Territorial question
being settled upon the principle of popular
sovereignty principle as ancient as free
Government itself-everything of pratica
nature has been decided, and no other ques-
ton remains for adjustment, because al
agree that under the Constitution 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 agitation
on this subject is approaching its end, ano
that the geographical parties to which it ha;
given birth, so much dreaded by the Father
Of his Country, will speedily become extinct
Most happy will it be for the country wher
the public mind shall he diverted from thi:
question to others of more pressing and
practical Importance. Throughout the
whole progress of this agitation, which ha;
scarcely known any intermission for moro
than twenty years, while it has been pro
ductive of no positive good to any human
being, it has been the prolific source of grea
evils to the master, TO the slave and the
whole country 1t has alienated and estranget
the people of the sister States, from eacl
other, and has even seriously endangered
the very existence of the Union. Nor ha
the danger yet entirely ceased. Under ou
system there is great remedy for all mer
political evils in the sound sense and sobe
Judgment of the people. Time is grca
corrective. The political subjects which bu
few years ago exasperated the public min'
have passed away and are nearly forgotten
but this question of Domestic Slavery is O
for greater Importance than any mere politi
cal question, because, should the agitation
continue, it may eventually endanger tn
personal safety Of a large portion of on
countrymen where the institution exists
In that event, no form of Government, how
ever productive of material benefits, cal
compensate for the loss of peace and domes
tic security around the family altar. LIE
every Union-loying man, therefore, exert hi
best influence to suppress this agitation
which since the recent Legislation of Coz
gress, is without any legitimate object
IS an evil of the times that men have unde
taken to calculate the nero material valu
of the Union.
Reasoned estimates have been presente
OF the pecuniary profits and local advanti
ges which would result to different Stat
and sections from its dissolution, and of tn
comparative injuries which sneh an ever
would inhict on other States and section
n