Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-03-13

| appear before yOu this day TO take inc
solemn oath that ! will faithfully execute the
Office of President of the United States, ard
will to the best Of my ability preserve. pro-
toct and defend the Constitution of the Unit
cd States.
In entering upon this great office, ! most
humbly invoke the God of our Fathers for
wisdom and frmnoss TO so execute its high and
responsible duties as TO restore harmony and
the ancient friendship among the people OF
the several States. and to preserve our free i'm
stitutions throughout many generations
Convinced that J owe my election to the i'm
hercnt love for the Constitution and the Union
which still animatcs the hearts of the Amcri-
can people, let me earnestly ask their power
iul support in sustaining all just measures
calculated TO perpetuoto these, and the richest
political blessings which Heaven has ever be-
slowed upon any nation. Having determined
not TO become a candidate for recollection. |
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
countrymon.
We have recently passed through Prcsi-
dental contest in which the passions of our
fellow citizens were excited TO the highest de-
gree by questions of deep and vital impor-
lance 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
so grand and striking spectacle of the ca
pacity of man for self government. What a
happy conception, them was it for Congress
to apply this simple rule. that the viii of the
majority governs. 20 the settlement of the
question of domestic slavery in the Terrific
res. Congress is neither TO lcgisatc slavery
into Territories OF States. nor 70 exclude it
thcrclrom, but to leave the people perfectly
Tree 70 form and regulate their domestic I'M
situations i'm their own way, subject only 10
the Constitution of the United States As %
natural consequence. Congress has also pre-
scribed that when the Territory of Kansas
shall be admitted as n State, it shall Doe re-
cciycd into the Union with or without slavery.
as their Constitution may prescribe at the
time of their admission A difference of o.
pinion has arisen in regard to the time when
the people of Territory shall decide this
question for themselves This is happily. a
matter of but little practical Importance and
besides, it is judicial question. which legiti-
iifANNl hN.tNi-n Nh NIlt supreme court OF inc
United States, before whom it is now pend
ing, and viii. it is understood, be speedily
and finally settled. TO their decision. in COM
mon with all good citizens. | shall checriully
submit whatever this may be- Though il
has been my individual opinion that under
the Observation-Disclosures act. the appropriate
period will be when the number of actual rcs-
idcnts in the Territory shall justify the for
nation of Constitution. with a view 90 it's
admission as a State into the Union. But. be
this as it may, IL is the imperative and indis-
pcnsable duty of the Government of the Unit
ed States to secure TO every resident inhabi-
tant the free and independent expression of
his opinion 10y his vote. This sacred right of
each individual must be preserved This be-
ing accomplished, nothing can be ij,ircr than
Co leave the people of a territory free from
all foreign Interference TO decide their Con-
shtution. The whole territorial question be-
ing thus settled upon the principle of squat
ter Sovereignty, principle as ancient as free
government itself, everything of practical
nature has been decided, and no other qucs-
ton remains for adjustment. because all 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. Nav we not
then hope that the long agitation of this SUBJ
icct is approaching its end and that the peo-
graphical parties to which it has given birth
so much dreaded by the Father of his Coun-
try, will speedily become extinct; Most hap
py will it be for the country when the public
mind shall be diverted from this question to
others of more pressing and practical impor-
lance Throughout the whole progress of
this agitation, which has scarcely known any
intcrmission for more than twenty years.
whilst it has been productive of no positive
good to any human being, it has been thopro-
life source of great evils-to the master, TO
the slave, and to the whole country 1t has
almcated and ostrangcd the people of the Sis
ter states from each other, and has even -eri-
ousy endangered the very existence of the
Union. Nor has the danger yet entirely
ceased Under our system there is a remedy
for all mere political evils in the sound sense
and sober judgment of the people Time is
great corrective. The political subjects
which but few years ago excited and exas-
perated the public mind, have passed away.
and are nearly forgotten but this question
of domestic slavery is Of far greater impor-
tauce than any mere political question.
because should the agitation continue, it may
eventually endanger the personal safety of a
7 lqrUrp anrfion of pt,r g,r,ytr,.-.,...