The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-03-06
THE PRESIDENT INAUGURAL,

=
30 prescribed by the Constitution of the
United States to be taken by the President Le-
fore he enters on the execution OF his Office
| do notconsider it necessary, at present. Tor
me 10 discuss those Eaatters OF administration
sbov< which there IS no special Gnxie'y or ex-
ciement. Apprehension seems toexist among
the people OF the Southern States that, by the
accession ofa Republican administration, their
property and their peace and personal security
are to be endangered. There never has been
sny reason or cause fer such apprehension
Indeed, the most ample evidence 20 the con-
q tmry has all the v hile existed and been open
70 their Inspection. Ii is found in nearly all
the published speeches OF him who now address,
sses you. / do bat quote from one Of those
speeches whenI declare to veu that have no
purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with
the institution Of slavery in the States where
it exists believe hive no lawfulright to do
SO, and have no inclination to do so. Those
who nominated and elected me, did so with the
full knowledge that had made this and many
similar declarations, and had never recanted
them; and more than this, they placed in that
platform for my scceptance as law to them
selves and to me- the clear and emphatic reso-
ltition which now read
-. "ReSoiVed, That the maintenance nviolate OF
the rights Of the States, and especially the right
Oi each State to order and control its own do
iDestc institutions according to its own iudg-
ment, exclusively, is essential to that balance
OF power on which the perfection and endur-
ance Of our political fabric depend, and we de
nounce the lawless invasion by an armed force
4 ofany State or Territory, no matter under what
pretext as among the gravest OF crimes"
lnow reiterate these sentiments, and in do.
ing SO, | only press upon the public attention
the most conclusive evidence Of which the case
Is susceptible, that the property, peace and Sc
curity Of no section are to be in any wise en-
dangered by the incoming administration.
add, too, that all the protection which, consist
emily with the Constitution and the Laws can
be given, will be cheerlully given to all the
States, when lawfully demanded, for whatever
cause, as cheerfully to one section as to anoth
er.
There is much controversy about the de'iv-
cry Of fugitives from. service or labor. The
clause read is as plainly written in the Con-
slitution as any other of its provisions:
mo person held to service or labor in one
State, under the laws thereof, escaping into a.
mother, shall, in consequence OF any law or reg
ulations therein, be discharged from such ser
vice or labor; but shall be delivered up on claim
of the party to whom such service or labor may
be due"
1t is scarcely questioned that this provision
was intended by those who made it for the re-
claiming of what call fugitive slaves, and the
intention of the law gver is the law. AL
members of Congress swear their support tc
the whole COnstitutlon---to this provision as
much as to any other. To the proposition
then, that slaves whose cases come within the
terms ofthis clause shall be delivered up, then
oaths are unanimous. Now If they would
make the effort in good temper, could they not
with nearly equal unannity, frame and pass
law by means of which to keep good that
unanimous oath?
There is some difference ofopinion whelhe,
this clause should be enforced by national or
State authority, but surely that difference is moi
a very material one. II the slave is to be sur.
rendered, it can be Of but little consequence to
HIM or to others by which authority it is done
and should any one, in any case be content
that his oath shall be unkept on a merely un-
substantial controversy as to how it should be
kept? Again in any law upon this subject
ought not all the safeguards of liberty known
in civilized and humane jurisprupence to be in.
troduced, so that freeman may not in any
case be surrendered as slave? And might il
not be well, at the same time to provide BY
law for the enforcement OF that clause in tht
Constitution which guarantees that "the cit
zcns ofeacn State shall be entitled to all the
privileges and inmunities OF citizens in the Sc
vera States?'
take the official oath to-day with no menta
reservation, and with no purpose to construe
the Constitution or laws by any hypocritica
rules; and while | do not choose now to specif,
particular acts Of Congress as proper to be en-
forced, | do suggest that it will be much safer
for all, both in official and private stations t.
conform to and abide by all those acts, VIII ct
stand unrepealed than to violate any of them
trusting to find impunity in having them helt
to be unconstitutional.
1t is seventy-two, years since the first inaug
Grafton OF President under our national con
stitution. During that period fifteen diiferen
and greatly distinguished citizens have in sue
cession administered the executive branch O
the Government. They have conducted it thro
many perils, and generally with great success
yet with all this scope for precedent now en-
ter upon the same, for the brief constitutions
term Of four years, uuder great and peculla
difficulties. A disruption OF tue Federal Unio
heretofore only menaced, is now formidably at
tempted. II hold that, in contemplation of tn
universal law, and ofthe Constitution, the Uni
onof these States is perpetual. Perpetuity
implied, if not expressed in the fundamenta
law Olalt naGloudl 9ofelHuenIS. 1t Is SAFE
assert that no government proper ever had
provision in its organic law for its own termina
ton. II we continue to execute all the expires
provisions Of our National Constitution, the U
MON will endure forever; it being impossible t
destroy it. except by some action not provide
for in thesipstrument ITSELF l. .s..-+.,, -.
Again, if the United States be not Govern
Inent proper, but mn association of States i
the nature Of contract merely, can it, as
contract, be peaceably revoked by less than al
the parties who made it? One party to con
tract may violate it, or break it, SO to speak
but does IT not require all to lawfully rescnd it
Descending from these general principles, W
find the proposition that in legal contempa
ton of The case, the Union is perpetually con
firmed by the history of the Union Itself, Tn
Union is much older than the Constitution |
was formed in lactby thearticles of Association
in 1774, 1t was matured and continund b
the Declaration Of Independence, in 1776. /
was further matured, and the aith OF all tn
then thirteen States expressly plghted and en-
Joined that it should be perpetual, by the arti
cles OF Con federation in 1878, and finally il
1887. One Of the declared objects in ordsnin
and establishing the Constitution was to forn
more perfect union, by all or by part onI
ofthe States. Can it be lawfully possible th
Union is less than. before, the Constitution hav
ing lost the vital element Of perpetuity?
1t follows from these views that no Stat
upon its own mere motion can lawfully get ou
ofthe Union; that resolves and ordinances t.
that effect are legally void, and that acts OF VIC
lence within any State or States against 1t,
authority of the United States are insurrection
grv N ravoItffinnarv ACCORDING IN ,,,au