Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-03-13
Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln,
Delivered in Washington, Monday 4th
March, 1851.

SO'SA ANoSiA1 dfftdI OSlOiC 1Ou ~
dress you briefly and to take in your pre-
sence the oath prescribed by the Constitution
of the United States to be taken by the
President before he enters upon the execu-
| ton of his office
| | do not consider it necessary for me at
| present to discuss those matters of admins
tration about which there is no special anx-
| iety or excitement
Apprehenslons seem to exist among the
people of the Southern States, that by the
accession of Republican administration
their property, their peace and security are
to be endangered. There never has been
| any reasonable cause of such apprehension,
Indeed, the most ample evidence to the con.
trary has all the while existed and heen open.
to their inspection. 1t is found in nearly
all the published speeches of him who now
addresses you. | do but quote from one of
these speeches, when declare that I have
no purpose directly or indirectly to interfere
with the institution ofEslavery in the States
where it exists. | believe that have no
lawful right to do SO and have no inclina-
ton to do So Those who nominatei and
elected me did so with the full knowledge
that had made this and many similar de-
clarations and had never recanted them and
more than this, they, placed in the platform
for my acceptance and as a law to them
selves, and to me, the clear and emphatic res
olution which now read:
!" Resotoed, That the maintenance inviolate
OF the rights of the States, and especially
the right to control their own domestic in
stitutions according to their own judgement
exclusively, is essential to the balance of
power on which the perfection and endurance
i OF our political fabric depend, aud do
nounce the lawleSs invasion by an armed
force of the soil of any State or Territory, no
matter, under what pretext, as among the
gravest Of crimes"
L now reiterate these sentiments, and in
dong so, | only press rpon the public atten-
ton the most conclusive evidence of which
the case is susceptible, and that the proper
ty, peace and security of no section are to
be in any wise endangered by the incoming
administration. l add, too, that all the
protection which is consistent with the Con.
stitution and the laws will be cheerfully
given to all the States when lawfully de
manded for whatever. cause, as cheerfuIly tx
one section as to another
There is much controversy about deliver
ing up fugitives from service or labor. Tn
clause now read IS as plainly written il
the Constitution as any other of its provis
ions mo person held to service or labo
in one State under the laws thereof, escap
ing to another shall, in consequence of any
= law or regulation therein, be discharged fror
such service or labor, but shall be delivere
up on claim of the party to whom such ser
vice or labor may be DUE" 1t is scarcel
questionable that this provision was intend
ed by those who made it for the reclaimin
of what we cali fugitive slaves and the ir
tention Of the law governs the law. All men
bers of Congress swear to support the whol
Constitution, this provision as much as an
other. To this proposition, then, that slave
whose cases come within the terms of ths
clause shall be delivered up their oaths al
unanimous. Now, if they would max
the effort in good temper, could they no
with equal unanimity, frame and pa:
law by means of which to keep goo
that unanimous oath There is some d
ference of opinion as to whther this claus
should be enforced by national or by Sta
authority, but surely that differen
is not very material one. If the slave
to be surrendered, it can be but of little CO
sequence to him or to others by which a
thority it is done. Should any one in ar
case be content that his oath should go III
kept on merely unsubstantial controver:
as to hoao it shall be kept? Again: In an
law upon this subject shouldnot all the sat
guards of liberty known in civilized and h
man jurisprudence be inserted, so that
freeman be not in any case surrendered as
slave And might it not be we'll at the san
time to provide by law for the enforceme
of that clause in the Constitution wh
guarantees that the citizens of each Sta
Shall be entitled to all the privileges al
immunities of citizens in the seve al State
| shall take the official oath to-day with
mental reservations and with no purpose
construe the Constitution and laws by a
hypercritical rules, and while do not choc
now to specify particular acts of Congrt
as proper 10 be enforced, do suggest that
will be much safer for all, both in otfic
and private station to conform to and adj
by all those acts which stand unrepeal,
than to violate any of them, trusting to Il
impunity in having them held to be CO
stitutioual.
1t is seyenty-two years since the first
auguration of a Prssident under Matte
al Constitution. During that period fifte
: different and greatly distinguished citizt
have in succession administered the Exc
tive branch of the Government. They ha
conducted it through many perils and gen
! ally with great success. Yet, with all I
scope for precedent now enter upon
> same task for the brief constitutional te
!, of four years. under great and peculiar {
u fculty. A disruption of the Federal Uni
}, heretofore only menaced, is now formidal
q attempted | hold that in contemplation
. universal law and of the Constitution,
y Union of these States is perpetual. Per
y tuity is implied, if not expressed in the f
u damental law of all national governments
It is safe to assert that no government prt
er ever had provision in its organic law
It's own termination Continue to exec
5 all the express provisions of onr natio
J. Constitution, and the UEion will endure
e, ever, it being impossible to destroy it exc
:! by some action not provided for in the inst
q ment itself
n Again: If the United States be not g
J. ernment proper, but an association of ST.
:. in the nature of contract merely, car
10 under the contract be peaceably unmade
n less than all the parties who made it
o. party to the contract may iolate it-bI
10 it, so 10 speak, but does it not require all
le lawfully rescind?- Descending from II
OF general principles, we find the PROPOSE,
ro that in legal contemplation the Union is
q petual. confirmed by the history of
q Union Itself The Union is much older t
Ill the Constitution. 1t was formed in fact
n- the articles of association in 1774. It
ie matured and continued BY the Declaration
n Independence in 1T76, 1t was further
ne tured and the faith of all the then thirt
re States expressly plighted and engaged |
OF it should be perpetuated by the articles
ad confederation in IT'S, and finally in 1
e. one of the declared objects of ordaining