The Shasta courier., 1861-03-23
THE PRESIDENTS INAUGURAL.
Delivered March 4th, 1851.

Feilorr Citizens Of the United States In compli-
ance with custom as old the Government it
self, L appear here to address you briefly and 70
take, IN your presence, the oath prescribed by the
Constitution of the United States, to be taken by
the President before he enters on the execution of
his office. do not consider it necessary at present
Tor me to discuss those matters of administration
ABOUT which there is no special excitement. The
apprehension to exist among the people of the
Southern States, that by the accession of Repub-
hcan Administration their property and their peace
and personal security are to be endangered; but
tnere has never been any reasonable for such
apprehension. Indeed the most ample evidence to
the contrary all the while existed and open to
their inspection 1t is found in nearly all the pub
iished speeches of him who addresses you.
10 put quote from one of those speeches, when
declare that have purpose directly or indirectly
to interfere with the institution of slavery In the
States where it exists. I believe have no lawful
right to do l have inclination to do so
Those who nominated and elected me did with
the full knowledge that had made this and similar
declarations and had never recanted them and more
than this, they placed in the platform for my ac-
ceptance as law to themselves and to me, the clear
and emphatic resolution, which now read
"Resotred That the maintenance inriolate of the
rights of the Sates and especially the right of each
etate. to order and control its domestic nsti-
eutons according to its own judgment exclusively,
is essential to the balance of power which the
perfection and endurance of political fabric de-
armed force of the Government of any State or Ter
ritory, no matter under what pretext, among the
gravest Of crimes.'
I now reiterate these sentiments, and in doing
50 only press upon the public attention the most
conclusive evidence of which the is susceptible
that the property, peace and security of no
tion to be in anywise endangered by the
incoming Administrations add, too, that all the
protection which consistently with the Constitution
and the laws can be given, will be cheerfully given
a. all fha Gfotao xuho uf,,1lu Al e.
whatever cause, as cheerfully to section as to
smother
There is much controversy about the delivery of
fugitives from service or labor. The clause now
read is as plainly written in the Constitution as any
.other of its provisions
"No person held to service or labor in one State
under the laws thereof, escaping into another shall
in consequence of any law regulation therein be
discharged from such service labor, but shall be
delivered upon claim to the party to whom such SER
vice or labor may be due"
1t is scarcely questioned that this provision was
intended, by those who made it, for the retaining
of what call fugitive slaves and the intention of
the law given is the law. All members of Congress
swear their support to the whole Constitution, to
this portion as Iauch as to any other. To the prop
ostion, then, that slaves whose cases come within
the terms of this clause, and shall be delivered up
their oaths are unanimous. Now, if they would
make the effort in good temper, could they not with
nearly unanimity, frame and pass law by means
OF which to make good that unanimous oath There
Is some difference of opinion whether these clauses
should be enforced by national State authority
but surely that difference is not very material one
If the slave is to be surrendered it be of but little
consequence to him or to others by what authority
1t Is done and should any one in any case be
tent that his oath shall be unkept, merely unsub-
stantial controversy to how it shall be kept?-
Again, in any law upon the subject, ought not all
the safeguards of liberty known in all civilized and
human jurisprudence to be introduced, so that
q he erred a slave
and might it not be well at the same time to provide
by law for the enforcement of that clause in the Con-
stitution which guarantees that the citizen of each
State shall be entitled to all eprveges and immu-
mites of the several States? take the official oath
to-day with no mental reservations, and purpose
to construe the Constitution and law by any private
rules and while do not choose to specify
particular acts of Congress proper be enforced
do suggest that it will be much safer, both in Off
cal and private stations, to conform to and abide
by all those acts which stand unrepealed, than to
violate any of them, trusting to find security in
having them held to be unconstitutional. 1t is
seventy-two years since the first Inauguration of
President under National Constitution. Dur
ing that period fifteen different and greatly distin
guished citizens have in succession administered
the Executive That branch Of the Government they
conducted through many perils, generally with
great success. now enter upon the same task for
the term ofour years under great
and peculiar difficulty. Disruption of the Federal
Union, heretofore only menaced is now formally
attempted. hold, then, in contemplation of uni
versal law and the Constitution, the Union of the
States to be perpetual. Perpeuty is implied, if not
expressed, in the fundamental law of all national
Governments 1t is safe to assert that the Govern
ment proper had provision in its organic law for
its own preservation. Continue to execute all the
express provisions of our National Constitution and
the Union will endure forever. it being impossible
destroy it except by some action not provided for
in the instrument ITSELF Again, if the United States
be not a government proper, but an association of
States, in the nature of contract merely can it as
a contract be peaceably unmade, unless by all the
parties who made it? One party to contract may
violate it-break it, to speak-but does it got
quire all to lawfully rcscind it?
Descending from these general principles, We find
tho proposition that in legal contemplation the
Union is perpetual confirmedby the history ofitself
The Union is much older than the Constitution, it
was formed in fact by the articles of association, in
I774. 1t was matured and continued by the Decla-
ration of Independence, in 1776. 1t was further
natured on the faith of all the then thirteen States
who expressly plighted and engaged that it should
be perpetual. By the articles of Confederation, in
l776 and finally in 1889, of the declared objects
for ordaining and establishing a Constitution
to form a more perfect Union by all or part only
of the States. Possibly the union is less than be-
fore the Constitution, having lost the vital element
of perpetuity.
own more motion, can lawfully go out of the Union;
that resolves and ordinances to that effect are le-
gay void, and that acts of violence within any
State or States against the authority of the United
States are insurrectionary revolutionary, &C
cordng circumstances. Therefore consider that,
in view of the Constitution and laws, the Union is
unbroken, and to the extent of my ability, shall
take care as the Constitution itself expressly en-
ioins that the laws of the Union be faithfully exc
cuted in all the States. Doing this, deem it to be
only a simple duty my part, and shall perform
it so far practicable, unless my rightful master,
the American people, shall withhold the requisite
means, in some authoritative manner direct the
contrary trust this will not be regarded as a
menace, but only a declared purpose of the Union
that will defend and maintain the Constitution it
self. In doing this, there need be no bloodshed or
violence and there shall be unless it be forced
upon the national authority. The power confded
to me will be used to hold, occupy and possess the
property and places belonging to the Government,
aad collect duties imports but beyond what
may be necessary for these objects. there will be no
using of force against among the people any
where Where hostility to the United States in any
interior locality shall be great and so universal
As to prevent competent resident citizens from
holding Federal Offices, there viii be NO attempt to
force obnoxious strangers among the people that
object.
While the strict legal right may exist in the Gov
erunent to enforce the exercise of those Offices the
attempt to do so would be IRRITATING and so nearly
impracticabie withal that deem it better to forego
for the time the use of such officers The mails,
unlsss repclied will continue to be furnished in all
80 IT, TTnsn far