The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-03-08

PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S
INAUGURAL ADDRESS !
Feilop Citi:ens Of the United States:
In compliance with custom as old as
the government itself, appear before you to
address you briefly, and to take, in your
presence. the oath prescribed by the Consii'
tuition of the United States to be taken by
the President before he enters on the execu-
ton of his office. do not consider Il neces.
sary, at present. for me to discuss those mat
tiers of administration about which there Is no
special anxiety or excitement. Apprehen-
sion seems to exist among the people OF the
Southern States that by the accession OF
Republican administration, their property and
their permanent peace and security are to be
endangered. There has never been any req.
sonable cause for such apprehension. Indeed,
the most ample evidence TO the contrary has
all the while existed and been open TO their
inspection. II is found in nearly all the pub.
lished speeches Of him who now addresses
YOU. l do but quote from one OF those
speeches when declare that have no pur-
pose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with
the institution OF slavery in tho States where
il exists. l believe have no lawful right To
do so, and have no inclination TO do so.-
Those who nominated and elected Inc did 80
with full knowledge that / had made this
and many other similar declarations, and had
never recanted them, and, more than ihis'
they placed in the platform, for my accept
ance and as o law to themselves aud to me,
the clear and emphatic resolution which
now read:
Resolred, That the maintenance inviolate
of the rights of the States, and especially the
right of each State 10 order and control its
own domestic institutions according TO its
own judgment exclusively, is essential To that
balance OF powers on which the perfection
and endurance OF our political fabric depends,
and we denounce the lawless invasion by
armed force OF the soil Of any State or Terri
tory, no matter under what pretext, as a.
mong the greatest OF crimes.
now reiterate these sentiments, and In
doing so only press upon the public atten-
ton the most conclusive evidence OF which
the case is susceptible-that the property,
peace and security OF no section are TO be in
asywise endangered by the now incoming
administration. add, too, that all the pro-
lection which, consistently with the Consti-
tuition aud the laws can be given, will be
given TO all the States, when law
fully demanded. for whatever cause, as cheer
fully to one section as TO another.
There is much controversy about the de-
liyering up OF fusitives from service or la
Dor. The clause now read is as plainly
written in the Constitution as any other oil
its provisions
mo person held to service or labor in one
State, under the laws thereof, escaping into
shall, in consequence OF any law or
regulation therein, be discharged from such
service or labor, but shall be delivered NJ ON
clsim of the party to whom such service or
labor may be due"
It's scarcely questioned that this provision
was intended by those who made IL for the
retaining Of what we call fugitive slaves,
and the intention the law gives is the law.
All members of Congress swear their sup
port to the whole Constitution, to this provi-
sion as much as to any other; TO the PROPOSE
ton then, that slaves whose cases come with
in the terms of this clause. shall be delivered
up, their oaths are unanimous.
Now, IL they would make the effort in good
temper. could they not, with nearly equal
unanimi,y. frame and pass law by means OF
which to keep good that unanimous oath !
There is some difference Of opinion whether
this clause should be enforced by national Or
State authority; but surely that difference is
not a very material one.
II the slave is to be surrendered, Il can be
of but little consequence TO him or to Others
by which authority il Is done and should
any one in any case be content that his oath
should 20 unkept on merely unsubstantial
controversy az to how il shall be kept Again,
in any law upon this subject, ought not all
the safeguards Of liberty, known in civilized
and humane Jurisprudence, to be introduced,
so that free man be not in any case surrei.
der,d as slave. and might 1t not be well at
the same time to provide by law for the en-
forcement of that clfuse In the Constitution
which guarantees that the citizens of each
State shall be entitled to all the privileges
and immunities Of citizens in the several
States l take the official oath to-day with
no mental reservations and with no purpose
to construc the Constitution OF laws by any
hypercritieal rules; and while do not choose
now to specify particular Acts OF Congress as
proper to be enforced, do suggest that IL
will be much safer for all, both in ofiicia! and
private stations, conform to To and abide by
those acts which stand unrcpealed, than TO
violate any of them, trusting to end immunity
in having them held to be UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
Its seyenty.two years since the 6r,t inau.
,u,a,ion of President under on, national
Constitution. During that period. fifteen
different and greatly distinguished citizens
have in succession administered the Execu.
tive branch Of the Government. They have
conducted 1t through many perils, and gener-
ally with great success. Yet with all their
scope Tor precedent 1 nov enter upon the