White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1861-03-14

AAS Ao~~AnA~Ss
Fsllov Ciizsss Of United Statss
In compliance with Custom - old -
the Government itself. I appear before
you to address you briefly, and to take.
in your presence. the oath prescribed BY
the Constitution Of the United States. to
be taken BY the President "before he en-
ters on the execution Of his Office"
] do not consider it necessary at pres
snt for me to discuss those matters Of sd-
ministration about which there il no sps-
sisl anxiety or excitement.
Apprehension seems to exist among
the people Of the Southern States. that
by the accession Of Republican Admin
istration their property and their peace
and personal security are to be endangsr.
cd. There has never been any reasona-
bic cause for such apprehension. Indeed.
the most ample evidence to the contrary
has al the while existed. and been open
to their inspection. 1t is found in near.
ly sll the public speeches Of him "ho
now addresses you. do bnt quote from
one of those speeches when I declare that
II have no purpose. directly or indirect.
", to interfere with the institution Of
slavery in the States whore it exists. i
believe have no lawful right to do so.
and / have no inclination to do so."-
Those who nominated anil elected me did
so with full knowledge that l had male
this. and many similar declarations. and
had never recanted them. And more
than this. they placed 10 the platform for
my acceptance. and a. . law TO them
selves and to me. the clear and emphatic
resolution which now read:
Resolved. That the maintenance invi.
olate OF the rights Of the States. and es-
pecially the right Of each State to order
and control its own domestic institutions
according to its own Judgment exclusive
". is essential to the balance of power on
which the perfection and endurance Of
our political fabric depend. and we de-
nounce the lawless invasion BY armed
force of the soil Of any State or Terrific
ry. no matter under what pretext. as
among the gravest Of crimes"
l now reiterate these sentiments and
in doing so. l only press npon the pub
lie attention the most conclusive evidence
Of which the case is susceptible. that the
property, peace. anil security Of no sec
ton are to be any wi.e endangered by the
now incoming Administration. l add.
too, that all the protection which. consis.
tently with the Constitution and the laws.
can be given. will be cheeriully given to
all the States when lawfully demanded.
for whatever cause-as cheerfully to one
section as to another.
There is much controversy about the
delivering mp of fngitives from service or
labor. The clause l now read is a.
plainly written in the Constitution ss
any other Of it's provisions:
mo person held to service or labor in
one State. under the laws thereof. escsp,
ing into another. shall. in consequence Of
any law or regulation therein. be dis
charged from such service or labor. but
shall he delivered mp on claim Of the
party to whom such service or labor may
be DUE"
1t is scarcely questioned that this pro
vision vas intended by those who male
it. for the reclaiming Of, what We call fu
gitive slaves and the intention of the
lawgiver is the law. All members Of
Congress swear their support to the
whole Constitution-to this provision as
much as any other. To the proposition.
then. that slaves whose cases come with.
in the terms Of this clause "shall be de
livered up." their oaths sre unanimous.
Now. if they wonld make the effort in
good temper. conld they not. with near
ly equal nnanimity. frame snd pass
law by means Of which to keep good
that unanimous oath?
There is some difference Of opinion
whether this clanse shonld be enfol ced by
national or by State authority but sure
y that difference is not very material one.
Ii the slave is to be surrendered. it can be
Of but little consequence to him, or to
others. hy which authority it is DONE
And should any one. in any case. be con-
tent that his oath shsll go unkept. on a
merely unsubst.ntial controversy as to
hov it shall he kept?
Again. in any law upon this subject.
ought not all the safeguards Of liberty
known in civilized and humane jurisprn
ience to he introduced. so that . free
man be not. in any case. surrendered as
= slave? And might it not be well at
he same time to provide by law for the
enforcement Of that clause in the Consti
.ution which guarantees that ''the citi
Irns Of each State shall be entitled to all
privileges and immnnities of citizens in
he several States -
take the offici oath to-day, with |
10 mental reservations. AMI with no pur.
pose to constrne the Constitution or laws
~ any hypercritic.l rules. And while
do not choose now to specify particu.
ar acts Of Congress a. proper to be en-
orced. I do suggest that it will be much |
'afsr for sll. both in official and private
tations. to conform tn. and abide BY. all |
hose acts which stand unrepealed. than
o violate any Of them. trusting to find
in having them held to bs Nm.
1t is seventy 1.-TWO years since the first
Of . President under our
rational Constitution. During that pc
iod. fifteen different and greatly dirtin
Iuished citisens. have. in succession. ad
ainistered the Executive branch Of the
They have conducted it
hrough many perils: and. generally,