Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-03-08
President LincOln'S,
inaugural a ddrcSS.

DItStllCs AiN P'th Pi'oNiASN' ~ ''-f N''N''
luton of the Ullited States to be taken by
the President before he enters on the exc
cuion Of the duties of his office.
do not consider i necessary at present
for me TO Iii cnss matters OF administration
about which there is no special anxiety or
excitement.
Apprehension seems TO exist among the
people of the Southern Ssates that by the
accession of Republican administration
their properly and their permanent peace
and security are TO be endangered. There
has never been any reasonable cause for
such apprehension.
Indeed the most ample evidence TO the
contrary Las all the while existed and been
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 those speeches, when declare
that have no purpose, directly or indirect
", to interfere with the institution OF slave
ry in the States where it exists. believe
have no lawful right to do 50, and have
no inclination to do so. Those who NOM
mated and elected me did so with full
knowledge thai | had made this and many
similar declarations and had never recanted
them and more than this, they placed in
the platform for my acceptance and as a
law to themselves and to me, the clear and
emphatic resolution which now read:
Resolved, That the maintenance invio-
late of the right of each State to order and
control its own domestic institutions accord
ing to its own judgment exclusively, is es-
Senial to that balance of power on which
the perfection and endurance of our poliIi-
cal fabric depend, and we denounce the law
less invasion by an armed force of any
State or Territory, no matter under what
pretcxi, as the greatest of crimes.
] now reiterate these sentiments and in
doing so, only press upon the public at
tention the most conclusive evidence of
which the case is susceptible. that the prop
erty, peace and security of no section are
to be in anywise endangered by the now
incoming administration. Add TO this that
all The protection which, consistently with
the Constitution and the laws, can be given.
will be cheerfuly given to all States when
lawfully demanded for whatever cause, as
cheeriully to one section as to another.
There is much controversy about the de-
livering up of fugitives from service or la
Dor The clause now read is as plainly
written in the Constitution as any other Of
lis provisions:
mo person he'd to service or labor in
one STATE under the laws thereof, escaping
into another, shall in consequence of any
law or regulation therein be discharged from
such service or labor, but shall be delivered
up on claim Of the party TO whom such SER
vice or labor may be due
1t is scarcely questioned that this provis-
ion was intended BY those who made it for
the retaining of what we call fugitive
slaves, and the intention of the law-giverS
is the law. All members of Congress swear
their support to the whole Constitution Ito
this provision as much as 10 any other. To
the proposition, then, that slaves whose
cases come within the terms Of this clause,
shall be delivered up, their oalhs are uuan-
imous. Now it they would make the effort
in good temper, could they not with nearly
equal nnaninity frame aid pass Law by
means of which to keep good that unani.
nous oath
{ THERE'S some difference of opinion wheth-
er this clause should he enforced by Nation
al or by State authority, but surely that
difference is not very material one. II
the slave is to be surrendered il can be o.
little consequence TO him or to others hy
which authority il is done, and shonld any
one in any case be content that his oatl
should go unkept on merely unSubsian
tal controversy as to how it shall be kept
Again, in any law upon this subject
ought not all the saft guards of liberty know
; in civilized and humane jurisprudence to bt
introduced so that a free man be not in an,
case surrendered as a slave? and might i
not be well at the same time to provide by
law for The enforcement of that clause il
The Constitution which guarantees thai the
citizens of each State shall be entitled Il
all the privileges and immunilies of citizen
: in the several States?
j take the official oath. to-day with n
mental reservations and with no purpose t
/ construe the Constitution or laws by an
n hypercritical rules, and while do not choos
a now 10 specify particular acts Of Congress
Il as proper TO be enforced, do suggest thf
it will be much safer for all, both in officii
and private stations, to conform TO and abid
IS by all those acts which stand unrepeale
g than to violate any of them, trusting to fin
'. impunity in having them held TO be uncol
slitutional.
II is sevehty-two years since the first il
y auguraton of a President under our nj
or tional constitution. During that period fl
"a teen different and greatly distinguished CT
,a liens have in succession administered Il
executive branch Of government. The
have conducted ii through many perils, al
a generally with great success. Yet, wi
Is, all this scope for precedent, now ent
a. upon the same task, for the brief constt
- tional term of four years, under great al
peculiar difficulty. A disruption of t
NJ Federal Union, heretofore only menaced,
ST. now formidably attempted.
ed hold that in contemplation Of univer:
ne law and Of the Constitution, the union
these States is perpetual Perpetuiiy
implied, if not expsessed, in the fundam,
tai law of all National governments. II
safe to assert that no government proI
re- ever had provision in lis organic law
en- its own termination. Continue TO execl
red all the express provisions Of our Naiiol
Constitution, aud tile Union will endure f
ever. it being impossible 10 destroy il exc,
by some action not provided for in that
ate strument itself.
Again. il the United States be not a G,
eminent proper, but M association of Sta
| be