Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-03-08
LINCOLN'S
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Fsll0s Cilisens d Ms thited States !.

The apprehension seems TO exist among the peo-
pie of the Southern States that by the accession of
aRepubcan administration their property and their
pence and personal security arc to be endangered
and there has never been any for such appre-
hension. Indeed the most complete evidence to
the contrary has all the while existed and been
open to their inspection 1t is found in nearly all
the public speeches Of him who now addresses you.
do but quote from one of those speeches when
declare that 81 have purpose directly or indi-
rectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery
in the States where it exists. believe have no
lawful right to do so, and have no inclination to
do so" Those who nominated and elected me did
so with the full knowledge that had made this
and many similar declarations, and have never re-
pented them, and more than this they placed in the
platform, for my acceptance as a law TO themselves
and to me, the clear and emphatic resolution which
now read
"Resolued That the maintenance invioate of the
rights Of the States, and, especially the right of
each State, to order and control its own domestic
institutions according to its own Judgment exclu-
sively is essential to the balance OF power on which
the perfection and endurance of our political fabric
depend, and we denouuce the lawless invasion. by
an armed force, of the government of any State or
territory, no matter under what pretext as among
the gravest of crimes"
now reiterate those sentiments, and in deinp so
only press upon the public attention the most con-
elusive evidence of which the case is susceptible
that the property, peace and security of no section
are to be, in any wise, endangered by the now in
coming Administration. | add, >too that all the
protection which, consistently with the constitution
and the laws can be given will be cheerfully given
to all the States when lawfully demandei for
whatever cause as cheerfully for one section as an
other. There is much controversy about the de-
liverng of fugitves from service, or labor The
clause now read is as plainly written in the Con-
stituion as any other of its provsions mo person
held TO service or labor in 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 I'M on
claim to the party to whom such service or labor
shall be cue" II is scarcely questioned that this
provision was intended bythose who made IT. for
the retaining of what we 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 provision as much as 10
any ofher-to the proposition 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 manly equanmity frame and
pass law by the means of which to keen good that
unanimous oath? There is some difference of opin-
ion whether this clause should be enforced by ma
tional or State authority but surely that difference
is not very material one If the slave is 10 be
~ Sdu NC VI DuI uIIle consequence 10
him or to Others by which authority it is done and
should any one in any be content that bis oath
shall be unkept, on merely unsubstantial contro-
versy as TO how it shall lie kept? Again in any
law upon this subject ought not all the safeguards
of liberty known in civilized and humane inrisdic-
ton to be introduced, so that freeman may not in
any case be surrendered as a slave and might it moi
be well at the same time to provide by law for the
enforcement of that clause in the Constitution which
guarantees that the citizens of each State shall be
entitled to all the privileges and inmunities of cit
liens in the several States? take the official oatl
to-day; with no mental reservations and no purpose
to construe the Constitution and laws by any hypo
critical rules and while do not choose now tc
specify any particular acts of Congress as proper Il
be enforced, do suggest that it will be much safer
for all, both in official and private stations TO con
form to and abide by all those which stand unre
peaed, than TO violate any of them trusting to fine
immunity in having them held to be unconstitu
tonal.
1t is seventy-two years since the first inaupura
ton of President under our national Constitution
During that period fifteen different and greatly dis
tnguished citizens have in succession admins cred
the executive branch of the Government The,
have conducted it through many perils, and pener.
ally with great success. Yet with all this scope fol
precedent now enter upon the same task, for the
brief Constitutional term of four years under
great and peculiar difficulties The DISRUPTION Of
Federal Union, heretofore only menaced is now
tormidably attempted. hold that in contemplation
Of universal law and the Constitution, the Unior
of these States is perpetual Perpetuity is implied
if not expressed in the fundamental law of all ma
tonal governments. 1t is safe to assert that ne
government proper ever had provision in its or.
ganic law for its own termination.
Continue to execute all the express provisions O.
our national Constitution and the Union will endur,
forever it being impossible to destroy it except b,
some action not provided for in the instrument it.
self.
Aagain, if the United States be not Govern
ment proper, but an association of States in thu
nature of contract merely, can it as a contract bt
peaceably nnmade, unless by all the parties who
made it? One party TO q contract may violate it
break it, so TO speak, but does il not require all t
lawfully reScind it? Descending from these gener
al principles, we find the proposition that in lcga
contemplation the Union is perpetual confirmed b,
the history of the Union itself. The Union is mucl
older than the Constitution. 1t was formed in fact
by the articles of association in IVA matured anc
/ continued by the Declaration of Independence il
j l176. 1t was further matured, the faith of a,
the then thirteen States expressly plighted and en-
gagged that it should be perpetual by the articles
confederation in 1873 and finally in 1871 One o
.he declared objects for ordaining and establishin.
the Constitution was TO "form more perfect I'm
on.n If dissolution of the Union, by one or par
is less than before the Constitution having lost tn,
vital element Of perpetuity, 1t follows from thes
views, that no State, upon its own mere motion
can lawfully get out of the U. S.--that "Resolves
and ordinances TO that effect, are legally void anC
that acts of violence within any States or State
against the authority Of the United States are in
surrcctonary or revolutionary, according to the cir
cumstances / therefore CONSIDER that in rie,o Of M
CORsituton and lars, The Union is mbrokcn, and 4
The eTteat Of my ability shat take care as the C0nsG
tuition sef expressly e9joms on me, That the hes
the Union be fahhtully erecuted IN all The Stafes-
Doing this ! deem it to be only simple duty OF
my part, and shall perform it so far as practicable
unless my rightul masters, the American people
shall withhold the requisite means, or in some au
thortye manner direct the contrary. ! trust thi
will not be regarded a menace, but only as tn
declared purpose of the Union that il will consti
tutonally defend and maintain itself Ia doing thi
there need he no bloodshed or violence and Their
shall be none unless il be forced upon the nationa
authority. The power contded To me will be use,
to hold occupy and possess the property and place