Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-03-12
President Lincoln,s inaugural.

We present the Inaugural Address Of
Mr.. Lincoln TO our readers, in this days
paper.
1t is document that has been look ed
for with the greatest interest and anxiety
by all parties 10 all sections of the country,
as it was expected that it would indicate
the policy Of the new administration upon
the great question of the day-the question
of peace or war. That it will be read care
fully by every citizen of the country, there
can be little doubt.
We must confess we are acreeabIy dis
appointed in the tone of Mr.. Eincoln's In
augural. Judging from the war'ike posi>
ton of the ultra partizans who led in the
movement that elected him President, we
expected that he would declare in favor of
coercive measures. The Inaugural on this
point is framed with great caution. 1t does
not openly nvow the policy of blood and
civil war. 1t is true, AbOltionists declare
that it announces the coercion doctrine, but,
taking the document together, we cannot
find anything to sustain such conclusion
The President avoids committing himself
on the momentuous question whether
wisely or not the future will determine.
The inaugural on the fugitive slave law
is sound and conservative Mr. Lincoln
not only declares his belief in the entire
constitut;onality of such a law, but deems
it the imperative duty of Congress to adopt
and of the executive department of the
Government to enforce q law for the sue
eessful recapture of runaway slaves.
The President does not acknowledge the
right of States to dissolve their relations
with the Federal Government at pleasure
In this regard he differs little from the po>
sition assumed by Mr.. Buchanan. On the
question of secession, he advances what
will be generally admitted as legal and
true; yet we do not believe in plunging
the country into the horrors, atrocities and
general ruin of civil war, because we have
the legal and lawful right to do so and
Mr.. Lincoln gives reason to believe he will
not thus involve us.
Ia speaking of the obligation imposed
by decisions Of the Supreme Court, Mr.
Lincoln tries to tickle the ears of his par
tizan friends. He holds that such decision.
should be binding upon the parties to {
suit, but assumes that in cases interfering
with the platform of the Republican party
they are not entitled to SO much respect
Queer sort of reasoning indeed.
Mr.. Lincoln, while not making positive
recommendation to that effect, is inclined
to favor the holding of a National Conven'
ton to make such amendments to the
constitution as the people may require.
But it is not necessary for US to recapitu
late the distinguishing points of our new
Presidents Inaugural Address. 1t is not
so long but that all our readers can find
time to peruse it, and to draw their own
conclusions as to its merits and reasoning
We do not expect that we shall be able
to endorse or support Mr.. Lincoln's ad-
ministrative policy, but as we are in favor
of mild, moderate and conservative meas
ures in our dealings with our Southern
brethren, we car but rejoice that the In
augural leaves us grounds of hope that the
fanatical cry for "blood at the North
will not be obeyed by him. 1t is evident
that Mr.. Lincoln has no taste for blood
shed and while he talks about collecting
the revenues and maintaining possession of
the public property, he puts IN proviso
that it will not be done unless it can be
done without exasperating the excited PEG,
pie of the South.
On the whole, we are constrained to be-
lieye, if the Southern people will not be too
hasty, that Old Abe will give them all they
ask for. lie certainly has made some wide
strdes~in that direction aud there is DO
telling what d" changes and notifications
may be brought about in his policy by
"current events"