The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-03-09

PRESIDENT LINCOLN.

| Ee40te- CEtizene Of Ehe United STATES: Ii
compliance with custom IS old as the Gov
eminent itself, appear before you to ad
dress you briefly, and to take in your pres
ence the oath prescribed by the Constitution
of the United States to be taken by th,
President before he enters on the execution
of the duties of his Office. do not con,
slider it necessary, at present, for me to dis
cuss those matters of administration about
which there is no special anxiety or excite
ment.
The apprehension seems to exist among
the people of the Southern States that, by
the accession of Republican Administra.
ton, their property and their peace and
personal security are to be endangered
There has never been any reasonable cause
for such apprehension indeed, the most
ample evidence TO the contrary has all the
" bile existed, and been open To their inspec-
ton. It is found in nearly all the published
speeches of him who now addresses you. ]
do but quote from one of those speeches,
where / declare that have no purpose. d.
rectly or indirectly, to interfere with the
institution of slavery in the States where it
exists. / believe have no lawful right to
do so. l 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 had
never recanted them and more than this,
they placed In the platform for my accept
ance, as law to- themselves and to me, the
clear and emphatic resolution which now
read:
"ResoiDed. Thatthe maintenance iBviolate of the
rights of the States-and especially the right of
each State to order and control its own domestic
49,. 80.
clusively-is essential to the balance of power on
which the perfection and endurance of our politi-
cal fabric depend; and we denounce the lavless
invasion by the armed force of the Government, of
any State or Territory, no matter under what pre-
t:xt, as among 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 any wise endangered by the now iu-
coming Administration. add, too, that
all the protection which, consistently with
the Constitution and laws, can be given, will
be cheerfuIly 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 de-
lvering of fugitives from service or labor.
The clause I now read is as plainly written
in the Constitution as any other of its pro-
visions: mo person held to service or la
Dor in State, under the laws thereof, escap-
ing into another. shall, in consequence of
any law or regulation therein, be discharged
from such service or labor, but shall be de-
livered up on claim of the party to whom
such service or labor may be due" 1t is
scarcely questioned that this provision was
intended by those who made it for the re-
of what we call fugitive slaves;
and the intention of the law given is the law.
All members of Congress swear their sup
port to the whole Constitution-to this pro-
vision as much as to any other. To the
then. that slaves whose cases
come within the terms of this clause shall
be delivered up. their oaths are unanimous.
Now, if they would make the effort in good
temper, could they not, with entire equa-
nimity. frame and pass law by means of
which to keep good that unanimous oath
There is some difference of-~i1jnien wheth
n this clause should be enforced by National
or State authority; but surely that difference
s not very material one. If the slave is
o be surrendered, it can be of but little con-
sequence to him or to others by which au-
bority it is done and should any one in
my case be content that his oath shall be
1nkept on a merely unsubstantial contro-
yersY as to how it shall be kept? Again,
n any law upon this subject ought not all |
he safeguards of liberty known in civilized |
Ind humane jurisprudence to be introduced,
10 that freeman may not in any case be
surrendered as a slave ?-and might it not |
,e well at the same time to provide by law
or the enforcement of that clause in the |
which guarantees that the citi-
ems of each State shall be entitled to all the
privileges and immunities of citiz Ems in the
everal States
l take the official oath to-day with no
mental reservations, and no purpose to con-
true the Constitution and laws by any
rules and while / do not
hoose now to specify particular acts of
congress as proper to be enforced, l do sug-
est that il will be much safer for all, in
ffical and private stations, to conform to
nd abide by all these acts which stand un-
epealed, than to violate any of them, trust
ng to find security in having them held to
re unconstitutional.
It is now seventy-two years since the first
of President under our Ma
onal Constitution. During that period
fteen different and greatly distinguished
itizens have, in succession, administered
be Executive branch of the Government.
hey have conducted it through many per-
8, generally with great success; yet with
Il this scope for precedent. now enter
pom the same task for the brief const;tu-
onal term of four years, under great and
ocular difficulties. Disruption of the Fed
raj Union, heretofore only menaced, is now
,rmidably attempted. hold that, in con-
,mplation of universal law and the Consti-
1tion. the Union of the States is perpetual.
is implied. if not expressed, in
he fundamental law of all National Govern
tents. 1t is safe to assert that the Govern.
lent proper has no provision in its organic
W for its own termination. Continue to i
Lecute all the express provisions of our {
Tational Constitution, and the Union will
ndure forever, it being impossible to de- q
roy it except by some action not provided {
IT in the instrument itself. Again, if the I
niLed States be not Government proper, q
ut an association of States in the nature of {
contract merely. can it, as contract, g
: peaceably unmade unless by all the par a
es who made it? One party to contract ?
ay violate it, break it, so TO speak but i
pes it not require all to lawfully rescind it I