New-York daily tribune., 1861-03-05
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

The Inaugural Address Of the new President
does not require of US the usual synopsis OF such
documents made for the benefit of indolent read
ers; for apart from the interest with which 1t is
universally looked for, it's breyity will bring it
within the compass Of the Efforts of the most
reluctant readers Of Messages, while its plain
ness and directness Of speech will make its mean
ing clear TO the lowest capacity. 1t is marked
by no useless words and no feeble expression;
she who runs may read" it, and to twenty mil
lions of people it will carry the tidings, glad or
not as the csse may be, that the Federal Gov
ernment of the United States is still in e.
i,tence. with Man at the head Of it.
Mr.. Lincoln begins by assuring the country in
the most positive terms OF the pacific intentions
OF the Republican party, that they do not propose
and never have proposed TO interfere with Slav-
cry in the States. Though such On unfounded
belief exists in the South, he quotes from one
speech of his own, and refers TO others as an
evidence of his wel-known position on this SUBJ
ject, and he quotes alsO from the Chicago Plat
form TO show that he was nominated under no
misapprehensiOn in regard 10 it. The return Of
fugitive slaves he considers constitutional obi
gation but while that is TO be obeyed, whether
by Federal or State authority he considers Of
little consequence, 80 that the duty be performed.
He also suggests that all safeguards should be
thrown about the liberty OF the freeman TO pre-
vent his being taken as a slave, and that the
rights of all citizens in all the States should also
be protected. He evidently does not consider
that our constitutional duty is ended in catching
runaway negroes, or that the rights Of slave
holders are the only rights to be protected.
The Union, Mr.. Lincoln says, is older
than the Constitution, and he does not recognize
the power OF only one party to the contract Of
union 70 break it. No State, by its own
mere motion, can go out Of the Confederaey,
and all resolves and ordinances 10 that effect are
void Considering the Union therefore as un-
broken, lie has no alternative but TO execute the
laws in accordance with bis oath Of Office. This
duty he means to perform perfectly, unless the
sovereign people forbid. But i'll performing it,
no unnecessary force will be- used, and no Fed
eral officers will be placed where their presence
will be obnoxious. 1t is his intention neyerthe-
less to occupy and possess the property and posts
belonging 10 the Government, and collect the
revenue. On this point the Address is most
emphatic, the assurance being again and again
given OF the intention Of the President TO fulfill
the plain duties of his Office, and throwing upon
those, if there be any SUCH who shall resist this
assertion Of the laws and rights Of the Govern
ment. the odium Of tho consequences that may
follow resistance
Nearly sne.half OF the Address il an earnest
appeal Oh behalf Of the Union. But Mr.. Lincoln,
while dwelling upon tho folly OF the South III
seeking in disuniOn a remedy for their supposed
ills, holds out 10 her no promise OF any new
of her rights. He recognizes the fact
Of divided opinion on the subject Of Slavery, and
evidently does not expect anything more than that
there should be fuIillment Of the "dry legal OBJ
" legation" on either side But he asks OF the South
il they expect 10 obtain more than this when
out Of the Union
The President iayOrs National Convention,
but has no special amendments TO recommend to
the Constitution. To that which has passed Con-
gress, to the effect that Slavery shall not be in-
terfered with in the States by the action of the
Federal Government, lie only says he has no OBJ
ection, IS it is already the Constitutional law;
we may repeat, too that it is also the Repub-
ican faith.
The Address can not fail TO exercise happy
influence upon the country. The tone of almost
tenderness with which the South is called upon
% return to her allegiance, can not fail TO con.
Iince even those who differ from Mr.. Lincoln
hat he earnestly and seriously desires TO avoid
III difficulty and disturbance, while the hrmness
Ia. IA. a.. l:ol ...u.a nj ~ IN ohey