Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-03-05

1
retary aud Members of the Senate on the right
The Diplomatic Corps occupied the seats
next in the rear of the Supreme Court. Heads
of Departments, Governors, and ex-Governors
ments occupied position in the rear of the
President elect.
the Senate, ex-members and members elect ot
the House of Representatives in the rear of the
members of the Senate.
mem bers of the Senate.
All being in readiness, the oath of office was
administered to the President elect by the Chiel
Justice and on the conclusion of the Presi
dents Address, the Members of the Senate,
preceded by the -Vice-President, Secretary and
Sergeant-at-arms, returned to the Senate Cham
| Der and the President accompanied by the
Committee of Arrangements, proceeded to
the Presidents House.
! THE INAUGURAL
FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES In
compliance with a custom as old as the Gov
ernment itself, appear before you to address
you briefly, and to take in your presence the
oath prescribed by the Constitution of the
United States to be taken by the President be-
| fore he enters on the execution of his Office.
| do not consider it necessary at present for
me to discuss those matters of administration
about which there is no special anxiety or ex-
citement.
RIGHTS OF THE STATES.
| Apprehension seams to exist among the peo.
pie of the Southern States that by the accession
of Republican administration their property
and their peace and personal security are to be
endangered. There has never been any reason
able cause for such apprehension. Indeed the
most ample evidence to the contrary has all
the while existed, and been open to their in
spection it is found in nearly all the publish
ed speeches of him who now addresses you.
do but quote from one of those speeches
when declare that have no purpose directly
or indirectly to interfere with the institution
of slavery in the States where it exista. be.
lieve I 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 had never recanted
them, and more than this they placed in the
| platform for my acceptance, as law to them
selves and to me, the clear and emphatic reso
luton which now read.
| Resolved, That the maintenance inviolate OF
the rights of the States and especially the right
of each State to order and control its own do
mestic institutions according to its own judg
ment exclusively, is essential TO that balance oi
power on which the perfection and endurance
of our political fabric depend, and we denounce
the lawless invasion, by an armed force, of the
soil of any State or territory, no matter under
what pretext, as among the gravest of crimes
now reiterate these sentiments, and in do
ing so only press upon the public attention
the most conclusive evidence of which the case
is susceptible that the property, peace and Sc
curity of no section are to be in anywise endan
gered by the now incoming Administration.
Il l add, too, that all the protection which
consistently with the constitution and the law:
can be given, will be cheerfully given to all the
States, when lawfully demanded, for whatever
cause, as cheertully to one section as to an
other.
FUGITIVE SLAVES.
There is much controversy about the deliver
ing of fugitives from service or labor The
clause now read is as plainly written in thu
Constitution as any other of its provisions:
"No person held to service or labor II
one State under the laws thereof escaping intt
another, shall, in consequence of any law o.
regulation therein, be discharged from sucl
service or labor, but shall be delivered up OF
claim of the party to whom such service or la
Dor may be due"
It is scarcely questioned that this provision
was intended by those who made it for the re
claiming of what we call fugitive slaves, ane
the intention of the lawgiver is the law.
All members of Congress swear their supper
to the whole Constitution to this provision Al
much as to any other.
! To the proposition then that slaves whose
cases come within the terms of this clause anC
shall be delivered up, their oaths are unani
NOUS. Now, If they would make the effort ir
good temper, could they not with nearly equa
unanimity frame and pass law by means o.
which to keep good that unanimous oath -
There is some difference of opinion whether
this clause should be enforced by Nationa
or State authority, but surely that diff
ference is not very material one.-
Ifthe slave is to be surrendered it can be oil
but of little consequence to him or to others
by which authority it is done, and should any
one in any case be content that his oath shal
be unkept on merely unsubstantial controver
sy as to how it shall be kept.
i Again, in any law upon this subject ough
not all the safeguards of liberty known in civil
lied and humane jurisprudence to be introduced
so that freeman may not be in any case surren
dered as slave. And might it not be well al
the same time to provide by law for the en-
forcement of that clause in the Constitution
which guarantees that the citizens of each
State shall be entitled to all the provisions ano
immunities of citizens in the several States.
II I take the official oath to-day, with
no mental reservations and with no pur
by any hypocritical rules, and while
do not choose now to specify particular act
Of Congress as proper to be enforced. Idosug
gest that it will be much safer for all, both il
official and private stations, to conform to anC
, abide by all those acts which stand unrepealed
than to violate any of them, trusting to fnt
, impunity in having them held to be unconsti
} tutional.
1t is seventy-two years since the first inaugu
ration of President under our National Con
stitution, during that period fifteen differen
: and greatly distinguished citizens have, in sue
cession, administered the Executive branch o
the Government. They have conducted
through many perils and generally with grea
success, yet with all this scope for precedent
now enter upon the same task for the brie
Constitutional term of four years under great ant
peculiar difficulty. A disruption of the Fedora
Union, heretofore only mensced, is now formid
ably attempted. I hold that in contemplation
of universal law and of the Constitution th
Union of these States is perpetual; perpetuit,
) is implied If not expressed in the Fundamental
, law of all national governments.
It.is safe to assert that government, properl,
ever had provision In its organic law for it