Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-03-07
Inaugural Address.

FeRow- Citizens The Umhd States:
In compliance with custom as old as the
Government ITSELF l appear before you to
address you briefly, aud to take, in your pres
ence, the oath prescribed by the Constitution
Of tho United States TO be taken by the Pres
ident "before he enters on the execution Of
his office.
do not consider it necessary at present to
discuss those matters Of administration about
which there is no special anxiety OF excite
mcnt.
Apprehension seems to exist among the
people Of the 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 reasonable cause
for such apprehension. Indeed, the most
ample evidence to the contrary has all the
while existed and been open to their inspec-
ton. 1t is found in nearly all the published
speeches of him who now addresses you |
do but quote from one of those speeshes when
declare that II have no purpose. directly OF
indirectly, to interfere with the institution OF
slavery in the States where it is. | believe
have no lawful right to do so, and have
no inclination to DO So
| Those who nominated and elected mo did
so with full knowledge that had made this
and many similar declarations, and had never
recautcd them and moro than this-they
placed in tho platform fer my acceptance,
and as law to themselves and to me, the
clear and emphatic resolution which | now
read;
"RcSolped, That the maintenance inviola,e
| of tho rights Of the States, and especially the
! right of each State to order and control its
own domestic institutions, according to its
own judgment exclusively, is essential to that
balance of power on which the perfection and
endurance Of our political fabric depends,
and We denouncs the lawless invasion. by
armed force, of the soil Of any State or Ter
! ritory no matter under what pretcxt, rs ~
mong the gravest of crimes"
| now reiterate these sentiments, and in
doing so only press upon the public atten
| ton the most conclusive evidence Of which
the case is susceptible, that the property
peace and security of no section are to be in
anywiso endangered by tho now incoming
Administration. add too, that all the pro-
/
tuition aud tho laws, can be given, will be
cherrfully given 10 all the States, when law
fully demanded Tor whatever cause-as cheer
| fully to one section rs to another.
| There is much controversy about the de-
! livering up Of fugitives from service or labor
Tho clause now read is as plainly written
| in the Constitution MS any other Of its provi-
sions:
No person held to service or labor in one
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 up ON
claim Of the party TO whom such service or
labor may DO due"
| 1t is scarcely questioned that this provision
was intended by those who made it for the
retaining Of what we call fugitive slaves
and the intention OF the lawgiver is the law.
All members Of Congress swear their sup
| port to the whole Constltuton-to this pro-
vision as much as to any other. 10 the pro-
position. then. that slaves whose cases come
within the terms of this clause shall be do
! liyersd up, their oaths are unanimous Now,
If they would make tbs effort in good temper,
could they not, with nearly equal unanimity,
keep good that unanimous oath ?
There is some difference of opinion whether
this clause should DO enforced by national or
by State authority, but surely that difference
is not a very material one. Ii the slave is to
be surrendered, it can DO Of but little conse-
quence to him, or to Others, by which author
ity it is done. And should any one, in any
case, 10 content that his oath shall 90 unkept
| on merely unsubstantial controversy as to
how it shall be kept? Again, in any law up
on this subject ought not all the Safeguards OF
Of liberty known in civilized and humane
| jurisprudence to be introduced So that free
man be not in any case surrendered as slave:
! And might it not be well, at the same time.
to provide by law for the enforcement VI that
clause in the Constitution which guarantees
that the citizens Of each State shall be en-
titled to all privileges and immunitics OF cit
liens in tho several States ?"
take the official oath to-day with no
mental reservations, and with no purpose to
cons.rue the Constitution or laws by any hy-
percritcal rules. And while do not choose
now 10 specify particular acts Of Congress as
proper to be enforced, DO sugges: that it
will be much safer for all, both in official and
private stations. to conform to and abide by
al those acts which stand unrepealod, than
to violate any Of them, trusting to final i'm
punity in having them held TO be uncons,i-
tutional.
Il is sereuty-two years since the first in
au.uration of = President under our Nation
al Constitution. During that period fifteen
different and greatly distinguished citizens
have. in succession, administered the Execu-