Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1861-03-15
Inaugural Address
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

FelIoao- Citizens Of the United States:
In compliance with custom
as old as the government 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 before he
enters on the execution OF his office.
do not consider it necessary at present
for me to discuss those matters Of admin
istration about which there is no special
anxiety or excitement.
An apprehension seems to exist among
the people of the Southern States that BY
the accession of a republican sdministra
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 while existed and been open to
their inspection. 1t is 5ound in nearly all
the published speeches of him who now
addresses you.
| do but quote from one of those speech
es when declare that Il have no purpose
directly or indirectly, to interfere with
the institution of slavery iE the States
where if exists I believe have no law
ful right to do SO. I have no inclination
to 90 So"
Those who nominated and elected me
did so with a full knowledge that [ had
made this and many similar declarations,
and had never recanted them; and more
than this, they placed i'll the platform. for
my acceptance, and as a law tc themselves
aud to me, the clear aud emphatic resolu-
ton which | now read
''Resol0ed. That the maintenance invio-
late of the rights of the States. and espe-
,cially the right OF each State to order and
control its own domestic institutions, ac-
cording to its own Judgment exclusively,
is essential 70 the balance of power on
which the perfection and endurance of our
political-fabric depends, and we denounce
the lawless inva.ion by armed force, of
the soil OF any State or territory. no mat
ter under what pretext, as among the
gravest OF crimes"
now reiferate these sentiments, and in
doing go, / only press upon the public at
tention the most conclusive evidence OF
which the case is susceptible That the
property. peace, and security of no section
are to be in anywise endangered by the
now incoming administration.
I add, too, that all the protection which,
consistently with the constitution and the
laws can be given, will be cheerfully Civ
en- to all the States, when lawfully de-
Inanded, tor whatever cause as cileerfnlly
to one section as to another.
THERE'S much controversy about the de-
livering up of fugitiyes from service or Ia
Dor. The clause / now read is as plainly
written in the constitution as any other of
its provisions = ss -
NO person heldte service or labor in
one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping
into another, shall, iE, consequences of any
law or regulation therein, be discharged
from such service or labor, but shall be
delivered up on claim Of the party tc whom
such service or labor may DO due
It is scarcely questioned that this pro-
vision was intended BY those who made it,
for the reclaiming Of what we call fugitive
slaves and tie Intention of the kwgiver
is the Law. All members of Congress
swear their support. to the whole constitu-
tion-to this provision al mueh asstos any