Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-03-07
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

do consider necessary present discuss
those matters of administration about which there is
special anxiety or excitement.
An apprehension to exist among the people of the
rn;n;stro 49, ~ ~ 80 49, ~ rsoDol CO.
curity are to be endangered.
There has been any reasonable such ap
prehenson. Indeed the most ample evidence to the
trar has all the while existed and been open to their in
spection 1t is found in nearly all the published speeches
Of him who now addresses you.
quote from one those speeches when declare
that have no purpose directly Indirectly, interfere
believe haze no lawful right to do So have no lnclna
Those who nominated and elected did SO with full
knowledge that had made this and similar decara
tions and had never recanted them and than this
they placed in the platform for my acceptance,
law to themselves and to me- the clear and emphatic reso
luton which now read:
Res0ced That the maintenance nvolate of the rights
of the States and especially the right of each State to order
own Judgment exclusively essential to the balance of
which the perfection and endurance of our po
by force of the soil of State territory mat
ter under what preext as among the gravest OF
now reerate these sentiments, and in doing so, only
press upon the public attention the conclusive evidence
of which the case is susceptible That the property peace
and security Of section are to be IN endangered
| by the now incoming administration
add that all the protection which, consistently with
the constitution laws be given, will be cheer
fully given all the States when lawfully demanded for
whatever cheerfuy to section to another
much controversy about the delivering of f
gtves from service labor The clause now read is
plainly written in the constitution other of its
| visions:
mo person held to service labor in State, under
the laws thereof escaping into another. SHALL in conse,
quence of any law regulation therein be discharged
such service labor, but shall be delivered
claim of the party to whom such service labor be
| due.
scarcely questioned that this provision intended
by those who made it, for the recamiGg of what call
fugitive slaves and the intention of the awgiVer is the law
Ali members of Congress their support the whole
consutionto this provision as much as to any other
To the proposition them that slaves whose
within the terms of this clause sha be delivered up,
their oaths unanimous.
Now il they would make the effort in good temper could
they not with nearly equal unanmity frame and law
by of which to keep good that unanimous oath
There some difference of opinion whether this clause
should be enforced by national State authority But
surely that difference is not a very material one w
II the slave to be surrendered be of but little
quence him others by which authority it is
done. And should any any be content that his
oath shall go uIkept merely unsubtantal controversy
to hooC it shall be kept?
Again. in law upon this subject ought not all the safe
prudence be introduced that free be not any
surrendered a slave?
And ght it WELL at time to provide by
law for the enforcement of that clause in the constitution
which guarantees that the citizens of each State shall be
titled to all privileges and immunes of citizens in the
take the official oath to-day with no mental
and with no purpose to consrue the constitution by
any by critical rules. Aud while do not choose to
specify particular of Congress proper to be
forced, dosuggest that it will be much safer for ALL both
in official and private stations and abide by
all those which stand unrepealed than violate any
them, trusting to find mpunty in having them held be
unconstitutional
1t is seventy years Inauguration of
President under national constitution. During that pc
riod fifteen differ and greatly distinguished citizens have
succession administered the branch of the
erIment.
They have conducted through many pers and gener
ally with great success. Yet with all the scope for prece
dent now enter upon the same task for the brief const
tuonal term of four years under great aid peculiar diff
Guilty. disruption of the federal Union heretofore only
menaCed is now foImdably attempted.
hold that in contemplation of the universal law and of
the constitution, the Union of these States perpetual
Perpeuity implied if not expressed in the fundamental
law of all national 1t is safe that
government proper had provision in organic law
Tor its own term.natlon
Continue execute all the ex ress provisions of
tonal constitution and the Union will endure forever it
being Impossible TO destroy except by soma action not
provided for in the instrument itself
Again, if the United States be not government prope
but association of States in the nature Of contract
y can It, as contract be peaceaby uncade by less than
all the parties who made it One party contract may
violate or break it, to speak, but does require all to
lawfully rescind it?
Descending from these general principles find the pro-
position that legal contemplation the Union is perpetual
| confined by the history of The Union itself.
The Union is much older than the constitution. 1t
formed in fact by the articles l774.
maured and continued by the Declaration of Independence
76 1t further matued the faith of ali the then
thirteen States expressly and engaged that it should
be perpetual by the articles Of confederation in 1878.
And finally, in 1897, of the declared objects for
dainng and establishing the constitution to form a
perfect Union. But the of the Union
by one or by part only of the States be lawfully possible
the Union is less perfect than before the cOns tuition, hav
ing lost the vital element of perpetuity.
1t follows, from these views that State, upon its
mere motion, lawfully get of the Union-tbat
solves and ordinances to that effect legally void; and
that acts OF violence within State States against the
authority of the United States nsurTectionry
lutionary according to circumstances.
therefore consider that in view of the constitution and
the laws the Union unbroken the extent of my
ability shall take constitution expresslSen
joins upon me- that the laws OF the Union be faithfully
cuted in all the States.
Doing this deem to be only simple duty my part
and Shall perform 1t so far as practicable unless my right
f1 masters, the American people, shall withhold the requ
site MEANS or III some authoritative direct the
trary.
trust that this will not be regarded as menace but
only the declared purpose Of the Union, that will
stituonay defend and maintain Itself In doing this there
need to be 10 boodshed or violence and there shall be
/
The power conded to NE will he used to hold occupy
possess the property places belonging to the
eminent and collect The dties and inposts but
what be necessary for these objects will be
INVASION using of force against among the people
anywhere.
Where hostility the United States in any interior local
y shall be so great and so universal as to prevent
tent resident citizens from holding the federal Offices
will be no attempt to obnoxious strangers among the
! people for that object.
While the legal right may exist the government
TO enforce the exercise OF these Offices the attempt
so would SO irritating and SO nearly with
ALL that deem better 1ego the time the uses of
such Offices The mails unless repeled will continue be
furnished in all parts of the Union.
So far possible the people everywhere shall have that
sense OF perfect security which is most favorable to calm
thouQ ut and reflection
The indicated will be followed unless current
events and experience shall show modification change
will be exercised according to cumstan:es actual
y existing and with view and hope of peaceful solu.
ton OF Onal troubles and the restoration fraternal
sympathies and affections.
That there persons section or another who
destroy the Union at all events and are glad of anv
text to do It, will neither affirm deny, there be
SUCH need address word to them To those however,
who really love the Union, may not speak
Before entering upon grave matter the destruction
of national fabric, with all its benefits and
its hopes would it not be wise to precisely why
we do it?
viii you hazard SO desperate step while there is any
possibility that portion Of the ills you fly from have no
real existence? Viii you while the ce tain ills YOU y to
greater than all the real you fly trom-w you risk
the commission of so fearful mistake?
All profess to be Unit if all constitutional
rights be maintained Is it true them any
plainly written in the constitution, has beer denied?
think not
Happily the human mind is constituted no party
can reach to the audacy of doing this. Think you can
of single instance in which plainly written provision of
the constitution has ever been denied.
If by the mere force of numbers majority should de-
of