The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-03-13
PRESIDENT LINCoLN's.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Feilow Citizens of the United States g:

Fellow Citizens of the United States
In compliance with a custom AS old as
the Government itself, appear before
sou,. 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 en-.
ters on the execution Of his office
| do not consider it necessary at pres
ent for me to discuss those matters Of ad-
ministratiou about which there is no spe.
cial anxiety or excitement. Apprehension
seems TO exist among the people Of the
Southern States, that by the accession of
n Republican Administration, their prop.
eriy and thei' peace and personal securi.
ty, are TO be endangered. There has nev.
er been any reasonable cause for such ap.
prehensiou. Indeed, the most ample ev.
idence TO the contrary has all the while
existed, and been open TO their inspec.
ton.
1t is found in nearly all tn. published
speeches Of him who now addresses YOU.
do but quote from one Of those speeches
when declare that have 10 purpose,
directly or indirectly, to interfere with the
institution OF slavery in the States where
it exists. believe have no lawful right
10 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 decla.
iations, and had never recanted them :;
and more than this, they placed in the
platform for my acceptance, and as law
10 themselves and to me, the clear and
emphatic resolution which | now read {:
ReSolped, That the maintenance invio
late Of the rights Of the States, and es.
PecIa'Iy the right OF each State TO order
and control its own domestic institutions
according to its own Judgment exclusive
iy, IS essential 10 that balance Of power
on which the perfection and endurance
Of our political fabric depend, and we de.
noCnce the Iaw!ess invasion by aimed
force OF The sell Of any State or Territory,
no matter under what pre,ext, as among
the gravsst of cIi'ues.
] now reilerats these sentiments, and
in Ioing so, only press upon the pubiiJ
al'e"ton the most conclusive evidence OF
winch the case is susceptible, that the
property, peace and security of no section
are 10 te in anywise endangered by the
now incoming Administration. add to
inst, all the protection which, consistent
: with the Constitution and the laws,
can be given, will be cheerfully given to
all the States when lawfully demanded,
for whatever cause, as cheerfully to one
section rs another. There is much con
,royersy about the delivering up Of fugi
lives from service or labor. The clause |
now read is AS plainly written in the Con
sti,n,ion rs any other of its provisions
No person held to service or labor in one
State. under the laws thereof escaping
iuto another, shall in consequence of any
law or regulation therein, be discharged
from such service or labor, but shall be
delivered up Oh claim Of the party to
whom such service or labor may be due"
1t Is scarcely questioned tiat this provis
lou WAS intended 10y those who made il
for The reclaning Of what we call fugi
tive slaves, ard the intention OF the law
given is the law that s!l members Of
Congress swear their support to--ths
whole Constitution, 10 this provision as
much as 10 any other. To the PROPOSE.
ton, then, that slaves whose cases come
within the terms Of this clause shall be
delivered up, their osths are unanimous.
Now II they would make the effort in
good temper, could they not. with nearly
equal nnanimity, frams and pass a law
by means OF which To keep good that
unanimous oath. There is some differ,
ence Of opinion rs TO whether this clause
should be enforced by National or by
State authorities, out surely that differ.
ence is not very material one. ha
IL the slave is to be surrendered. it can
be OF but little consequence TO him or to
others, by which authority il is done
and should any ono in any case he con
tent that his oath shall 60 unkept on a
merely y upsubstsntisl CONTROVERSY xs TO
how it shall be kept. Again, 10 any law
upon tbis subject, ought not all the safe,
gusrds Of liberty known in civilized life,
civilized and humane Jurisprudence, TO
oe introduced, so that q freeman he not,
~ SNSe, sutfouotTcu No - otANe ana
might il not he we'll, at the same time,
TO provide by law Tor the enforcement Of
that clause in the Constitution, which
guarantees that the citizens OF each Stale
shall be entitled TO all the privileges and
immuDities Of citizens in the several
States.
| take The official oath TO day with no
mental reservations, and with no purpose
to coustrue the Constitution or laws By
any byprocriticsl rules.
Aud while do not choose pow to spec
ify particular acts Of Congress as proper
to bs enforced, ] do suggest that II win
be much safer for all, both in official and
private stations, to conform to and abide
by all those acts which stand unrepealed,
than to violate any Of them, trusting TO
find impunity 10 having them held 10 be
constitutional
IL is seventy two years since the frs.
inauguration Of a President under our