Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-03-05
prosiaent. Inaugural Addrc.s.

IN
Tbe inaugural address of the President
seems admirably adapted to allay the appre-
hens;uns Of the people of every section OF
the country. The people Of the South are
assured that their constitutional and local
aehts wiz be held sacred by his Admiuls-
ration: and all the constitutional guaran-
tees TO their peculiar domestic relation full
flled to the letter, without evasion or
hypercritical Interpretation. They are also
assured that, under the Constitution, there
can be no coercion Of States, but that his
duty is simply to see that the laws are
faithfully observed by the people in every
State, and that this duty will be executed.
There is no coercion in this, unless there
be coercion in the Constitution and laws.
If there be, the President is not responsible
for il. He can not go behind the Constitu-
ton and laws which he has sworn to sup
port and execute. In this respect the in
sugural is but the repetition of his official
oath; and certainly no one will pretend
that there is any coercion in an official oath
as old as the Government.
The President shows also that as the Con-
~stitution does not provide for a dissolution
Of the Union, a dissolution is impossible so
long as the Constitution is observed and the
laws obeyed; and that so long as this is
done, there can be no question of coercion.
But if an attempt is made to coerce the Gov
ment, the Government will maintain itself.
This removes all ground offear in the South
that the President is about to ~inaugurate a
g coereiVe course; and his assurance that, in
executing the laws, there shall be no blood
shed, unless force is used against the national
autsOrity, win emo all fears On that score.
The people of the North are assured that
the duties Of the President are purely execu-
tive, and will be strictly confined to that
and that while the Constitution stands he
will maintain it, If any changes are to be
made in tho confsitutivu, he suggests that
the amendments should originate with the
people Of the States, in the constitutional
way, instead Of being concocted in a Con-
~Tention, under the pressure of panic, haste
and intimidation, and then presented to the
people as an ultimatum.
The President states that while his policy
in executing the avs may be modified by
circumstances "the power confded to him
will be used to hold, occupy and possess the
property and places belonging to the Gov
sernment, and to collect duties upon imports"
This Is the precise course which was advo-
Gated at the great Union meeting at Pixies
Opera house in this city, and Endorsed by
that vast assembly, without distinction of
party.
The President has the power to do this,
without any additional legislation. None
but a President who wished to avoid doing
hiBduty, would have pretended that he had
not the legal power to do this. In regard
to the mails, he proposes to continue them
wherever they are respected, and where the
.POstmAsters continue to fulfil their obliga-
lions to the Government. Where these con-
ditions are not complied with, the mails will
b withdrawn.
II was proper that the President should
take the earliest occasion to condemn the
attempt to drag the Supreme Court into the
adjudication Of political questions. This
degradation has already shaken the conf
denee of the people in this tribunal. . Even
the party which has used it for its temporary
purpose, has lost all respect for it. and seeks
70 drag its ermine deeper in the mire of
party necessity.
The inaugural is distinguished for direct
ness and pertinency. It avoids all circum-
i~ocution, and goes straight at the work, dis
eussiRg those questions which are upper
most in the public mind, and expressing his
views with a ~elesrness and decision which
leave no possibility for misunderstanding.
1t denotes a character exactly adapted to
the nstiOnal necessity. In spite of the Bit
terness Of feeling created by Secession, we
believe that the great majority of the people,
both North and South, will heartily respond
70 its sentiments and declarations; and we
believe that the Judgment of the American
people viii pronounce this one of the sblest
of American State papers.
H#r.. -
H.N THO Journal Of n affam.R a REVsaE