Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-03-08
INAUGURATION OF MR. LINCOLN.
.HEs EN AUGUHAH
THE REVENUES To BE COLLECTED.
uyorcnS tn EAe tT6AS1 a
coyerument Ferces to be Used to
Hold the Federal Property.
The Streets Guarded by Sol
diers Rifiemen on the
HOusotODS.
THE srpREHE GO URT SET ASIDE.

QlOrE hllIG11l0u On tjl0
49, HousetOps.
WAsHrSeToS, March 4 Mr.. Lincoln
was to-day innugurated President of the
United States. He was escorted to the
Capitol in carriage with President Buclga-
nan, and from the Southern portico dsliv-
cred the following INAUGURAL:
Felloc- Citizens of the United States: In
compliance with custom as old as the Gov
erument itself. appear before you to ad-
dress you briefly. and to take in your pre-
sence the oath prescribed BY The Constitu-
ton of the United States to be taken by the
President before he cutters on the duties OF
his Office. do not consider it necessary at
present for nee to discuss those matters OF
administration about which there is 10 spe-
cial anxiety nor excitement. Apprehension
seems to exist among tue people Of the
Southern States that by the accession of a
Republican Administration their property.
and their peace, aud pc, sonal security, are
to be endangered There has never been
any reasonable cause tor such apprehen-
sions Indeed. the raost ample evidence to
the contrary has all the while existed. and
been open TO their inspection. 1t is found
ia nearly all the public speeches of him who
now addresses you.
do not quote from one Of these speech
es when l declare, ''thas have no pur-
pose, directly nor indirectly, to interfere
with the institution of slavery in the States
in which it exists | do believe [ have nc
lawful right to do so, and | have nc incli-
nation to do SO" Those who nominated
aud elected me. did so with the full knowl-
lar declarations, and had never recalled
them And more than this, they placed in
the platform for my acceptance, and as a law
to themselves ard to me, the clear and EN-
pbatic resolution which now rcads
Resolued, That the maintenance invio
late of the right of the States, and especial
Ay the right Of each State. to order and con-
troll it's own domestic institutions according
so it's own Judgment exclusively. is essen
sia! to that balance Of power of which the
perfection aud endurance ofour political fab
ric depends; aud we denounce the lawles,
invasion by armed force of the soil of any
State or Territory, ne matter under what
spretext, as among the greatest crimes
now reiterate these sentiments, and in
Doing so. enly press upon the public at
stention the most conclusive evidence Of
which the case is susceptible, that the prop
@erty. peace, spd security of no section are
so be ia any wise endangered by the no~
incoming Administrator. | add, too, that
.aii the protection wi ich, consistently with
the Consultation and laws. can be given,
WILT be cheerfully given to all the States
when lawfully demanded. fer whatever cause
AS chcerfu!ly ae one section as to another
There is much controversy about the de
livering up the fugitives from service to Ia
Dor The clause new read is SIS planl y
written in the Consultation as any ether o:
ats provisions:
mo person held to service or labor in
one State. under the laws thereof, escaping
iuto another. shall, in consequence of spy
las or resolution therein. be declared free
from such service or labor, but shall he de-
livered upou the claisss of the party 10 whom
such service or labor may be due ~
1t is scarcely questioned that this provi-
sion wss intended by those who Gaade it for
the retaining of what we call fugitive sla-
yes, aud the intention of the law is the law
All members of Congress swear their Sup
port 20 the whole Coustitut ion to this pro
vision az much as TO any other To the
propostiess, then. that slaves whose cases
come withie the terms Of this clause sEaI
be delivered up, their eaths are imperative
Now, if they woald make the effort in good
temper. could they not, with equal unauiul.
i!y, frame aud pas. law by means of which
to keep good that oath ? There is some DIFF
ference of opinion wheter this clause shall
be enforced by national or BY State authori.
ty, but surely that difference is not a mate.
rial cue If the slave is TO be surrendered
it oan % of but hide consequence to him OF
TO others by which authority it is done -
And should any one in any case be conten t
that his oath shall go unkept or merely
unsubstantial controversy as to how it shall
be kept! Agaln-ln aby Law GU this sub
jsct. ought not all the safeguards of liberty
known in civilized and humane Jurisprudence
to be introduced, SO that free man be not
Ia any case surrendered es slave7 And
DfRut IL Hot NC VIGIL, al tue same Time, 10
provide by law for the enforcement of that
clause in the Constitution which guarantees
that 1.-The citizens OF each State shall be en-
titled to all the privilege and immunties
of the citizens IN the several States r
l take the official oath to day with no
mental reservation, and with no purpose to
construe the Constitution or laws by any
hypothetical rules. and while do not choose
row to specify particular acts Of Congress
as proper to be enforced, | do suggest that
it will be more safe 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
IMMUNITY in having them held to be uncon
stitutional.
1t is seventytwo years since the first in
auguration Of a President under our Ma
sioual Constitution During that period
fifteen different, and greatly distinguished
citizens have IN succession administered the
jExecutive branch OF the Government They
have conducted~it through many perils and
generally with great success. Yet, with
all this scope for precedent, | now enter up
con the same task for the brief constitutional
term of taur years, under great and pecu-
liar difficulties.
A dissolution Of the Federal Union here
.totore 90 y menacsd, is now formidably at
ptnI hot hat,