The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1861-03-09
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Delirered IN WasAingtom, Monday, March
Eellow Citizens of the United States:


Il, cuinp nee wltn Il custom us Old as the govern
mei1t i3seii, | appear before ou to address you
briefly take IN your presence the oath pre-
scrluri ny the Constitution OF ,ite United Sta.cs
be taken 10y the President oeiore he enters upon
the cx.-cu.l n OF his oliic..
1 do ne, consiti,r ii necessary for me at present
to discuss 1hosc matters vi administrator about
w..icn is special anxiety OF excitement.
Ap,1e leu-Iolis seem to exist among Tue people
of the fSoutnern States that by the
ltepuolcti admin STATION their property. Their
prae, aud security are TO be endaneered there
never becu any etsonable cause Tor such ap.
ORC ul.s Indie. the most ample evidence to tho
.traly all ltc VI lille existed and been open TO
,ectio 1t Is found IN nearly ali tnc pub
s.ieI s,,vecnes of him WHO now addresses you !
tio but quote from one OF these 81 eecHcS, "nenl
,,.. are tt,at have no purpose directly indrcct
ly 10 inte: with e institution .! slNcry IN the
States wu,re 1T eNiss. l believe | nave NJ "lul
r1g.,t to du So ..iid have inclination to do so.
no>e no nominated and elected INC dld so with tho
full kuowte t.,t hit had uit:e this any lnIny SIM
llar declarations ALL ila never rccantt Llen aud
more than tlS ttey placed ia the platform ior my
a. G. cptt.ce ;,,lI Il 10 themselves anl to mo
the .npls,lc resolution wien how read:
''EEsoLyED, iii, the inalnt Ndnc' InVoia'e oi tho
rG,S of tee States, and especially the night 10 con-
trot tll4n listltltouS cNQtilng to
iu genl,t exclusively, is essential the
balance power on which the perfection and endu-
rance OF our polic,I tabrick depend, and we de-
nounce the awlr SIS invasion by a' a1,ned force of
sii ot any STATE or Territory, no matter und3r
W hat re,ext, among the gray est of crimes.
now relterate the srntncntS aud III doing So l
only press upon The public attention the most con-
cstiaiyc evidence of which the Is Susceptible,
an tnat the property, peace and stcurlty OF no
are to ne In any Wise cndangereu by tie IN
coming administration. | add, too, THAT ali the
protection consistent with the Constitution
u..d Tie Laws Will bt cnGeruy To one oecton as 20
anothVr.
TAclc Is much controversy about delivering up
ftl .i;vcs from service lau"r. The clause now
r.,l j. "a p.aly written the Constitution amy
# ID rSijil
l,oor State under the laws thereof, ea@ap-
m; another snail, iii consequence OF any ia" or
regulation thc eli, be discharged from such s'vIce
or Il, ur, out shall De uelivcrcd up On caIm ol tho
party to whom .ucn service or labor may be duc.
l. Is ~careely ue-tio.able than this provision "as
intended by tto>e who made it for the recianiiii.
of what CAL fugitive slaves and the Intention ..
the law governs The law. All members "t Congress
swear 10 support the whole Constitution, THIS pro-
vision ,s much as any ot"cr. Io tbs prop"s1''oh'
te that slaves whose cases come within the terms
of that cause Snail te ueEtreu up tH'lE oati> aio
unanimous
Now, If they would make the cort in good temper
could tncy with equal unAmtinty, frame ana
pass law by means Of " hch to keep z OIL that
unanimous ,.ih There is difference oi OPP
iyn as TO whether TINS clause should be enforced ~
national b, State authority, tut sureiJ th't d.f
ference is not very ma cral one. III tit save Is
to b. surrendered be but oj little consequences
to him OF Others by wiiic, torty 1t IL do'.e
oi:oui any in any case be content that LIS
oath should go unkept on q merely unsubataiitia!
to now IL SHAH DC htpt +io 'ii Al
any upon this su Ject should not ali t'e >i'e-
guards OF iibcrty know in civilized and human ms
pru.icct Inserted, TO that Il freeman be not III any
case rcIlurl eli Il slave And might ~ hot DC
ell a. t.Ics time tu provide by law tor the en-
frci1l of that CAUSE IN the Constitution WHICH
GUARANTEES that the cltZens ol cacl State shall be
entitled al tue privileges and inlnunltIes OF cII-
zs, in the several States | shat! take the oicla
oatn /; " with no mental reservations and with
no purpose conStrt.e the Constl tutlDn al l laTS
y nv h. pnr, ritcai ru.e>, and w.ilc do not hJost
>. city particular acts OF Congress as prop
er 10 ne ..nfrccL 90 suggest that 1t will be much
SAFER iur all Lotn in official and private station, 10
Conform TO abide by all those acts which stand
tpeaed. than to violate any Of theln Iustn t"
fd l.npunity iii having them held to be coIlatitu-
ional.
1t is seventy-two years since the first Inaugural
ton OF President under our national Cons. tuition
D,.!ily tnat period fifteen different ana greatly
ii, ,tuy.iscu citizens have in succession adli MS
tired me Executive branch OF tue government. lney
have conducted 1t through many peru, ana S'he4
al, With great success Yet, with all tlis scope
f,r racede..t: now enter upon the same tasA 'oF
, i,ri constitution i, term OF tour years under
~" an, na:ui.ar difficulty. A disruption Of the
mi ably attempted hod tLat. IN cont'inilt'io
ot ,,o,,.,sI Jaw and OF thc Constitution, the Ciilon
~ ha. State, is prrpctu.!. PtTp"t atty Is implied
r. t xnr,s-el in the Fundamental! law OF ali ma
. ,.oyer..,euts lt is safe to assert that no gov
o-,,,,eEt proper had provision in IT'S Organic
- Tor : ox.l termination. Continue to execute
- -. ,x,ress provisions of our national ConStltu- .
ion n Un.oI Will en- lure forever, 1t being I'M
,,o.,ioe to d. stroy it except by some action nos
,rovide tor in the lnstruu0Got NSea4