The daily Wabash express. (Terre-Haute, Ind.) 1857-1867, 1861-03-06
Presidents Inau gural Address.
Fsiiss C.iis,ss Of tie U.,,.a sss,,s,

e'"i fitsaito Win a custom n cto
the Government itself appear befor
you to address YOU briefly, and TO take n
your presence the oath prescribed BY th'
Constitution Of the United States TO b
taken by the President before he enter
on the duties Of his office. DO not con
slider Il necessary at present for me 10 en-.
pre-. myself on those matters of admins.
tration sbou, which there il NO special
anxiety or excitement.
The apprehension seems 10 exis, among
the people Of the Southern States that by
the accession Of n Republican administers
ton thoir property and their personal secn
riiyare 10 b. endangered. There ha. never
been any reasonable cause for such appre-
tensions. indeed tho most ample evidence
TO tho contrary has all the while been ex.
tended and open TO their inspection. II
IL found In nearly all tho Published
speeches Of him who now addresses you.
ssw quote from one Of those speeches.
when declared that have 90 purpose.
directly or indirectly. 10 interfere vih the
Institution Of slavery ia the States where u
exists. and believe l have no lawful light
10 do 90. and ] have no inclination 10 do
90. Thoss Who nominated aud elected
me did - with the full knowledge that l
had made this aud many similar deelsra.
lions. and had never recalled them. AMI
even more thas this they placed On he
platfoam. for my acceptance. A. a Law To
themselves aud 10 me. the clear aud em.
platte resolution which nov read:-
Resolved. That the naintainsnce iuviolate
OF tho rights Of The State aud especially the
right Of each State. To order aud control
liz own domestic Institutions, according
TO its own Judgement exclusively il essen
ssntiai to the balance Of power. on which
the perfection and endurance Of our politi-
cal fabric depends. and We denaanee the
lavless invas,ons. by an armed force Of
the Government. Of any State or Territory
no matter under what prstsxt-as amo ng
the greatest Of crimes.
new rsiterate those sentiments. 10 do
ing 90 only press upon the public atten.
ton the most conclusive evidences. Of
which the case 10 susceptible. that the pro-
rsrty. peace asd security Of 20 section are
to bs in any wise endangered BY the new
incoming Administration. 1 add to 1t that
oil the protection which consistently with
the constitution and laws can be given. all |
the States. when lawfully demanded. for
whatever cause. as cheerfully to one sec
tisn % TO another. shall be given.
There is much controversy about the de
livery Of fugitives from service or labor. -
The clause nov read 70 as plainly writ
ten In the Constitution rs any che of its |
provisions:
''No person held to service or labor
In one State under the laws thereof. esea.I
ping into another, shall. in Consequence
Of any Law or regulation thersin. be d.s- /
charged from such service or labor: bat
shall be delivered up. on claim. to the |
party to whom such service or labor NAV
be due"
IL - scarcely Questioned that this pro-
vision was intended. by those Who made |
IT. for the retaining Of what us call fugi-
tive slaves. and ths intention OF the Law |
givers IL the Law. All Members Of Con
eress swear their support to the whole
Constitution-to this provision as much "a
any othsr To the proposition then that
slaves. whose cases come within the terms
Of this clause. shall be delivered Up,
their oaths are unanimous Now il they
would make the effort. in good temper,
could they not with nearly perfec equs
namity frame and pass a Law by means Of
which to keep good that unanimous oath
There Is some difference OF opinion wke,h-
~ this clause should be enforced by Ma
tionai or State authority. bat surely that
difference 10 not . very material one
IL the slave 10 to be surrendered. IL can
be OF but little consequence 10 him or to
o,hsrs. by which authority il is done. and
should aoy one. In any case. be content
that his oath shall be unkep, on a merely
controversy a. to how it
shall be kept. Again in any law upon
this subject ought not all the safe qua rds
Of liberty known in eivilised and hum ane
Jurisprudence to Be introduced so that
freeman may ne'. IN any ca sc. be surrender
oil ~ slave. and might 1t no, BE- veil. at
the same time. 10 provide by Law for the
enforcement that CLAUSE. in the eonstita>
ton which guarantees that the citizens Of
each State shall be enutled to all the priv
Iicges aud imuunitiss Of eitirsns in the
several state.f
take the official oath. to-day, with no
mental reservation. and with no purpose
= eonstrus the Constitution and Laws by
any hypocritieal rules. and while | do not
choose no~ to specify particular set. OF
Coogress - proper to be enforced, / do
suggest that IL will be much safer for all.
both IN Official and private stations. 70
CONFORM to. and abide BY. all these act.
which ssaed usrsPealsi. than to violate Z
any Of them. trastiaz 10 dsd impanity in
having them held 10 be unconstitutional. [
IL 10 seventy two years since the fret in
saguration Of . President. under our Ma
tionsl Constitution. Daring .hN period
nf,ssn different aud greatly distinguished
citizens have. ia succession. administered
The Executive branch Of the Government
They have conducted IL through many
perils. and generally with great success