The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1861-03-06
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.


FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE UxrrEl
SrArEs:-In compliance with a custom
as old as the Government itself, ap
pear before you to address you briefly
and to take in your presence the oatl
prescribed by the Constitution Of ,h'
United States TO be taken BY the Presi
dent before he enters on the execution
Of his Office. l DO not consider it nee
essary at present for me to discuss thos'
matters Of administration about wLicl
there is NJ special anxiety or excite
ment.
NO CAUSE FOR ALARM.
The apprehension setms To ex'st among
the people Of the Southern States itlra
BY the accession Of a Republican Ad-
ministrslion. their property. and ih.i'
peace and personal security are TO b.
endangered. and there has never been
any reasonable cause for such arpre-
hension. Indeed. the most ample cvi-
dence TO the contrary Las all the willie
existed. and been open TO their inspec-
,ion. II Is found in nearly all The pub
lisl.ed speeches Of Lin who now ai-
dresses you. l DO bu: quote from one
Of those speeches. when declare that
| have no purpose. directly or Indirect
ly 10 interfere with the Institution oi
slavery where il. exists. believe l
have no lawful tight to DO So. have
no inclination 10 d. SO.
Those who nominated and elected me.
did SO with the full knoYledge tha. l
had male this and many similar dccla
ralions. and had never rccantcd them /:
and more than this. they placed in tic
platform for my acceptance as Law TO
themselves and TO me. the clear and
emphatic res ,lulion which l nov read:
Resolred, That the maintenance inyi
olate Of the rights Of the States. and
especially that right Of each State to
order and control its own domestic in.
s,i'u,ioLs according to its own judg-
ment exclusively. is essential to tie
balance Of power on which the periec.
iion and endurance Of our political fab
ric depend, aud VIC. denounce the inya.
sion BY an armed force If the govern
r'ent Of any State or Territory. no mat
ter under what pretext. MS anon: the
greatest Of crimes.
l now rritera,e these sentiments. and
in doing SO. l only press upon the pub
lie attention the most conclusive cyj.
Ience Of which The case is susceptible.
That the prop sr.y. peace aud security ofI
no section is 10 be in any wise endangered
~ the now existing administration. / |
i'd. too. that all the protection which
consistently with the constitution aud
he laws can be given. will be cheer
aIly given to all The States, when law
ully demanded. for whatever cause. as
'heerfully TO one section as TO another.
trGrTIvE SLAVES. " e."
There is much controversy about Ike
'elivsry Of fuYi,ives from service or Ia
'or The clause ! now read is as
lainly written 10 the Constellation as
ny other Of its provisions: sd 'a"as
i"Ao person held 10 sewice or labor
; rire State, under tLc laws Hereof.
into another. shall. ia Gonscs
'iencs Of shy'law or"resulation there.
J. be discharged from stcii service or S
Dor. but shall be deliv2ted up III claim ]
the party 10 whom such service or I
i'or may be due" q
l. is scarcely questioned that this pro- 4
sion was intended BY those who made r
for the re nreelsi~ing Of what We call d
yitiye slarcs. and the ipienion Of the v
v given is the law that sll members IL
Congress swear their support to- b
whole Constitusion-:o this provis. 81
as much - TO any other. The pro. Il
sition then, that Slaves who's, casss cs