Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-03-08
The Inaugural Address.

Tho Address Of Mr. Lincoln. on the peca-
zion Of his appearing to take the oath Of
ohcc, As prc.idcn, OF the United State.
will be found in th,. PAPER. IL !. brief.
pointed, patriotic, and national IN 1t. whole
scope. acknowledging no weakness or ,rcm.
bling. in view Of ,h. great responsibility
thrown uron him. bot evincins a steady
determination 70 discharge With unl,nchine
will hi whole duiy to the American people.
In fine, i, - ju., such a doeumcn, a. his
acts. bi..prcche., Ani his whole Pas, life
have given u. reason to expect from him.
In considering the position in which he i.
p'ncei-,he most dlf5cul, which any occu.
ran, Of the Presidential char ha, ever &C.
curied-i, mus; be evilcn, 70 all ,ha, the
occasion required morc than ordinary state
m.ni Of vicw. and announccmen, Of policy.
The country ha. been in ,umul, Tor =
length Of time. III. party has been charc'
"a with trrA.onahle notion. and in adj
vance hs has bccn assNilcd a. a person -
obnoxi,u. ,ha, q considerable section could
rot live under HI. administration. i, was
fitting. ,ha, be should clearly and plainly,
from hi. own record. and the platform up
on winch he was elected. show ,hoss di.af.
frc,si people tha; they had nothing TO fear
from him. and tha, there would be no
trouble or bloodshel unle-. forced upon the
government.
And again. after admitting Ito con'ntu-
tioualiiy 3i the Fugitive slave Law. he
states % them ,ha, the Constitution forbil'
The government 10 interfere with slavery
within the several States and declares that.
inasmuch a. the Constitution clearly does
this. ~ fair construction, he hs. no ohJ.c.
ton % the iIlnt resolution OF Congress, Re
eommentin. an amendment 90 that insiru.
men,, expressing the doctrine IN terms. In
the mos, frank and open terms be ASSURES
them that he shall abide by the Constitution.
The opinion in rcsari TO the stability Of
The government, i the true Interpretation
Of the Federal compact. Government. do
not provide for their own termination, like
special partnership. IN trade. There ). no
power short Of unanimous eou.cn, by which
State can separate from the confederation.
bot Reroluti,t. Having distinctly an.
nouncsd h,. opinion. he indicates that
ample opportunity will be given to disafec,.
ell State. for consideration. while even the
last irritating condition will he avoided, in
leaving the oGcc. in such States until they
eau b. filed by citireus Of the localities,
without forcing stranger. upon them. lie
announce. that the mails will be continued,
50 FAR a. possible.
1he-e are the most lmpOr,ao, poin,. The
interests Of the whole people will be care
fully considered. The rights Of the South
are not 10 b. invaded /, the Union !. TO be
preserved the mails earrIel the public
property protected. and the laws enforced.
lie could not. as Chief Magistrate, have
aid les and no, word more is needed,
None bot the mos, OBSTINATE can zee in the
doeunen, anything bu, desire to preserve
the government. aud 80 administer Il in all
~. departments that every citizen OF each
Of the thiriy.iour States now within our
border shall enjoy in the fullest extent all
it. blessings and privileges.