Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-03-08
PETIT JURORS
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF PRE-
SIDENT LINCOLN

Eliow C1d<ens Of the United States: Ia COM
plianoe with custom as old as the govern
ment itself, appear before you to address
you briefly and TO take, in your presence the
oath prescribed by the constitution of the
United States, to be taken by the President
before lie enters on the execution Of his Office.
do not consider it necessary at present for
me TO discuss those matters of administration
about which there is no special anxiety or ex-
citement.
Al apprehension seems to exist among the
people of the southern States that by the ac-
cession Of a republican administration their
property and their peace and personal Securi-
IS are TO be endangered.
There has never been any reasonable cause
for such apprehension. Indeed, the most am
pie evidence to the contrary has all the while
existed and been open to their inspection. 1t
isfound in nearly all the published speeches
Of him who now addresses Won.
do but quote from one Of those speeches
when ! declare that " have no purpose, di-
rectly or indirectly, 10 Interfere with the in-
s.itution Of slavery ia the States where it cx
lists believe have no lawful right to do
50. | have no inclination to do So
Those who nominated and elected me did
90 with full knowledge that had made this
and many similar declarations, and had never
recauted them and more than this, they
placed in the platform, for my acceptance,
and as a law to themselves and to me, the
clear and emphatic resolution which | now
read
" Resolred That tho maintenance invioaie
Of the rights OF the States and especially the
right Of each State to order and control its
own domestic institutions, according to its
own Judgment exclusively Essential to that
alance Of power on which the perfection and
endurance OF our political fabric depends,
and we denounce he lawlcss invasion by arm
cd force, of the soil of any State OF territory
no matter under what pretext, as among the
grayest of crimes.
now reiicra;e these sentiments, and in do
ing so, | only press upon the public attention
the most conclusive evidence of which the
case is susceptible. That the property. peace,
and security Of no section are to be in any
wise endangered by the now incoming adj
ministration.
add. too, that all the protection which,
consistently with the constitution and the
laws can bc given viii be chcerfaily given to
all the States when lawfully demanded, for
whatever cause as ebecrfully to one section
a. TO another.
There is much controversy about the deli
vering up Of fugiiiyes from service or labor.
The clause now read is as plainly written in
the constitution any other Of its provi-
sions
No person held to service or labor in one
State, under the laws thereof, escaping into
another, shall. in consequence Of any law or
regulation therein, be discharged from such
service or labor, bat shall be delivered up on
claim Of the party TO whom such service or
labol may be due.
II is scarcely questioned that this provision
was intended hy those who made itfor the re-
claiming Of what we call fugitive slaves and
the intention Of the lawgiYcr is the law.
4 All members Of Congress swear their sup
+ port 10 the whole consttulion-to this proyi-
sion rs much as 10 any other To the propo-
( sition, then. that slaves whose cases come
within the terms Of this clause - shall be de
livercd up, their oaths are unanimous.
Now, il they would make the effort in good
temper, could they not with nearly equa
unanimitv, frame and pass a law by means Of
which 10 keep good that unanimous oaih2
There IS some difference Of opinion whether
this clause should be enforced by national OF
by State authority. But surely that differ
ence Is not very material one.
If the slave Is to be surrendered, IL can b.
Of but little consequence 10 him or 10 other
by which authority il is done. And shoult
any one in any case be content that his oatl
shall 90 unkcpt on merely unsnbstintial con
troyersy as to hou II shall be kept2
Agdlh, IN any law upon iuls ShvJett onSn
not all the safeguards Of liberty known il
civilized and humane jurisprudence 70 be in
iroduced so that free man he not IN an.
case surrendered as slave2
And might il not be well, at the same time
10 provide BY law for the enforcement Of tha
clause in the constitution which guarantee
that the citizens Of ench State shall be entitle
TO all privileges aud immunities Of citizens i
, the several States2
take the official oath to-day with no men
tal reservations, and with no purpose TO con
.sruc the constitution or laws by any hyper
critical rites. Add while ! DO not chOos
now TO specify any particular acts OF Cor
: grcss as proper 10 be enforced, do sngge.
. that il will be Inuch safer for all, both in uli
rial and private siailonst 10 conform 10 an
a abide ~ all those sets which stand unrcpea
cd. than 70 violate any 81 thcm, Trusting
lind ippuaiiy IN having lhe,n hrd 10 be o.
cons tifniionul