Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-03-06
INAUGURATION OF Mr.. LINCOLN.
His Inaugural Address.
DELIVERED MARCH 4th, 1861.

| FelLo,r Citizens of the United States -
| In compliance with custom old as the
| Government itself, appear before you to ad
dress you briefly, and to take, in your pres
ence, the oath prescribed by the Constitution
OF the United States to be taken by the Presi-
! dent before he enters on the execution of his
| office. | do not consider it necessary at pres
ent for me to discuss those matters of admin
| istration about which there is no special anx-
| iety or excitement. Apprehension seems to
| exist among the people OF the Southern
| States, that by the accession of Republican
Administration, their property and their peace
and personal security are to be endangered.
! There has never been any reasonable cause
for such apprehension. Indeed, the most
ample evidence to the contrary has all the
| while existed and been open to their inspeC-
| tion. 1t is found in nearly all the published
! speeches OF him who now addresses you. l
do but quote from one of these speeches when
| declare that '1 have no purpose, directly or
indirectly, TO interfere with the institution of
slavery in the States where it exists, believe
| have no lawful right to do so, and have no
inclination to do SO. Those who nominated
and elected me did so with the fui! knowied ge
that L had made this and many similar dec
larations, and had never recanted them. And
more than this, they placed in the platform
for my acceptance, as a law to themselves and
to me, the clear and emphatic resolution
which l now read.
Resolved, ssThat the maintenance iRviolate
of the rights of the States, and especially the
right of each State to order or control its own
domestic institutions according to its own
judgment exclusively, is essential to that bal
ance of power on which the perfection and en-
durance OF our political fabric depend. And
we denounce the lawless invasion by an arm
ed force of the soil of any State or territory,
no matter under what pretext, as amongst the
gravest of crimes.''
now reiterate these sentiments, and in do
ing SO, only press upon the public attention
the most conclusive evidence of which the
case in susceptible-that the property, peace
and security of no section are to be in any
wise endangered by the new incoming Admin
istration. / add, too, that all the protection
which, consistently with the Constitution and
the Laws. can be given, will be cheerfully
given to all the States, when lawfully deman-
ded, for whatever cause, as cheerfully to one
section as to another. There is much contro-
yersy about the delivering of fugitives from
service or labor. The clause now read is as
plainly written in the Constitution, as any
other of its provisions
ssNo person held to service OF 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, bu. shall be delivered up on
claim of the party to whom such service or la
Dor may be due.''
1t is scarcely questioned that this provision
was intended by those who made it for the re-
claiming of what We call Fugitive Slaves, and
the intention of the law giver is the law. All
members of Congress swear their support to
the whole Constitution--to this provision as
much as to any other-to the proposition then
that slaves whose cases come within the terms
of this clause, and ssshall be delivered up,''
their oaths are unanimous. Now if they would
make the effort in good temper, could they not,
with nearly equal unanmity, frame and pass
a law by means of which to keep good that u
unanimous oath There is some difference of
opinion whether this clause should be enforc-
ed by National or State authority, but surely
that difference is not very material one. If
the Slave is to be surrendered, it can be of but
little consequence to him to others, by
which authority it is done. And should any one
in any case be content that his oath shall be
unkept on merely unsubstantial controversy
as to how it shall be kepti Agan--in any
law upon this subject ought not all the safe
guards of liberty known in the civilized and
humane jurisprudence to be introduced, so
that freeman may not be, in any case, sur
rendered as slave? And might it not be
well, at the same time, to provide by law for
the enforcement of that clause in the Consti-
tuition, which guarantees that s'the citizens of
each State shall be entitled to all the privile-
ges and immunitieS of the citizens in the sew
eral States" | take the official oath to-day
with no mental reservation ard with no pnr
pose to construe the Constitution or laws by
any hypercrtical rules. And while do not
choose now to specify particular acts TO Con-
gress as proper to be enforced, i do suggest
that it will be much safer for ali, both in ofh-