Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-03-15
From the Y. I. Independent.
THE TONE OF THE INAUGURAL.

| No speech or psblc paper was ever 50 wide
! II read in this country as will be the lnaug-
\ urll Address Of Abraham Lincoln. No
| speech or public document of any kind, will
| better bear the scrutiny of all parties, wheth-
er tried by the tests of friendship or of enmi-
ty. The first fat that imprcsses one IN this
address is its marked individuality. 1t is not
the composite production of o committee or
Of counselors. Every thought, every line,
every word bears the impress Of one mind,
| and represents that mind in its Indivi1uality.
Mr.. Lincoln thinks for himself. speaks for
| himself and viii no doubt act for himself
Equally striking is the comprehensive na-
ti0nllitY Of this address. Not one line or
one word in it is conceived in partisan or
sectional spirit Mr. Lincoln feels that he is
the President of the United States, Of the
Union AZ it existed on the day of his election,
regardless Of the disorGanizing movements OF
seces5iOnists. lie holds 'that in con:empla
ton OF universal law and OF the Constitution,
the Union Of these STATE IS perpetual th-t
no State upon Is own Ia-It motion can law
fuiiy get out of the Union: that resolves and
ordinances 70 that effect are legally void and
that acts of violence within any State or
States against the authority of the United
according 10 circumstances.
This Union he Is resolved, as the Executive
head of the nation, to defend and maintain
to the full extent of his constitutional pow
ers and ob cations.
lis EFFECT on BUSINESS.
What then ought TO be the ef-ct Of this
Address on the business affairs OF tho coun-
try? II cannot. it seems to Us, be other
wise than beneficial The whole commercial
community stands ready to 60 TO work with
an unprecedented activity The whole
mercantile machinery Is in perfect gear, ev-
cry part well oIlcd, not screw loose any
where, not band out of place, and only
waiting fer the steam 10 be let on to start
and run with smoOthness and velocity and
success. There is nothing wanting to the
commencement of most successful season
but confidence rs to the future, and that /
should be given US by Mr.. Lincoln's Ad- |
dress. So long as vaeillatins, uncertain, |
and timid policy ruled at Washington, no |
prudent man would risk his capital where he |
could not recall it at almost day s warning, |
for it is an unquestionable fact that we were /
drifting under such policy into mere anar-
chy. The country knows now what to ex- |
pect. 1t is not for a moment to be admitted
that the Federal Government can fall IN the
successful assertion of its power that any
resistance to it on the part Of some portion
of the COnlederucy can become formidI-
bic as to force it to unwilling bo>tilities ; or
that settlement of our present national diff
fculues can be long delayed with an Execu-
tive at Washington determined to reduce al
fairs to order. There may be some fighting |
TO recover possession of the forts here and |
there Il port may be blOckdded where there is
some difficulty in collecting the duties upon /
imports but these acts hardly need have |
more effect upon the main business cf the !
country than was felt by the protraeted |
struggle in Kansas or the rebellion in u tah. I