The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-03-08
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
Delivered in Washington, March 4.

Fello1c. Citizen. - the United States -
In compliance with custom as old AS
the government ITSELF / appear before you
TO address you briefly, and to take in your
presence the oath prescribed By the Con-
stitution of the United States to lie taken
by the President before he enters upon the
execution Of the duties Of his Office.
do not consider it necessary, at present, for
me TO discuss those matters Of adminstra-
ton about which there is no special anxi-
ETY. or excitement. Apprehension seems
TO exist among the people of The Southern
States, that by the accession of Repub
lican administration, their property and
their peace and personal security are to
be endangered, while there Las never been
any reasonable cause for such apprehen-
sion. -E
Indeed, the most ample evidence to the
contrary has all the while existed, aud
been open to their inspection. It is found
in nearly all the published speeches of him
who now addresses you. do but quote
from ore Of those speeches, when ! de
clare that have no purpose, directly or
indirectly, 10 interfere with the institution
o: slavery in the States where it exists.
believe have no right to do so. and
/ have no inclination TO do SO. Those
who nominated and elected me, did so
With the full kno Wedge that had made
,his and many similar declarations, and
have never recalled them and more than
this, they placed in the platform for my
acceptance as a law to themselves and to
me, ciazr and emphatic resolution which
] now read;
I" Rrsolped, That the maintenance invi-
olate Of the rights of The States, and es
pecialIy the right of each State to order
according to IT'S own judgment exclusively,
is essential to that balance Of power on
which the protection and endurance of our
political fabric depend, and we denounce
the lawless invasion by an armed force of
the government Of. any State or Territory,
no matter under what pretext, as among
the greatest Of crimes"
| now rei,erats those sentiments, and in
doing so | only press upon the public at
tention the most conclusive evidence of
which the case is susceptible, that the pro
periy, peace, and security Of no section are
TO be in any wise endangered by the now
incoming Administration.
! add to that, all the protection which
consistency with the Constitution and the
laws can be given, will be cheerfully given
TO all the States when lawfully demanded
for whatever cause-as cheerfully to
one section as to another.
There is much controversy about the de-
livery Of fugitives from se.vice OF labor.
The clause now read is as plainly written
in the Constitution as in any other Of its
provisions
mo person held to service or labor in
one State, under the law thereof, and esca-
ping into another, shall in consequence Of
any law or regulation therein, be discharg
ed from such service or labor, but shall be
delivered up on the claim Of the party to
whom such service or labor may be due"
1t was intended by those who made it
for the retaining 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 Cons,tu-
tion, TO this provision as much as TO any
other. To the proposition, then, that
slaves, whose cases come within the terms
ef this clause, "and shall he delivered up"
their oatns are unanimous.
Now, if they wonld make the effort in
good temper, could they not with nearly
equal unaniInity, frame and pass a law by
means of which to keep good that nnani
nous oath. There is some difference of
opinion whether this clause should be en-.
forced by National or State authority but
surely that difference is not very mate
rial one.
If the slave is to be surrendered, it can
be of but little consequence to him or to
others, by what authority it is done and
should any one in any case be content that
his oath shall be unkept, on merely I'M
substantial controversy rs to how it shall
be kep,l Again, in any law on this sub
ject, ought not all the safeguards of liber
" known in civilized and human jurispru-
dence TO he introduced, so that freeman
may not be in any way surrendered as a
slave
Aud might it not be we'll at the same
time to provide by law for the enforcement
of ths, clause in the Constitution which
guarantees that the citizens OF each State
shall be entitled to all the privileges and
im.nunities Of citizens in the several States!
take the official oath to-day with no
mental reservation, and with no purpose to
eonstrue the Constitution OF laws by any
hypocritical rules, and, while | do not
choose now to specify the particular acts
Of Congress As proper to be enforced, do
suggest that i. will be much safer for al,
both in official and private stations, to con-
form to and abide by al. those acts which
stand unrepealed. than to violate any of
them, trusting to find immunity in having
them held to be unconstitutional.
1t is seventy-two "ears since the first
Inauguration of President under our ma
tional Constitution. During that period,
fifteen different and greatly distinguished
citizens have in succession administered the
Executive branch of the government.-
They have conducted it through many per-
ills, and generally with great success.
Yet With all this scope for precedent, |
now enter upon tie same task. for the brief
cpnsti ,utiopal term OF four years, under