The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-03-13
Lincoln's Inaugural.

reauers may ma the inaugural Address OF
Abraham Lincoln, now President of the
United States. No similar document was
perhaps ever looked for with greater
interest from an incoming Administration
n document which it was believed would
solvc the question whether We are to have
pence or war. 1t has now been announced
it is before the people, and how far it
foreshadows the future policy and course
of the Administration, each reader can
judge for himself
On the question Of the right Of State
to resume the powers before delegated to
tho Federal Government and peaceably Sc
iede from the Union, he holds precisely the
same views ennnciated by Ex-President
Buchanan md Attorney-General Black
He says that there is nothing in the Con-
sttution Of the Government which looks
to, or provides for its own dissolution
Denying that the States have n right to
secede, he also ignores the fact that some
of them have seeded, regards all as being
members or the United States, and saws
that it is his duty TO .eyecuts the laws
throughout all, hold and possess all the
property and collect all the duties And
this duty he intends TO discharge as fnr us
practicable.
The Inaugural evidently means war to
the extent Of Lincoln's ability. He lays
down his prosramme-marks out what he
says he believes to be his line of duty and
proclaims his intentions to carry out thi.
policy, unless his "masters," the people,
should instruct him TO the contrary. How
can lie be instructed? II can only he
through n Convention of the States or
through Congress. lie expresses n vii.
lingness to see National Convention call
ed, but thinks it unnecessary he does not
believe that the situation Of the country
requires any such extraordinary procedure.
We see nothing to indicate the belief that
n Convention will be called, and Congress,
cannot be convened again until after :he
Fall elections. There is not much proba.
blity, then, that Lincoln can be instructed
through either Of these sources for several
months yet t, come. in the mean time,
he must, unless he backs down from his
present position, proceed to execute the
laws of the United States in the Confede.
rate States by the mid of the Federal troops
at his command. |: he does this there will
of course be war by whatever name he
may call il, It will In point of fac, be moth
ing more nor less ihan making war upon
the Confederate States.
He expresses some disinclinulion TO n
war of invasion, ana it may be, after all, that
he is only practicing game Of bluff, an d
when he ascer,ains that this will not an
swer, will conclude that to enforce the laws
Of the United States, collect the revenues,
&c, in South Carolina and other of the
States, is not "prnc
The Confederate States are ell prepared
for any demonstration which he, with the
force ut his command, can make. If Con.
gSess, before its adjournment, hnd voted
him hundred millions Of dollars and half
q million OF men. the threats contained in
his Inaugural, backed by such means. would
indeed have sounded formidable, and We
might have looked for the tspeedy com.
Of serious war; but ns il 10.
the people Of the Confederate States may
regard Nth contempt his threats to enforce
the laws.
a portion Of the address is evidently in.
tended to produce M impression upon the
border slave States. lie threatens them On
the one hand and fatters and cnjoss tho,n
on the other. The effect it has had upon
them, has not yet been developed. If Vir-
ginia, North Carolina and other border
States do not secede after this palpnbls dc
claration of I.iproln TO coerce the South. ws
shai! begin 10 lose confidence in the asser
tion repeatedly made by them that no Fed.
eral army should pass through their terrific
y with the view Of cocrcing seeded
State.