Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1861-03-05
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
He will Enforce the Laws,
PROTECT THE PUBLIC PROPERTY
AND
COLLECT THE REVENUE.

FELLOW oitngSs rHE UNirEp STATES ;ln eompli- a
with custom old tho Government Itself ap ~
pear before you to address you briefly and to take in w
your presence, tho oath prescribed by the CONSTITUTION o. ia
the United States to be taken by the President before lie ga
unteIs on the execution OF his Office. -, ~
do not consider It necessary at present FOR me % va
these matters OF administration about which there
is no special anxiety or excitement Nv
Apprehension seems to exist among the people o. the
Southern states that by the accession Of helnaean 10
administration, thelr property and their peace and per- IL
been Rny reasonable for such apprehension In
deed the most ample evidence to the contrary has AL ne
while existed and been oIen to their Inspection ~ Is
found in nearly all the periodicals and speeches Of hun
who now addresses you, quote from one Of ihese ~
or Indirectly to interfere with the institution OF slavery
in the States where II exists believe have no lawful
VINO nominated aud elected did no with the full Il
knowledge that had made this aad many similar de-
than this thoy placed in the platform, sf my acceptance
as law to themselves aud me- the clear and emphatic
resolution which now read :
Rsoirtd That the maintenance lnvielAie Of the ighs
order aud control domestic institutions according
to Its Judgment exclusively, Is essential 20 thAt
balance VI power which tho perfection and endurance
| ot our political fabric depend. Aud We denuuuea the
lawsss INVASION by armed force, ct the soil oil any
State or Territory. no matter under Whai pre'oA !"
among the greatest OF crimes.
NOW reerato these sentiments, aud IN doing 50
only press upon public attention the most conclusive
evidence Of which the case Is suseeptbe-th ne pro
ey peace aud security Of no ssslon Ar 70 ~ ~
add toa that ali the protection which consistently WIN
the Constitution aud the laws, be given viii pe
rheeruliy given alt the States when lawfully drmani
3D. for whatever cause AS eheefluly oo section 'S "
Thofe is much controversy about the delivery offusl
tves from service OF labor The clause no" ieAu ~
plsing written in the Constitution AS any other oil It's
'No person held to service labor In state under
l. thereof escaping into another, shall IN ruise
quence ofauy law regulation therein, be discharged
from such service labor but shall DO delivered up on
il claim Ut the party to whom such service or LABOR may W
In due"
tended by those who made it. for the Ieelamag oil what
is the Law All members Of Congress their support
t whole Consttutlon-to this provision as much as
ng 10 The proposition them that whose
ia within terms this clause aud "shall he delivered
~ up their oAths are unanimous Now II they would
W tho effort in good temper could they MOI with nearly
ke equal unanimiiy, frame and pass law ny means 9"
ice which ~ keep good that unanimous oath There n .oe
difference opinion whether this clause should le en-
UT forced by the National State authority but snrey tha
icr difference very material II the slave " to
&C. surrpudere 1t be OF hut little consequence to him
to others by which authority II - done Aud shouiu
auy In any be content that his oath shall le
ISL unkep merely unsubstAhta controversy as TO ho"
nal 1t shall be keptt u,,.
safeguards ofl6erty known in the civilized AID humsne
md Jurisprudence be introduced that free man may
we'd he, in any case surrendered as slave And msa
aud It he we'll at the same time TO provide ny law @
the enforcement Of that clause In the ConsiuteR whs
ne guarantees that he citizens each state shan 10 e
tied 10 sill tho provisions aud mmuniues oil ehsns ID
take the oficlal oath to-day with meuld reserya
o tou and with purpose to eonstrue the Constructor
'ars or laws BY sny hyIoecal rules, Aud while do no
du rhn,s neE 10 spscify particular Congress pro
arm ter To be- enforced suggest that it will be much safe
ties and aIe y ali these acts which stand unlepeaed thai
lpe- violate any them, trusting to hnd impny III V
vine ing thea held TO be nneons,tatra , o, Isu,,,
oath a. Is s,a,9Ss ,nf 1ur National Constitution
tue During that period, fifteen dereht aud sfea u'
by gutd citizens have IN succession administered "a
- Executive branch OF the Government They have col
Quoted 1t through mauy pers and generally WIN sr,a
sucess Yet, wiha is scope for precedent, NOW cut,
c, as der great aud peculiar difficulty disruption o. y
Federal Union, heretofore menaeed, Is now iomidab
IT 10 Law and q the Constitution the Union Of these States
ties. perpetual reTpetuity Is implied II not expressed IN
the fundamental law o. all National oSEealsni ~ Il sS
now sion In its organic law for its own termination.
shall continue execute all the express provisions
pro. our National Constitution, and the Union WIN endu
forever it being impossible to destroy it except by fog
action not provided for In that instrument Itself AEAi
ii the United States BE- n. government proper but
We ait he pereahiy unnaIe By less than all the part
sixth who made IT. One party g the contract my 'oAle
n ex break IT, to speak does 1t not require A 70 awlu
r. cnd il Descending from these general principles
hul the proposition that In legal conempsiIn he Nnl
bers, p-rpaa confirmed by he history o. me mon se
No uie Union Is much older than the Constitution i
II; fnmed in part by the Articles of Association In ia
eAh was mAtuted and continued by the Declaration Of lnd
Stty pspeucs In l77G 1t further natured and the m
II iy Ss'd hat il should he pepouied BY the article d @
&C. oy federation in IT'S aud lnay in l7e Que Of the
decd esred objects Tor ordainng and establishing the Con
r are tuition form moie perfect Union Tut the
wise struron Of the Union by one Or part only Of ne sH
in the The Constitution having lost the vital element of per-
uty, 1t follows from ihe,e views that no STATE, upon
,ir, 70 notion can lawfully get out of the luton, T
e resolves and ordinances to that effect are legally void
my If that acts Il within auy state States asAi
a nm lie authority the United Slater insurreeonNy
It'd | Revolutionary according 10 circumstance.
'Nu'e th.r.fnre consider that, in view OF the CUnui
liberal and laws tho Union unbrokep and to tho extent Of
tee Of ability shall take care as TIE Oonslu'9n EXPIRE
II APP enos al III g t h ss,ts pou bi- JeeIs TO M
Ire my sinipe duty on my part shall perform
practicable, unless NY righiiu masters the Anerl
~ tho people. shall withhold the requisite means or IN ~
40 -" other authoritative manner direct the contrary Il
tbis will not BE- regarded a but only the
Y con. clared purpose q Union that will constitution
signed ana aass sn tSers ,ba ne none
every be forced upon the national authority The power
partial hded will he used to hold occupy and possess
"a tho property aud places belonging 10 tue uoyernment an
Il wy collect The duties imports, but beyond what ana
Just necessary for these objects there viii be no nvas
at using against or among the people anyWh
in the Where hostility IN any n1r y sas Sg 81
will from holding oiees there WILL be attempt to force oh
40 tin. the ,tfie legal right may exist In the Government l.
u" force the exercise Of those oicea the attempt to
.uvhs would DO irritating aud so nearly impraceAbe
tuition ALL deem it better to urego fol- tim. the Us
mid do such Offices The mails unless repeei Will eoniin
~ be furnished ia all parts Of the Union, pOss
ne cx- The people every where shall have that
so for security which tie most favorable and calm thought
larts OF reflection ON tns pAIt :" ,e v an
g snke uues current and experience shall show
Border change to be ana in every and
emf an rency my he discretion will be exercised accodit
ocean I ~ solution Of lie national troubles
l. But the restoration of raterna sympaies aecon
these That there are persons n one section o. shoisl
any pretext TO do IT, will neither affirm or deny,
station there DO need address no words TO them
an only To those however, who really love the Union
power hot spsah ueS vaas5aI g,bre win ali H. len
leal I'M lis memories and hoprsP Would II not be
best in tain previously why we DO 30 WI you hazard $
success peIae slep WI" gy from bsve no rn eSlst
har, it viii YOU while the certain syou ny greater
ess mud all the real you hy 'front.' W you riss the
use. s ~ pr ~ I'll ribts sn n, m
nCtlons ed IL II true then that any right plainly Wrun
N have Constitution has been denied think not HapIi
ig and human mna os dop~ tb Think il yon can Of
ons of sle Instance in which plainly written pro,i ion
for this Constitution has ever been denied u by The mere
in 10 OF numbers, majority should deprive minority
ned by pont of view Justify revolution. certainly
M was ii such a hit Vital one But such Is not our
ID char An tle Ni'a d IA ,hsm Nv anrmstens and nee
ieve no guarantee prohibitions In the Constitution tina
lnoss roversies never arise concerning them n no o.
to my Jaw can o Snson which NAY occur In practical a
ques taen No foresight anticipate, any doct
err over Of reasonable length contain express provisions
tossibe questions, Shall fUgitives from labor be "a
always S soi expressly say May Congress prohibit slay
lou te Torrofyf The Contribution does not expross
ion mud Must consIess lrSs0' Hrsey ~ ne Fam
.nnnimi tits class spring all Constitutional eonnyere
Yum will We divide upon them int maoritles and anofi
under ,he minority VIII as s's hsas ~ ne nss s
House for Continuing The Government but aequescencs
comfort, una side or the other 10,
Il, Al II a minority In such will secede rathe
- nu'i ,rnuiesre they make Precedent which, IN tun
ans that divide and ruin hdm, for minority OF their oN
hour is from them whenever amaery refuses to !
ipg you, Ioied " nu o n ConaerSey yes or to
am so ARBITRARILY eeoie again. precisely as portions of Il
sent luton claim to secode from III All VIII
think Of sh dsunSn dn,nS XII Ia bsrs gb Seper ii
ihch we az Ssre among he States to compose new un
you is to p harmony only and prevent renewed eee
comcth Plainly tue es5 'i b In res,rsnt by e"nsti
nations checks and limitations, and always changing eis