Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-03-13

! After lhe procession had reached the
platform, Senator Baker, Of Oregon, in,
troduced Mr.. Lincoln to the assembly.
Mr.. Lincoln is received with cheers. -
He lays down his manuscript, clips his
hand in his pockets and pulls out a pair of
steel bowed spectaoles. This is a signal
for merriment in one portion of the crowd
A lusty hawk eyed fellow cries out "Take
of them spectacles, we want to see your
eyes" l didn't know he wore glasses" !"
remarked another, "they amt in the
peters," md similar remarks kept the
audience who could not hear his voice in
good humor, until a rousing cheer from
the Presidential pago la enlisted their at
tention.
The following is the cd dress. which he
read in clear, distinct voice -
Felior CHisens of The United Siafes:-
In compliance with custom as 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-
iely or excitement. Apprehension seems to
exist among the people OF the Southern
States, that by the accession OF a Republican
Administration, their property and their peace
and personal security are to be endangered.
There has never been any reasonable cause
TOR such apprehension. Indeed, the most
ample evidence to the contrary has all the
while existed and been open to their inSpcc-
tion. 1t is found in nearly all the published
speeches of him who now addresses you.
do but quote from one Of these speeches when
! declare that 81 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 full knowledge
that | had made this and many similar dec.
larations, and had never recantcd them. And
more than this, they placed in the platform
for my acceptance, as law to themselves and
to me, the clear and emphatic resolution
which now read.
Resotred, "That the maintenance inviolate
OF the rights Of the States, and especially the
right Of each State to order or control its own
judgment exclusively, is essential to that bal
ancc 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 pretcxt, 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 checriully
given to all the States, when lawfully dcman-
ded, for whatever cause, as cheeriuly to one
section as TO another. There is much con,ro-
vcrsy about the delivering Of iugitivcs from
service or labor. The clause | now read is as
plainly written in the Constitution, as any
other of its provisions:
''No person held to service or labor in one
State under the laws thereof escaping into
another, shall, in consequence of any law OF
regulation therein, be discharged from such
service or labor, bu. shall be delivered up on
claim of the party to whom such service or Ia
Dor may be due"
1t is scarcely questioned that this provision
was intended by those who made il for the re.
r claiming Of what we call Fugitive Slaves, and
the intention of the w-givGr is the law. Al
members OF Congress swear their support tC
the whole COnStitution-to this provision a'
much as to any other-to the proposition thcr
that slaves whose cases come within the terms
Of this clause, and "shall 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
law by means Of which to keep good that H.
unanimous oath There is some difference d
opinion whether this clause should be cnfUrc
ed 10y National or State authority, but surely
that difference is not very material one. i
the Slave is to be surrendered, il can be OF but
little consequence to him or to Others, by
which authority it is done. And should any one
in any case be content that his oath shall be
, unkept on a merely unsubstantidl controversy
, as to how it shall DC kcpti Again--in any
law upon this subject ought not all the safe
, guards of liberty known in the civilized and
: humane jurisprudence to be introduced, sc
, that freeman may not be, in any case, sur
= rendered as slave And might it not be
we'll, at the same time, to provide by law fol
r the enforcement of that clause In the Const
tuition, which guarantees that "the citizens o
each State shall be entitled to all the priyile
ges and immunites of the citizens in the sew
Q eral States" take the official oath to-day
with no mental reservation ard with no pur
> pose to construe the Constitution or laws b,
7 any hypercritical rules. And while do no
e choose now to specify particular acts to Con
, gress as proper to be enforced, do sugges
: that It will he much safer for all, both in Off
clal and private stations to conform to and a
D bide by all these acts which stand unrepeal
ed than to violate any of them, trusting t
find impunity in having them held to be un
Q constitutional.
|. 1t is scarcely seventy-two years since tn
first Inauguration Of a President under our Ma
tional Constitution. During that period fitee
, different and greatly distinguished citizen
[ have in succession administered the executiv
branch of the Government. They have con
Quoted It through many perils, and general
IS with great success. Yet with all this scope 70
!, precedent, now enter upon the same task TO
the briet constitutional term Of four years un
q der great aud peculiar difficulty. A disruptio
IS of the Federal Union, heretofore only men
t.I 4 IL