The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-12
THE FIRST INAUGURAL.
LincoIn's Address on Taking Oath of
Office.

From the first. inaugural address,
March 4, 1861: Apprehension seems
to exist among the people of the
southern states. and that by the acces-
sion of a Republican administration
their property and their peace and
personal security are to be en-
dangered. There has never been any
reasonable cause for such apprehen-
sion. Indeed the most ample evil
dence to the contrary has all
the while existed and been open to
their inspection.
1t is found in nearly all the pub
Iished speeches of him who now ad
one of those speeches when declare
that Il have no purpose, directly or
indirectly, to interfere with the in
stitution of slavery in the states where
it exists. I believe I have no lawful
right to do so, and I have no in
clinatiOn to do So"
I only press upon the public atten-
ton the most conclusive evidence of
which the case is susceptible, that the
property, peace, and security of no
section are to be in any wise en-
dangered by the now incoming adj
ministration- I add. too. that all the
protection which consistently with the
constitution and the laws can be
given, will cheerfully be given to all
the states when lawfully demanded,
for whatever cause; as cheerfully to
take the official oath today with
no mental reservations, and with no
purpose to coustrue the constitution
or the laws by any hypercritical rules.
And while 1 do not choose now to
specify particular acts of congress as
proper to be enforced, 1 do suggest
that it will be much safer for all, both
in official and private stations, to con-
form TO and abide by all those acts
which stand unrepealed, than to vio-
late any of them, trusting to find i'm
punity in having them held to be I'M
constitutional
1t is seventy-two years since the first
Inaugural ton of president under our
national constitution. During that
period fifteen different and greatly
distin guished citizens have, in success
sion, administered the executive
branch of the governm emit They have
conducted it through many perils, and
generally with great success. Yet with
all this scope of precedent, I now en-
ter upon the same great task for the
brief constitutional term of four wears
under great and peculiar difficulty. \
disruption Of the federal union. here
tofore only menaced, is now formid-
ably attempted.
I hold that in contemplation of IN
iversal law and of the constitution,
the union of these states is perpetual
Perpetuity is implied, If not expressed,
in the fundamental law of all nation
al governments. 1t is safe to assert
a provision in its organic law for its
, own termination. Continue to execute
all the express provisions of our ma
tfonaI government, and the union will
endure forever-it being impossible
to destroy it, except by some action
not provided for in the instrument it
self
Again, if the United States be not a
government proper. but an association
of states in the nature of contract
merely, can it as a contract be peace
ably unmade by less than all the par
ties who made it? One party to a con-
tract may violate it-break it. so to
speak: but does It not require all to
lawfully rescind it?
1t follows then from these views
that no state, upon its own mere mo-
ton. can lawfully get out of the IN
ion; that resolves and ordinances to
that effect are legally void: and that
acts of violence within any state or
states. against the authority of the
United States. are insurrectionary or
revolutionary according to circum-
stances.
l therefore consider that in view OF
the constitution and the laws. the I'm
ion is unbroken; and to the extent OF