Year: 1861




steps of the Federal Capitol sixty years ago
on the 4th inst. In reading this splendid
nroduction one cannot fail to perceive the re-
markable fact that almost everything therein
seems peculiarly pertinent to the present ex-
ipencies of the nation. Indeed, Abraham
Lincoln might with propriety have incorpo-
rated in his Inaugural the greater portion
thereof, without the change of "a word or sem
tence or punctuation mark:


During the contest of opinion through
which we have passed, the animation OF dis
cussions and of exertions have sometimes
worn an aspect which might impose on
strangers unused to think freely, and to speak
and to write what they think; but this
being now decided by the voice of the nation,
announced according to the rules of the Con-
stitution, all will, of course, arrange them
selves under the will of the law, and unite in
common efforts for the common good. All
too will bear in mind this sacred principle,
that though the will of the majority is in all
cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must
be reasonable; that the minority possess their
equal rights, which equal laws must protect,
and to violate would be oppression. Let us
then, fellow citizens, unite with one heart
and one mind, let us restore to social inter-
course that harmony and affection, without
which liberty, and even life itself, are but
drearv things. We have called by
different names brethren of the same princi-
ple.-We are ALL Republicans-,ce are ALL
Federalists. If there be any among us who
would dissolve this Union, or change its re-
publican form, let them stand undisturbed as


Al fokx, NJ Of
opinion NAV be tolerated, where reason is
left free to combat it. 1 know indeed that
some honest men fear that republican gov
ernment cannot be strong; that this govern
ment cannot be strong enough. But would
the honest patriot, in the full tide of success
full experiment, abandon government which
has so far kept us free and firm, on the theo-
retic and visionary fear, that this government,
the worlds best hope, may, by possibility
want energy to preserve itself? | trust not
| believe this, on the contrary, the strongest
government on earth. believe it the only
one. where every man, at the call of the law,
would fy to the standard of the law, and
would meet invasions of the public order as
his own personal concern. Sometimes it is
said that man cannot be trusted with the
government of himself Can he then be
trusted with the government of others? Or
have we found angels, in the form of kings,
to govern him? Let history answer this
question.


Let us then, with courage and confidence,
pursue our own federal and republican prin-
ciples our attachment to union and repre-
sentative government. Still one
thing more, fellow citizens, a wise and frugal
government, which shall restrain men from
injuring one another, shall leave them other
wise free to regulate their own pursuits of
industry and improvement, and shall not
take from the mouth of labor the bread it has
earned. This is the sum of good government;
and this is necessary to close the circle of our
felicities.


He thus congresses the essential princi-
Piles of government within the narrowest
compass they will bear:


Equal and exact justice to all men, of
whatever state or persuasion, religious or
political Peace, commerce and honest
friendship with all nations, entangling alli-
ances with none the support of the sta e
governments in all their rights, as the most
competent administration for our domestic
concerns, and the surest bulwarks against
anti-republican tendencies the preservation
of the general government in its whole con-
stitutional vigor, as the sheet anchor of our
peace at home, and safety abroad a jealous
care of the right of election by the people, a
mild and safe corrective of abuses which are
Topped by the sword of revolution, where
peaceable remedies are unprovided; absolute
acquiescence in the decisions of the majority,
the vital principle of republics, from which
is no appeal but to force, the vital principle
and immediate parent of despotism "a well
disciplined militia, our best reliance in peace,
and for the first moments of war, till regulars
may relieve them the supremacy of the civil
over the military authority ECONOMY in the
public expense, that labor may be lightly
burthened the honest payment of our debts,
and sacred preservation of the public faith
encouragement of agriculture, and of com
merce as its hand maid the diffusion of in
formation, and arraignment of all abuses al
the bar of public reason; freedom of religion;
freedom of the press; and freedom of the
person, under the protection of the Habeas
Corpus and trial by juries impartially
selected. These principles form the bright
constellation, which has gone before us and
guided our steps through an age of revolution
and reformation. The wisdom of our sages,
and blood of our heroes, have been devoted
to their attainment. They should be the
creed of our political faith the text of civil
instruction the touch-stone by which to try
the services of those we trust and should we
wander from them in moments of error or OF
alarm, let us hasten to retrace our steps, and
to regain the road which alone leads to
peace, liberty and safety.


SrEREoeRAPHs OF BArlLss.-Dr Holmes,