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Lincoln and Union, 1861 "THE MOMENTOUS ISSUE OF CIVIL WAR" First Inaugural Address, Washington [MARCH 4, 1861] 201 Lincoln hoped his conciliatory inaugural address, delivered before some thirty thousand listeners, would stem the tide ofsecession. But one hostile newspaper, focusing instead on Lincoln's pledge to hold governmentowned Southern property, declared the speech "coercive," and predicted that "civil war will be inauguratedforthwith." Lincoln's voice "rang out, clear and resonant, above the vast throngs," his secretary remembered. Another eyewitness recalled its being received in ''profound silence. " The magnificent peroration was proposed by incoming secretary of state William H. Seward, but brilliantly rewritten by Lincoln. The speech was composed long before the invention of copying machines, even carbon paper, so when Lincoln's son temporarily misplaced the manuscript during the inaugural journey he received a public scolding from his father. Fellow citizens of the United States: In compliance with a custom as old as the government itself, I appear before you to address you br.iefiy, and to take, in your presence, the oath prescribed by the Constitution of the United States, to be taken by the President "before he enters on the execution of his office." I do not consider it necessary, at present, for me to discuss those matters of administration about which there is no special anxiety, 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 for such apprehension. Indeed, the most ample evidence to the contrary has all the while existed, and been open to their inspection. It is found in nearly all the published speeches of him who now addresses you. I do but quote from one of those speeches when I declare that "I have no purpose, directly 202 LINCOLN ON DEMOCRACY or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so." Those who nominated and elected me did so with full knowledge that I had made this, and many similar declarations, and had never recanted them. And more than this, they placed in the platform, for my acceptance, and as a law to themselves, and to me, the clear and emphatic resolution which I now read: "Resolved, That the maintenance inviolate ofthe rights ofthe States, and especially the right of each State to order and control its own domestic institutions according to its own judgment exclusively, is essential to that balance of power on which the perfection and endurance of our political fabric depend; and we denounce the lawless invasion by armed force of the soil of any State or Territory, no matter under what pretext, as among the gravest of crimes." I now reiterate these sentiments: and in doing so, I only press upon the public attention the most conclusive evidence of which the case is susceptible, that the property, peace and security of no section are to be in anywise endangered by the now incoming Administration. I add too, that all the protection which, consistently with the Constitution and the laws, can be given, will be cheerfully given to all the States when lawfully demanded, for whatever cause-as cheerfully to one section, as to another. There is much controversy about the delivering up of fugitives from service or labor. The clause I 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 or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up on claim ofthe party to whom such service or labor may be due." It is scarcely questioned that this provision was intended by those who made it, for the reclaiming of what we call fugitive slaves; and the intention of the law-giver is the law. All members of Congress swear their support to the whole Constitution-to this provision as much as to any other. To the proposition, then, that slaves whose cases come within the terms of this clause, "shall be delivered up," their oaths are unanimous. Now, if they would make the effort in good temper, could [18.217.220.114] Project MUSE (2024-04-19 22:29 GMT...

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