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section from which I came and the people here; is dependent upon a

misunderstanding of one another。  I therefore avail myself of this

opportunity to assure you; Mr。 Mayor; and all the gentlemen present;

that I have not now; and never have had; any other than as kindly

feelings toward you as to the people of my own section。  I have not

now; and never have had; any disposition to treat you in any respect

otherwise than as my own neighbors。  I have not now any purpose to

withhold from you any of the benefits of the Constitution; under any

circumstances; that I would not feel myself constrained to withhold

from my own neighbors; and I hope; in a word; that when we shall

become better acquaintedand I say it with great confidencewe

shall like each other better。  I thank you for the kindness of this

reception。









REPLY TO A SERENADE AT WASHINGTON; D。C。;

FEBRUARY 28; 1861



MY FRIENDS:I suppose that I may take this as a compliment paid to

me; and as such please accept my thanks for it。  I have reached this

city of Washington under circumstances considerably differing from

those under which any other man has ever reached it。  I am here for

the purpose of taking an official position amongst the people; almost

all of whom were politically opposed to me; and are yet opposed to

me; as I suppose。



I propose no lengthy address to you。  I only propose to say; as I did

on yesterday; when your worthy mayor and board of aldermen called

upon me; that I thought much of the ill feeling that has existed

between you and the people of your surroundings and that people from

among whom I came; has depended; and now depends; upon a

misunderstanding。



I hope that; if things shall go along as prosperously as I believe we

all desire they may; I may have it in my power to remove something of

this misunderstanding; that I may be enabled to convince you; and the

people of your section of the country; that we regard you as in all

things our equals; and in all things entitled to the same respect and

the same treatment that we claim for ourselves; that we are in no

wise disposed; if it were in our power; to oppress you; to deprive

you of any of your rights under the Constitution of the United

States; or even narrowly to split hairs with you in regard to these

rights; but are determined to give you; as far as lies in our hands;

all your rights under the Constitutionnot grudgingly; but fully and

fairly。  I hope that; by thus dealing with you; we will become better

acquainted; and be better friends。



And now; my friends; with these few remarks; and again returning my

thanks for this compliment; and expressing my desire to hear a little

more of your good music; I bid you good…night。









WASHINGTON; SUNDAY; MARCH 3; 1861



'During the struggle over the appointments of LINCOLN's Cabinet; the

President…elect spoke as follows:'



Gentlemen; it is evident that some one must take the responsibility

of these appointments; and I will do it。  My Cabinet is completed。

The positions are not definitely assigned; and will not be until I

announce them privately to the gentlemen whom I have selected as my

Constitutional advisers。









FIRST INAUGURAL ADDRESS;

MARCH 4; 1861



FELLOW…CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES:In compliance with a custom as

old as the Government itself; I appear before you to address you

briefly; 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 near1y 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 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 of the rights of the

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 amongst 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 any wise 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 causeas

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 of the 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 lawgiver is the law。  All members of Congress

swear their support to the whole Constitutionto 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 they not with nearly equal unanimity frame and

pass a law by means of which to keep good that unanimous oath?



There is some difference of opinion whether this clause should be

enforced by national or by State authority; but surely that

difference is not a very material one。  If the slave is to be

surrendered; it 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 go unkept on a merely unsubstantial

controversy as to how it shall be kept?



Again; in any law upon this subject; ought not all the safeguards of

liberty known in civilized and humane jurisprudence to be introduced;

so that a free man be not; in any case; surrendered as a slave? And

might it not be well at the same time to provide by law for the

enforcement of that clause in the Constitution which guarantees that



〃the citizens of each State shall be entitled to all privileges and

immunities of citizens in the several States〃?



I take the official oath to…day with no mental reservations; and with

no purpose to construe the Constitution or laws by any hypercritical

rules。  And; while I do not choose now to specify particular acts of

Congress as

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