Lincoln, Abraham / 2008-07-01 00:00:00

AMERICAN HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS
LINCOLN'S FIRST INAUGURAL ADDRESS
(1861)
Fellow-citizens of the United States: In compliance with a custom as
old is 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 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 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.
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