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American Orations (4); Vii. Civil War and Reconstruction. Viii. Free Trade and Protection. Ix. Finance and Civil Service Reform
American Orations Vii Civil War and Reconstruction Viii Free Trade and Protection Ix Finance and Civil Service Reform - 4 Author:Alexander Johnston Volume: 4 General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1897 Original Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons Subjects: Speeches, addresses, etc., American United States Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books ed... more »ition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: ABRAHAM LINCOLN, OF ILLINOIS.1 (born 1809, Died 1865.) FIRST INAUGURAL ADDRESS, MARCH 4, l86l.' 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 never has beenany 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 insti- stitution 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 themsel...« less