LAD #14

President Abraham Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

President Lincoln started his first Inaugural address by stating some clarifications. His first statement was that he had no intention of abolishing slavery, and that he south can relax on this subject. President Lincoln then quoted the American constitution, in which he reminded the Americans that any run away slave is to be returned to their owner across state lines. He then made the specific point in saying that the union will survive and no states will be allowed to secede, due to the fact that it would go against the constitution. Then he also stated he has no plans of using his powers to limit the power of any of the states. These statements established him as a very strict constitutionalist, he clarifies by saying since the constitution does not give any one in the federal government the right to interfere with slavery, that he will not do so. After that he states that the minority will follow the will of the majority, because the result would be anarchy if they did not. He goes on to say that it goes against logic for the union to break apart, but he does encourage the people to use their power to amend the government. He says the government exists to serve the governed. He ends his first Inaugural address by saying that the United States are close to a civil war and that he hopes the American people can become friends again, and forget their enemies.