UNITED STATES.

Otago Witness, Issue 496, 1 June 1861, Page 9

UNITED STATES.

President Lincoln delivered his inaugural message on the 4th of March. lie stated bis determination to maintain the Union at all hazards and baa refused all intercourse with seceding States.

The Cabinet has ordered the evacuation of Fort Sumpter, as it was not expected it could have held out against the overwhelming force the South Carolinians were bringing against it.

Texa3 has also seceded from the Union, and has seized the federal property.

The other seceding States have formed themselves into a. Republic, and have appointed Mr. Jefferson Davis, President, to hold office <, for six years. They have also authorised a loau, commenced the organisation of a system of foreign relations, and have raised an army of 50,000 men. It is rumoured that the English Government intends to recognise the Southern Republic. The English Minister at Washington has notified that his Government will not recognise a blockade of the Southern ports by tbe Federal Government, unless such blockade is strictly maintained without any exception. Anderson, tbe fugitive slave, ha 3 been discharged by tbe authorities at Toronto, and intends visiting England.

A new tariff bill has passed through both Houses, and was signed by President Buchanan on the 2nd March. It will come into operation on the Ist April.

president Lincoln's inaugural, speech.

The ceremony of Mr. Lincoln's inauguration as President took place on March 4 at Washington. The following is a summary of the speech delivered by President Lincoln on the occasion: —

After a few preliminary remarks, Mr. Lincoln said : —

"Apprehension seems to exist among the people of the Senthern States that by the accession of a Republican Administration their property, peace, and personal security are endangered. There has never been any reasonable cause for such an apprehension. I quote one of my former speeches, in which I declared that ' I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of Slavery in States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right," as 1 have no inclination, to do so.' Those who nominated and elected me placed on the platform for my acceptance,

and as a law for themselves and me, the following resolutions : — " ' Eli is resolved that the maintenance, inviolate, of the rights of the States, and especially the rights of each State, to order and control its own domestic institutions according to its own judgment, is cxclujively essential to that balance of power on which the perfection and endurance of our political fabric depend. "'Wo denounce lawless invasion by armed force of an}' State or territory, ns matter under what pretext, as tbe gravest of crimes.' " I now reiterate those sentiments, and press it upon public attention that the property, peace, and security of no section are endangered by the incoming administration. There is much controversy respecting the delivering up of fugitives from service or labour. The following clause U, however, plainly written in the constitution :—: —

"'No pei-on held to service or labour in one State under tbe laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labour, but shall be delivered up on tue claim of the party to whom sueb'service or labour may be due.' "To the proposition that slaves whose cases conic within the terms of this clause shall be delivered up, all members of Congress are bound by oath. I take the official oath to-day with no mental reservation, and with no purpose of construing the constitution or laws by any exceptional rules. I enter upon my task under great and peculiar difficulties. The constitution of our liberal Union, heretofore menaced, is now formidably attacked. 1 hold th.it in contemplation of our universal State and of its constitution, the union of these States iijs perpetual, and shall continue to execute all its express provisions. Our national constitu- | tion and our union endure for ever. No State upon its own mere motion can get out of the Union. Resolutions and ordinances to that effect are legally void, and acts of violence within any State or States against the authority of the United States are insurrectionary or revolutionary, according to circumstances. 1 therefore consider the Union as unbroken, and to the extent of my ability I shall take care that the laws of the Union are fully executed in all tbe States, I trust this will not be regarded as a menace, but only, as a declared purpose of union, that will be constitutionally defended, maintains itself. In doing this there shall be no bloodshed -nor violence, unless forced upon the national authority. The power confided in me shall be used to hold, occupy, and to possess property and places belonging to the government, anl to collect tbe duties imposed. Beyond what is necessary for these objects there will be no invasion or force. Where the hostility to the United States is so „ great and universal as to prevent citizens from .llolding offices, there will be no attempt to force obnoxious strangers among people who object. The mails, unless repelled, will continue to be furnished to all parts of the Union. I understand that a proposed amendment to the constitution has passed Congress, to the effect that the Federal government shall never interfere with the institutions of States, including that of persons held to service. I will say that I have no objection to this amendment being express and irrevocable."

After an appeal to all parties to consider the subject well and calmly, Mr. Lincoln concluded as follows : —

"In your hands, dissatisfied fellow-country-men, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. Government will not assail you, so that you can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors. You have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the government, while I have most solemnly to protect and defend it. lam loth to close thus. We are not enemies but friends, and we must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break, our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battle-field and patriot grave to every living heart in this broad land, will yet swell a chorus of union, when again touched, as surely they will bo, by the better nngels of our nature." Much cheering took place when, during the delivery of his speech, President Lincoln made tiny allusion to Union.

Thirty thousand people were present. No noise, confusion, or disturbance of any kind took place. Everything passed off peacefully.