总统就职演说:美国16任总统亚伯拉罕·林肯第一次就职演讲(2)

but shall be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due.

而必须按照有权享有该项服务或劳役当事人的要求,将其引渡。”

It is scarcely questioned that this provision was intended by those who made it for the reclaiming of what we call fugitive slaves;

毫无疑问,按照制订这一条款的人的意图,此项规定实际指的就是,对我们所说的逃亡奴隶有权索回;

and the intention of the lawgiver is the law.

而法律制订人的这一意图实际已成为法律。

All members of Congress swear their support to the whole Constitution—to this provision as much as to any other.

国会的所有议员都曾宣誓遵守宪法中的一切条款——对这一条和其它各条并无两样。

To the proposition, then, that slaves whose cases come within the terms of this clause "shall be delivered up" their oaths are unanimous.

因此,关于适合这一条款规定的奴隶应“将其引渡”这一点,他们的誓言是完全一致的。

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?

那么现在如果他们心平气和地作一番努力,他们难道不能以几乎同样完全一致的誓言,制订一项法律,以使他们的共同誓言得以实施吗?

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.

究竟这一条款应该由国家当局,还是由州当局来执行,大家的意见还不完全一致;但可以肯定地说,这种分歧并不是什么十分重要的问题。

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.

只要奴隶能被交还,那究竟由哪一个当局来交还,对奴隶或对别的人来说,没有什么关系。

And should anyone in any case be content that his oath shall go unkept on a merely unsubstantial controversy as to how it shall be kept?

任何人,在任何情况下,也决不会因为应以何种方式来实。现他的誓言这样一个无关紧要的争执,他便会认为完全可以不遵守自己的誓言吧?

Again: In any law upon this subject ought not all the safeguards of liberty known in civilized and humane jurisprudence to be introduced,

另外,在任何有关这一问题的法律中,应不应该把文明和人道法学中关于自由的各项保证都写上,

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

以防止在任何情况下使一个自由人被作为奴隶交出吗?

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

同时,宪法中还有一条规定,明确保证“每一州的公民都享有其它各州公民所享有公民的一切特权和豁免权”,

the citizens of each State shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States"?

我们用法律保证使这一条文得以执行,那不是更好吗?

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;

我今天在这里正式宣誓,思想上决无任何保留,也决无意以任何过于挑剔的标准来解释宪法或法律条文。

and while I do not choose now to specify particular acts of Congress as proper to be enforced,

我现在虽不打算详细指出国会的哪些法令必须要遵照执行;

I do suggest that it will be much safer for all, both in official and private stations,

但我建议,我们大家,不论以个人身份还是以公职人员的身份,

to conform to and abide by all those acts which stand unrepealed than to violate any of them trusting to find impunity in having them held to be unconstitutional.

为了有更多的安全,我们最好服从并遵守现在还没有废除的一切法令,而不要轻易相信可以指之为不合宪法,便可以逃脱罪责,而对它们公然违反。

It is seventy-two years since the first inauguration of a President under our National Constitution.

自从第一任总统根据国家宪法宣誓就职以来,七十二年已经过去了。

During that period fifteen different and greatly distinguished citizens have in succession administered the executive branch of the Government.

在这期间,十五位十分杰出的公民相继主持过政府的行政部门。

They have conducted it through many perils, and generally with great success.

他们引导着它度过了许多艰难险阻;一般都获得极大的成功。

亚伯拉罕·林肯(Abraham Lincoln,1809年2月12日-1865年4月15日),美国政治家、思想家,黑人奴隶制的废除者。第16任美国总统,其任总统期间,美国爆发内战,史称南北战争,林肯坚决反对国家分裂。


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