What is the main idea of this excerpt from Abraham Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address? 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.

In his Inaugural Address, President Abraham Lincoln addressed the concerns of the Southern States that "the accession of a Republican administration [will endanger] their property and their peace and personal security". But he greatly stressed that this is not so. He even quoted his previous speech where he had promised to never "interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists." He also states that he had "no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so." This proves that the Southern States need not worry about their personal freedom and well being, despite him becoming President.