Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-03-07
Washington, Narch 5.

the L. States, on the duties ochis arJuous sta.
non The ceremony and the spectacle were
simple, but grand, animating aud impressiy.
AT halt after 4 O'Clock, the President. with
nm the Nice-President elect, left his private
residence, attended by large cavalcade OF
citizens on horseback ,marshalled by the gen
tlemen appointed to that duty
The President reached the CONGRESS- U-lJ :,
little before IL; al the same time the Pre-
sldentarrived, and the judges of the Supreme
Court. All having entered the Chamber of
the Senate, then III session, the Vice-Presi.
dent took the Chair, and the oath of Office was
administered 10 him. A pertineutaddress was
delivered on the occasion by the " President
lie ceremony having ended, the Senate adj
Journed, and the President and Vice presi
deut, the Judges Of the Supreme Court the
Senate generally, the Marshals, SC attended
the Presidentto the elevated Po:tco temno
rariiy erected for the occasion where i'm the
presence OF al immense concourse of officers
OF the government, foreign officers, strangers
(ladies as well rs gentemenl and citizens The
President rose and delivered the following
SPEECH:
should be destitute offeeling. ifIwas
not deeply affected BY the strong proof
which my fellow citizens have given me
OF their confidence, in calling me to the
high Office, whose functions am about
TO assume. As the expression of their
good opinion of my conduct in the public
service, derive from il qualification
which those who are conscious of having
done all that they could to merit it, can a.
lone feel. My scnsibil,y is increased by
just estimate of the importance of the
trust, and of the nature and extent of its
duties with the proper discharge of
which, the highest interests of great d
free people are intimately connected
Conscious OF my own deficiency, cannot
enter on these duties without great ankle
ely for the result. From a just spon-
sibl!ity, will never shrink; calculating
with confidence, that in my best efforts to
promote the public welfare, my motives
will always be duly appreciated, and my
condu be viewedwiti that. candor and
indulgence which have experienced in
other stations
In commencing the duties cf the chief
executive office, il has been the practice
OF the distinguished men who have gone
before me, to explain the principles which
would govern them in their respective adj
ministratons. In following their venera-
ted example, nay attention is naturally
drawn TO the great causes which have
contributed, in a principal degree, to pro-
duce the present happy condition of the
United States. they will best explain
the nature of our duties, and shed much
light on the policy which ought 10 be pur-
sued Ill future.
FROM the commencement Of our revo-
luton to the present day, almost 10 years
have elapsed, and from the establishment
OF THIS constitution, twenty-eight. Thro'
this whole term, the government has been
what may cmphatieally be called self gov
ernment ; aud what has been the effect {?
10 whatever object we turn ourattention III,
whether 1t relates to ourfoTejgn or domes-
TIC concerns, we find abundant cause to
felicliate ourselves in the excellence of
institutions. During period frausht
with ditfc uliies, and marked by very ex-
traordlnary events, the United States have
fiourished beyo example. Their citi-
zens, Individually, have been happy. and
the nation prosperous.
Under this constitution, our commerce
has been wisely regulated with foreign
nations, and between the states; new states
have been admitted into our Union our
territory has been enlarged by fair and
honorable treaty, aud with great advan-
tage to the original states the states.
respectively, protected by the national
government, under mild parental sys-
tenn, against foreign dangers, and en;oy-
ing within their separate spheres, by a
wise partition OF power, lust proportion
OF the sovereignty, have improved their
police, extended their settlements and
attained ii strength and maturity, which
are the best proofs of wholesome laws
well administered And If we look 10 the
condition of individuals, what proud
spectacle does il exhibit? On whom has
oppression fallen ia any quarter OF our
UnIont Who has been deprived of any
right OF person or property Who
restrained from Offering his VOWS, in the
mode which lac prefers, 10 the Divine
Author Of his being? Ii is well known.
that a these blessings Ial been emioyed
in their fullest extent and / add with
peculiar satisfaction, Thai there has been
no example Ola capital punishment be-
ing inflicted on any one for tile crime of
high treason,
Some, who might admit the compctcn-
" of Our government TO these bcnelicenf
luiieS, might doubt it IN trials which mi
o the test IFS strength and efficiency. as
member Ofthe great community of ma
Ious. Here, too, experience has afford
81 us the most satisfactory proof i'm its
avor. Just as this constitution was put
nto action, several of the priucipal
tates of Europe had become much agi-
ated, and some of them seriously con
ulsed. Destructive wars ensucd. which
ave, of late only, been terminated. In
he course Of these conflicts, the United |
tales received great injury from several |
. tic parties. Ii was their interest 10 !
iand alo0f from the contest: 10 demand 1
Islice from the party committing The in |
lrV. and tp cultivate he q fair and b,,