Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1817-03-18

escorted hy large cayacade Of tizens to
Congress Hall, where the Ex-President, the
! Supreme Judges, and the Senator'S were as
sembed AMI attended the President TO the
portico. where he delivered the following
SPEECH.
| SHOULD be destitute of feeling If was not
deeply affected by the strong proof which my fel-
Tow citizens have given me Of their confidence, il
calling me 10 the high Office whose fuoctions am
about to assume As the expression Of their good
opinion OF my conduct in the public service, de-
rive from il qualification. which those who are
conscious OF having done all they could TO merit il,
can alone feel. NJ sensibility is increased by
us estimate Of the Importance of the trust, and of
the uAturr and extent OF IFS duties; with the prop
er discharge Of which the highest interests Of
great and tree people are intimately connected.
Conscious ofmy own deficiency, cannot enter on
their duties without great anxiety FOR the result.
From just responsibility will never shrink /;
calculating with confidence, that in nv best efforts
| topromoSe the public welfare, my motives will al
ways be duly appreciated and my conduct be lew
ed with that candor and indulgence which have
experienced in other stations
Ia commencing the duties ofthe Chief Execu~
tive Office il has been the practice OF tho distin
guished men who have gone before me to explain
the principles which would govern them in their
respective Administrations. In following their
senerated example, my attention is naturally
drawn 20 the great cause which have CONT ibuted
in principal degree 10 produce the pfesent happy
condition of the United States. They will best
explain the nature OF our duties and shed much
light on the policy which ought TO be pursued in
future.
From the commencement of our revolution to the
present day, almost forty years have elapsed, and
from the establishment OF this constitution twenty
eight. Through this whole term the government
has been, what may emphatcally be called self
government and what has been the effect? To
WhateFer object we turn our attention. whether il
relates 60 our foreign domestic concerns we find
abundan cause 10 elicitate Ourselves in the excel
| lence q our institutions. During period fraught
with d iAeultes,and marked by Very extraordinary
events, the United States have hourishcd beyond
example. their citizens, individuality, have been
happy, and the nation prosperous.
Unde this Constitution our commerce has been
wisely Regulated with foreign nations and between
the Stai@s; states have been admitted into our
Union; our territory has been enlarged, Dy fair
aud houdr treaty, ADD with great advantage to
the ORIGINAL States the states, respectively, pro-
tected bI the naiional government, under mild
parental system, agaust foreIga dangers and en-
j0vlng vii hin their separate spheres by a wise
Paettion " power, just proportion IL tic sover-
eighty. la ve improved their police extended their
settlements, aud attained a strength and maturity
which are ne best proofs CT wholesome laws well
adnlpister ad. Aad if we look TO The condition Of
iudlyiduals what proud spectacle does it exhibit
On whom pas oppression fallen in any quarter Of
our UntonI Who has seen deprived Of any right
q person OF property Who restrained from offer
ing bis vo,|s in the mode which he prefers. 10 The
that all ii {Se blessings have been enjoyed in their
fullest extent; and | add, with peculiar satisfac-
ton, that there has been no example of a capital
punishment being inflicted on any for the crime
ot high tfelsoa.
Some, 40 might admit the comp potency OF our
government to these benefcent duties, might doubt
il in Il ais which put TO the test its strength and
dciency as member of the great community OF
nations. Here, too, experience has afforded Us the
most satisfactory proof IN its favor. Just as This
Constitution was put into action several OF the
principal States of Europe had become much agi.
tated aud some of them seriously convased. Ne
stEuctlye wars enS,ied. which have OF late only
been terminated. In the course of these conflicts
the United States received great injury from sever
al OF the arties Ii was their interest 10 stand
aloof from the contest TO demand Justice from the
party committing the injuIy and 10 cultivate, by
fair and honorable conduct, the friendship Of ALL
War became, al length, inevitable aud the result
has shown thai our government is equal TO that,
he greatest Of trials under the most uufavourable
circumstances Nt the virtue of the peoI le aud Of
she heroic exploits If the army, the navy, and
tie mil.ia need rot speak.
Such tLeu, Is tue happy government under which
we 'iYc government adequate 10 every purposefor
which she social compact is formed a government
elective in allts branches underw hch every citizen
may, By bis merit, obtain the highest trust recogni
ed by tia Constitution which contains within II
40 cause q di>eord; none TO put at variarcl one
portion Of the community with another; govern
taeut which protects every citizen in the fell en-
joyment of bis rights, and is able TO protect the
nation against injustice from foreign powers
Other considerations Of the highest Importance
sjmonish ns 70 cherish our union, and 20 cling to
fhc government which supports il. Fortunate a.
We are, in ourspoltical institutions, we have not
beeu less 50 in other circumstances, on which our
prosperity and happiness essentially depend Stu-
aied within the temperate gone, aud extending |
through many degrees Of latitude along Tie At |
ansc tie United States enjoy all the varieties Of
climate and every production incident 10 that por-
tics Of the globe Penetrating, internally, 10 the |
grest lakes, ard beyond the sources Of the great
rivers which communicate through cur hole inte-
Fior, no countFy was ever happier with respect to
rs dosnasn Blessed, TOO. with fertile soil. chr |
produce has always been very abundant leaving. /
even 10 years The esss sassrable surplus Tor the
ws31s g CIR islow-men il ether countries. Such /