The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1817-03-19

President took the rbsir aiid toe oSth Of ofTice
"ss adnninis'eied 10 him. a pe,linsDI ad.
dress WA delivered on the occasion by the
Vice p esiden,.
This ceremony having ended, the Senate
sdJoarned, and the PREMpESr and VICE
PREsIDEST, the Judges OF The Suprem,
Court, the Senate generally, the Marshais,
&c, attended the President 10 the elevated
Portico temporarily erected for tho occasion,
where, IN rho presence Of an immSuse con
course Of ofheers of the government, foreign
offieers, strangers, Oadies as well as gentle
mem and eiuzens, the President rose and
delivered the following
SPEECH
1 should be destitute of feeling, if was
noi deeply affected by The strong proof which
my fellow citizens have given inc of their
eohhdeoee, in calling me 10 the high Office,
whose functions am about TO assume As
the expression Of their good opinion Of my
coooue|in the. public service, derive from
Ha gsauncation, which ihos. who ere con
seions oi having done oil that they could to
melt Il, eau alone feel. My seDsibili,y is
incrrssed by just estimate OF the importance
OF tht iust, aud OF the nature ona extent Of
me blgnest interests OF great and free peo.
pie arc indmatoly cohnccted. Conscious of
my own deficiency, cannot enter on these
au'eS Without greal anxiety Tor the result.
fIoinh just responsibility will never shripk:
eslcaia'in6 With confidence, hat W my hes,
choris TO promote the public welfare, my mo.
sfSs- vW slweys hs duy eppiecisied, and my
sosaueison 'ieweu with tHsi Ssndos and in-
coigoose which have expcricEfed 10 other
stations.
In comsncucing The duties of the chisfcx
ecutive ethce, IL has been the practice OF the
distinguished men who have gone before me,
to eSplsin tho principles wh,ch would gov.
ern them IN their respective administrations.
In following their veoerated example, my at
ientIon Is naturally drawn to the great causes
which have contributed. Ia a DrincipaI degree,
10 produte the present happy condition OF the
United States. ii hey will best explain the
nature OF our duties, and shed much lipnt on
the policy which ougbt to be pursuaded 10
future.
Terom the com nencensnt Of our reSolu.
: ton 10 she presen, day, almost fouy years
havo elapsed, and from h staolIsh IN Mt Of
this constitution, tw'nty eight Through
TINS whole terrn, toe government has been,
what may empbsticslly be called, self govern
men'; and what has been the eGec To
wha'evor object we turn our attention, wbelh.
er u relates TO ouT iorsigh or domestic con.
Germs, we bnd abundaD, cause 10 feiicilale
ourselves IN tho excellence Of oul Institutions.
Darine a period Taught with difficulties and
marked by very extraordinary events, The
United Stsles have. hourisbea be yond exam
pie. Their citizens, iodIvidullly, have been
happy, and the nation prosperous
Under this constitution, our comm cree has
been wisely regulated with foreign nations,
and between the states new states have Been
admitted into our Union our territory has
beea enlarged, y fair and hono,s able trea,y,
and with great ad'sptnge TO the original
sta.esj the ststesi respectively, protected by
the national government, under a mild paren.
tai system, against foreign drhgers, and en-
Toying within their separate spheres, by q
wise partition Of powers Just proportion Of
the sovereignty, have improved their police,
extended their settlements, and auaihed a
Strength aud maturity, which are The best
pro rs Of wholesome laws, veil administered.
Aud if we look TO The condition Of individuals,
wha proud spectacle does u exhibit On
whom has oppression fallen IN any qustter OF
our Union ! Who has been deprived Of any
light OF person or property! Who res,rsined
from offering hi. vows, in The mode which he
prefers, to the Divine Author Of his being .
II is we'll koown, that all these blessings,
have oeen enjoyed in their fdlles, extent; and
I add, with peculiar satisfaction, that there
has been no example Of capital punisbmen,
being ipaie'sd on any one for the crime of
high treason.
Some, who might admit the competency
OF our government 10 those beneGccnt duties,
nigh, doubt !, in trials which pu, to the tes
It's strength aud 'siciency, as "a member of
tho gres, CON n. onIty Of nations Here, too,
expe rience has afforded u. the mos, ssiisfac.
tory proof iiyor. Just as this eonsiitu-
ton was pu 30 action, several Of the pfia
cipsl states oi Europe had become muob'sgi
s,,sd. and sorne of ~ eru saes,uslv convttlsed