Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-03-07
JuauguraI 5pesctt.

the O3tn 10 SuppoTl Tile tohSutu'Sh VI
the United States, the following speech
was delivered by JAMES MONROE,
President of the United Stntes.
FELLow-cITIZENs:
| shall not attempt to describe the
grateful emotions which the new and
very distinguished proof of the comb
dence of my fellow citizens, evlnced oy
nv re- election to this high trust, has
excited in my bosom. The approba-
tian which it announces of my Conduct
in the preceding term. affords me
consolation which shall profoundly
feel through life. The general accord
with which il has been expressed, adds
to the great aud never cea.Ing Oblisa-
tions which it imposes. To merit the
continuance of this good opinion, and
to carry it with me into my retirement
as the solace of advancing years, VIII
be the Object of my most jealous anu
unCeasing efforts.
Having no pretension to the high
and commanding claims Of my prede-
cessors, whose names arc So much
more conspiCuously identified with our
revolution, and who contributed SO
pre-. emineutly to promote its success,
consider myself rather as the instru
ment than the cause Of the union which
has prevailed in the late election. In
surmOunting. in favor of my humble
pretensions, the difficulties which so
often produce division in like oCCurren-
Ces, it is obvious that other powerful
causes, indicating the great strength
and stability of our Union, have essen
TALLY contributed to draw you together.
That these powerful causes exist, aid
that they are permanent, is my fixed
opinion; that they may produce like
accord in all questions. touching, how
ever remotely. the liberty. prosperity,
and happiness, of our country, will
always be the object of my most fer
vent prayers to the Supreme Author Of
all Good.
In government which is founded
by the people. who POSSESS exclusively
the sovereignty, il seems proper that
the person who may be placed by their
suffiages in this high trust, should de-
clare. on commencing its duties, the
principles on which he intends to con
duct the administration. Ii the per.
sou. thus elected, has served the pre-
Ceding term.an opportunity is afforded
him tn review its principal occurren
Ce,. and to give such explanation re-
specting them as. in his judgment,m may
be useful to his constituents. he E.
vents of one year have influence on
thnse of another: and, in like manner,
of preceding on the succeeding ad-
ministratiun. The movements of a
great nation are connected in all their
paris. If errors have been committed
they ought to be corrected; if the pn.
licy is sound, it ought to be supported.
1t is by thorough knowledge of the
whole subject that our fellow citizens
aie enabled to Judge correctly of the
past, and to give a proper direction to
the future.
just before the commencement Of the
last term. the Unitod States had con-
Cludrd war, with a very powerful
nation, On Conditions equal and honor
bic to both parties. The events of that
War are too recent, and too deeply I'M
pressed on the memory of all, to re
quire a development from me. Our
commerce had been, in great mea-
sure, driven from the sea; our Allan
tic and inland frontiers were n,aded
in all ost every part; the waste of life
along our Coast, and on some parts of
eur inland frOntiers, to the defence of
which our gallant and patriotic citizens
we're called. was immense, in addition
to which. hot less than one hundred
aud twenty millions of dollars were
added at its end to the public debt.
As soon as the war had terminated,
the nation. admonished by its events,
resolved to place i'self in a situation,
which should be better calculated TO
prevent, the recurrence Of a like evil, 6in
case il should recur, to mitigate its ca
families. With this view, after redu-
cling our land force to the basis of a
peace establishment, which has been
further modified since, provision was
made for the construction of fOrtiliCa
lions at proper points, through the
whole extent of our coast, and such an
augmentation of our naval force, as
should be we'll adapted to both pur