Litchfield enquirer., 1829-03-12
INAUGURAL ADDRESS


 Delivered by GENERAL ANDREW JACKSON,
 on being sworn into office, as President of
 the United States, on the 4th March, 1929.
 Fellow-C Citizens About to undertake the arduOus duties that have been appointed to perform, by the choice of free people, a. vail myself of this customary and solemn oc casion. to express the gratitude which their confidence inspires, and to acknowledge the accountability which my situation enjoins.- While the magnitude oftheir interests convin ces me that no thanks can be adequate to the honor they have conferred, it admonishes me that the best return can make, is the zeal ous dedication ofmy humble abilities to their service and their good.
 As the instrument of the Federal Consti- tuition, it will devolve on me, for stated pe- riod, to execute the laws ofthe United States; to superntend their foreign and their confed- crate relations to manage their revenue; to command their forces and, by communica- tions to the Legislature, to watch over and to promote their interests generally. And the principles ofaction by which shall endeavor 10 accomplish this circle of duties, it is now proper for me briefly to explain.
 In administering the laws of Congress, shall keep steadily in view the limitations as we'll as the extent of the Executive power, trusting thereby to discharge the functions of my office without transcending its authority. With foreign nations it will be my study to preserve peace, and to cultivate friendship on fair and honorable terms and in the adjust n,ent ofany differences that may exist or arise, to exhibit the forbearance becoming'a pow erful nation, rather than the sensibility be- longing to gallant people.
 In such measures as l may be called on to pursue. in regard to the rights of the separate States,I hope to be animated by proper res pect for those sovereign members of our Un- ion taking care not to confound the powers they have reserved to themselves, with those they have granted to the confederacy.
 The management of the public revenue- that searching operation in all governments is among the most delicate and important trusts in ours and it will of course, demand no inconsiderable share of my official solici tude. Under every aspect in which it can be considered, 1t would appear that advan- tags must result from the observance of a strict and faithful economy. This | shall aim at the more anxiously, both because it will facilitate the extinguishment of the na- tional dcbt-the unnecessary duration of which is incompatible with real independence .-and because it will counteract that tenden. cv to public and private proaigacy, which a nyoG,se expenditure of money by the Gov ernment, is but too apt to engender. Power G,l auxiIiaries to the attainment of this desi rable end, are to be found in the regulations nrOyitled by the wisdom of Congress, for the specific appropriation of public money, and the prompt accountability ofpublic officers.
 With regard to proper selection of the subiect of impost, with view to revenue, It woSld seem to me that the spirit of equity, caution. and compromise, in which the Con- stitution was formed, requires that the great interests of agriculture, commerce, and man- utactures, should be equally favored and that, perhaps, the only exception to this rule, should consist in the peculiar encouragement of any products of either of them that may be found essential to our national indepen- dence.
 Internal improvement, and the diffusion of knowledge, 60 far as they can be promoted by the constitutional acts of the Federal Gov ernnent, are of high importance.
 Considering standing armies as dangerous to free governments, in time of peace, l shall not seek to enlarge our present establishment, nor disregard that sautary lesson of pOlitic- al experience, which teaches that the military should be held subordinate to the civil pnwer The gradual increase of our Navy, whose flag has displayed, in distant climes, our skill in navigation and our fame in arms the preservation of our forts, arse ,nals, and dock yards; and the introduction of progressive improvements in the discipline and science of both branches of our military service, are so plainly prescribed by prudence, that should be excused for emitting their mention, sooner than for enlarging on their importance. But the bulwark ofonr defence is the national militia, which. in the present state of our intelligence and population, must render us invincible. As long as our gov ernment is administered for the people, and is regulated by their will 1; as long as it se- cures to us the rights of person and pro perty, liberty of conscience and of the press, it will be worth defending and so long as it is worth defending. patriotic militia will cover it with an impenetrable egis. Partial injuries and occasional mortinCatiOns we may be subjected 10, but a million of armed free