The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-03-11
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
DELIVERED BY

DELIVERED BY
GEN. ANDREW JACKSON,
On being s,corn ,nto office as President of the
United States, March A, 1929.
FcliO,o Citizens: About to undertake the ar
duous duties that | have been appointed to per-
form, by the choice of free people, avail N.Y.
self of this customary and solemn occasion, to
express the gratitude which their confidence in
spires, and to acknowledge the accountability
which my situation en- oins. While the magni-
tude of their interests convinces me that no
thanks can be adequate to the honor they have
conferred, it admonishes me that the best return
| can make, is the jealous dedication of my
humble abilities to their service and their good
As the instrument of the Federal Constitu-
ton, it will devolve me, for Il stated period,
| to execute the laws of the United States to
superintend their foreign and their confederate
! relations; to manage their revenue; to com.
mand their forces; and, by communications to
the Legislature, to watch over and to promote
! their interests generally. And the principles
of action by which | shall endeavor to accom-
plish 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 well as
the extent of the Executive power, trusting
thereby to discharge the functions of my Office,
: NlIuOul TRANSFORMING llS dulIOItLy w I'LL TOT
eign nations it will be my study to perserve
peace, and to cultivate friendship, on fair and
honorable terms; and in the adjustment of any
differences that may exist or arise, to exhibit
the torbearance becoming a powerful nation,
rather than the sensibility belonging to gal
! liant people.
In such measures as l may be called on to
pursue in regard to the rights of the separate
States, hope to be animated by proper res
I pect for those sovereign members of our Union !;
( taking care not to confound the powers they
have reserved for themselves with those they
have granted to the confederacy.
Tho rna ..a4s~...A-4 &c 49, ..si.l;~ ---------
that searching operation in all governments
is among the most delicate and important trusts
! in ours and it will, of course, demand no in
considerable share of my official solicitude.-
Under every aspect in which it can be consid
cred, it would appear that advantage must re-
suit from the observance of strict and faithful
economy. This | shall aim at the more anx-
iously, both because it will facilitate the extin-
| punishment of the national debt the unneces
! sary duration of which is incompatible with real
independeDce-and because it will counteract
that tendency to public and private proAigacy,
which a profuse expenditure of money by the
Government, is but too apt to engender. Pow
erful auxillares to the attainment of this desir-
able end are to be found in the regulations pro.
vided by the wisdom of Congress, for the spe-
cifc appropriation of public money, and the
prompt accountability of public officers
With regard to proper selection of the sub.
iects of impost, with view to revenue it would
seem to me that the spirit of equity, caution
and compromise, in which the Constitution was
formed requires that the great interests ofagri.
culture, commerce, and manufactures should
be equally favored; and that, perhaps, the onv
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 independence.
Internal improvements, and the diffusion of
knowledge, so far as they can be promoted by
| the constitutional acts of the Federal Govern.
ment, are of high Importance.
| Considering standing armies as dangerous to
free governments, in time of peace, shall not
seek to enlarge our present establishment, nor
disregard that sautary lesson of political expe-
rience which teaches that the military should
be held subordinate to the civil power The
gradual increase of our Navy, whose fag has
displayed, in distant chimes, our skill in naviga-
ton, and our fame in arms; the preservation
of our forts, arsenals, 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 omtting
their mention, sooner than for charging on
| their importance. But the bulwark oc our de.
fence is the national militia, which, in the pres.
ent state of our intelligence and population,
must render us invincible. As long as our goy.
eminent is administered for the good Of the
people, and is regulated by their will +; as long
as it secures to us the rights of person and Of
property, 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 9giS. Partial INJURIES
and occasional notifications we NAV be sub
! iected to- but a million Of armed freemen pos.
sessed of the means of war, can never be con.
quered by foreign foe. To any Just system,
therefore, calculated to strengthen this national
| safeguard of the country, shall cheerfully lend
all the aid in my power
1t will be my sincere and constant desire, TO
observe towards the Indian tribes within our
limits, Just and liberal policy and to give
that humane and considerable attention to their
rights and their wants, which are consistent
with the habits of our government, and the feel
ings of our people.
The recent demonstration of public sentiment
inscrlbes, on the list of executive duties in
characters too legible to be overlooked, the task
Of reform which will require, particularly,
the correction Of those abuses, that have brought
the patronage Of the Federal Government into
conflict with the freedom Of elections, and the
counteraction Of those causes which have dis.
turbcd the rightful course of appointment, and
have placed or continued power in unfaithful or
incompetent hands.
In the performance Of task thus generally
delineated, ! shall endeavor to select men whose
diligence and talents will ensure, in their res.
pective stations, able and faithful corporation
depending, for the advancement of the public scr.