Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-03-05
INAUGURAL ADDRESS

another term. For their appreciation Of my pub.
lie conduct, through period which has not been
without its diff cuities. and for this rene wed ex-
preston of their confidence in my good inten.
tiohs, am at loss for terms adequate to the
expression Of nv gratitude. 1t shall be display.
ed, to the extent of nv humble abilities. in con.
| tinued Efforts so to administer the Government
as to preserve their liberty aud promote their
happiness.
So many events have occurred within the last
four years. which have necessarily called forth.
sometimes under circumstances the most delicate
and painful, my views Of the principles and pc.
icy which ought to be pursued by the General
Government, that need, on this occasion. but
alIude to few leading considerations, connected
with some of them.
The foreign policy adopted by our Government
soon after the formation of our present Consttu.
ton, and very generally pursued by successive
administrations, has been crowned with almost
complete success. and has elevated our character
among the nations Of the earth. To do justice
to all, and submit to wrong from none, has been,
during my administration, its governing maxim;
and 80 happy has been its results, that we are
not only at peace with all the world, but have
few causes of controversy, and those Of minor
importance, remaining unadjusted
| In the domestic policy of this Government.
there are two objects which especially deserve
the attention of the people and their Representa-
tives, and which have been, and will continue to
be, the subjects of my increasing solicitude.-
They are the preservation Of the rights Of the Sc
veral States, and the integrity Of the Union.
These great objects are necessarily connected,
aud can only be attained by an enlightened exer-
else Of the powers of each within it's appropriate
sphere, in conformity with the public will consti.
tutionally expressed. To this end, it becomes
the duty of all to yield ready and patriotic SUBJ
mission to the laws constitutionally enacted, and
| thereby promote and strengthen proper conf
dence in those institutions OF the several States
and of the United States which the people them.
selves have ordained for their own government,
My experience in public concerns, and the OBJ
servation Of lite mewhat advanced, confirm
the opinions long since imbibed by me. that the
destruction OF our State governments or the an
Inhalation of their control over the local concerns
of the people, would lead directly to revolution
aud anarchy. aud finally to despousm and mill
tary domination. ln propur,ion. therefore, as the
general government encroaches upon the rights
of the States, in The same proportion does IT i'm.
pair its own power and deiract from its ability To
fulfil the purposes Of lis creation. Soemnly i'm
pressed with these considerations, my country.
men will ever fud the ready to exercise my-con.
stitutonaI powers in arresting measures which
may directly or indirectly encroac, upon the
rights Of the States, or tend To consolidate all
political power in the General Cove, nment. Bat
of equal, and indeed of incslculabie Importance
| is the union of these States, and the sacred du.
ty of all to contribute to IT'S preservation by
liberal support Of the General Government IN the
exercise of its just powers,
You have been wisely admonished to "accus.
tom yourselves 10 think and speak of the Union
"a OF the palladium Of your political safety and
prosperity, watching for ITS preservation with
Jealous anxiety, misunderstanding whatever may
suggest even a-suspicOn that il can IN any event
be abandoned. and Indignantly frownlng upon the
first d,wnng of any attempt TO alternate any por-
ton Of our country from the rest, or to enfeebie
the sacred ties which link together the va
rious parts" Without union our independence
and liberty would never have been achieved
w,thou union they can never can be maintained
Divided into twenty four. or even smaller
number of separate communities, we shall see
our inter nal trade burdened with numberess re.
strains and exactions; communication between
distant prints and sections 0b.tructed, or cut on;
our sons made soldiers to deluge with blood the
fields they now till IN peace; The mass OF our peo-
pie borne down and Impoverished by taxes to
support armies and navies; and military leaders
at the head Of their victorious leglons becoming
our -g,vers and judges. The uss Of liberty,
of all good government, Of peace. plenty and
happiness. must inevitably follow dissolution OF
the Union In supporting it therefore. we support
all that is dear to the freeman and the philan-
thropist.
The time at which stand before you is full Of
interest. The eyes of all nations are fixed on
our republic. The event Of the existing crisis
will be decisive IN the opinion "f mankind OF the
practicabtv of our federal system Of govern
ment. Great is the stake placed IN our hands:
great is the responsibility which must rest upon
the people of the United States. Let US realize
the Importance of the attitude in which we stand
before the world Let US exercise forbearance
and firmness. Let Us extrlcate our country from
the dangers which surround it, and learn wisdom
from the lessons they mculcate.
Deeply impressed with the truth Of these OBJ
servatons, and under the obligation OF that 80.
lemn oath which ! am about to take, shall Con-
time to exert all nv faculties to maintain the