Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-03-16
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
DELIVERED AT WASHINGTON ON THE 4TH OF
MARCH,
.
by PRESIDENT VAN BUREN.

/, The practice ol all my predecessors lmpO-
sos on Inc al obligation cheerfully fulfil, to
accompany the first and solemn act of my
public trust with an avowal Of the principles
that will guide Inc in performing it, and an
expression of my feelings on assuming a
charge so responsible and vast. In initiating
their example, tread in the footsteps of il
| lustrous men, whose superlors, ii Is our hap
! piness to belicvc,are not found on the exccu
tive calendar of any country. Among them
we recognize the earliest and frmest pillars
of our republic; those by whom our national
independence was first dcclared-him who,
! above all others contributed 10 establish it on
the field of battle; and those whose expanded
intellect and patriotism constructed improv-
! ed. and perfected the nestlmablc Institutions
under which we live. If such men, in the
/ position | now occupy felt themselves over
/ whelWcd by sense Of gratitude for this the
highest Of all marks Of their country's conf
! dence, aud by q consciousness of their ina
! biliiy adequately to discharge the duties Of
| an Office so difficult and exalted, how much
more must these considerations affect one,
| who can rely on no such claims for favor or
| forbearaDce.
/ Unlike all who have preceded me, the re-
volutlon, that gave us existence as nation,
was achieved at the period of my birth; and
whilst contemplate with grateful reverence
! that memorable event, feel that belong to
later age, and that may not expect my
! countrymen to weigh my actions with the
same kind and partial hand.
! So sensibly, fellow citizens, do these cir
cumstanccs press themselves upon me, that /
should not dare TO enter upon my path OF du-
| ty, did | not look for the generous aid of
! those who will be associated with me in the
various and coordinate branches of the Co
| vcrnment; did not repose, with unwavcring
| reliance, on the patriotism, the intelligence.
! and the kindness Of n people who never yet
deserted public servant honestly laboring
| in their cause; and above all, did not permit
! myself humbly to hope for the sustaining sup
| port Of an ever watchful and benetccnt Pro-
| vidence.
To the confidence and consolation derived
from these sourccs,i it would be ungrateful not
to add those which spring from our present
fortunate condition. Though not altogether
exempt from embarrassments that disturb our
tranquility at home and threaten it abroad,yet
| in all the attributes of n great, happy and
! fourishing people, we stand without paral-
! lei in the world. Abroad, we enjoy the re-
| spect, and, with scarcely an exception, the
| friendship of every nation; at homc while our
| government quietly, but efficiently, performs
the sole legitimate end Of politcal instltu-
tons, in doing the greatest good to the great
! est number we present an aggregate OF hu-
man prosperity surely not elsewhere to be
! found.
How imperious then, is the obligation i'm
posed upon every citizen, in his own sphere
of action whether limited or extended, to cX-
ert himself in porpetuatng II condition OF
things so singularly happy. All the lessons
Of history and experience, must be lost upon
us, if we are content to trust alone to the pc
, culiar advantages we happen to possess
Position and climate, and the bounteous re-
sources that nature has scattered with so H.
beral hand-even the ditfused intelligence
and elevated character of our people, it viii
avail us nothing, if we fail sacrcdly to upholt
those political institutions that were wisely
and deliberately formed, with reference tC
every circumstance that could preserve, o
+ might endanger, the blessings we enjoy
' The thoughtful trainers of our Constitution
legislated for our country as they found it.
Looking upon it with the eyes Of statesmen
and patriots, they saw all the sources of ra-
pid and wonderful prosperity; but they saw
: also that various habits, opinions, and insti-
tutions, peculiar to the various portions of SC
vast region, were deeply fixed. Distinct
sovereigntes were in actual existence, whose
cordial union was essential to the welfare and
happiness of all. Between many of them
there was at least to some extent, n real di-
versity of interests, liable to be exaggerated
through sinister desigDs,-they differed IL
size, in population, in wealth, and IN actua
and prospective resources and power; they
varied in the character of their industry an,
staple productions; and in some existed do
mestc institutions, which unwisely disturbed
mipbt endanger the harmony of the WHOLE
Most carefully were all these circumstance
weighed, and the foundation of the new Go
vernment laid upon principles OF reciproca
concession and equitable compromise. IN
: ieaouses which the smaller States might Ell
!, terrain of the power Of the rest were alaye'
;, by rule Of representation, confessedly une
quail at the time, and designed forever TO re
=, main so.
= A natural fear that the broad scope of &c
q neral Legislation might bear upon and uIwisc
ly control particular interests, was counter
n acted by limits strictly drawn around the &C
ton of the federal authority:--and to the pco
pie and the States was LETT unmparcd thei
sovereign power over the innumcrable sub
jccts embraced in the internal government q
just republic, excepting such only IA nc
ccssarily appertain to the concerns of th
! whole confedcracy, or It's intercourse, rs
: united community, with the other nations @
the world.
a This provident forecast has been verfc
10y time. IIalfa century tceming with eN
traordinary events, and elsewhere producin,
extraordinary results, has passed along; bu
y on our institutions it has left no injuriou
mark. From small community, we hav
risen to people powerful in numbers and j
strength; but with our increase has gone, han
in hand, the progress Of just principles, Tia