Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1837-03-09
THE VIRGINIAN.
Lynchburg, March 8, 1887.
MIR VAN BUREN's INAUGURAL


The Senate convened at 10 o'clock on the iih
Of March, and administered the oath of office 10
the Tice President and 10 the new members OF
the Senate.
Alta quarter before l2, the President elect and
the Ex.Presitent arrived at the Capitol, and
were ne, on the Eastern portlco by the commit
tee OF arrangements, and conducted into the Sc
nate Chamber, attended by the Heads depart
ments and the Chief Justice, for whom seats
provided in front ofthe Presidents chair. The
Foreign Ministers and Charges and the Mayor
and Councils of Washington were seated ON the
left of the Presidents chair
| At IL, the Senate attended BY the Presiden,
elect and the EY President, the Chief Justice,
Heads of Departments, Foreign Ministers, &c.
proceeded to the eastern portlco OF the Capitol,
on arriving at which place they severally took
the stations ssgncd TO them by the committee
Of arrangements, and where they were joined by
the Representatives, by the ladies', by such per
sons as by the rules Of the two Houses are emit.
tied to admission upon their floors, by civil, mil
itarY and naval officers, and by the citizens gen
orally.
| The following Inaugural Address was then de-
| livered by MIR. Van Buren,, after which he took
the oa,hs Of office:
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
| FELLOW CITIZENS
The practice Of all my predecessors imposes
on me an obligation cheeriully fulfil, 10 accom-
pauy the first and solemn act oil my public trust
with an avowal Of the.principles that will guide
me in pertormln. 1t, and an expression
Of my feelings on assuming charge SO
responsible and vast. in initiating their OK
ample, | tread III the footsteps of llustri-
on, men, whose superiors, ii Is our happiness
10 believe, are not found on the executive calen-
dar OF any country. Among them, we recog-
Mise the earliest and lrmest pillars of the repub-
! lie those by whom our national independence
was first declared him who, above all others
contributed 10 establish IL on the field OF battle
and those whose expanded intellect and patriot
ism constructed, improved, and perfected the
measurable institutions under which we live.
1t such men, in the position now occupy Aelt
themselves overwhelmed by a sense OF gratitude
for this, the highest OF all marks OF their coun-
try5 confidence, and by a consciousness of their
inability 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 torbear-
ance. Unlike all who have preceded me the
revolution, that gave Us existence Il one people
was achieved AT the period OF my birth and
whilst contemplate with grateful reverence that
memorable event, feel that belong to a later
age, and that may not expect my countrymen
to weigh my actions with the same kind and
partial hand.
SO senslbly, fellow.citizens do these circum-
stances press themselves upon me, that should
not dare TO enter upon my path ut duty did |
not look tor The generous and Of those who will
be associated with me In he various and co or
dInate branches OF the Government; did | not
"A ~ V.srit,F
otlsm, the intelligence, and the kindness Of a
people who never yet deserted public servant
honestly lahorlns N tber cause and above all,
did not permit myself hulAbly u hope Tor the
sustaining support of an e,cr-watchul and be
nchccnt Providence,
10 the confidence and consolation derived
from these sources, ii would be ungrateful not 10
add those which spting from our present iorlu
nate condition. Though not altogether exempt
from emoarrlSsments that disturb our tranquility
at home and threaten IT abroad vet IN all The al
tributes OF great, happy. aud lourishng PEG
pie, we stand without aparallel IN the world
, Abroad, we ENJOY &C respect, and, with scarce
~ an exception, the friendship of every nation
At home, while or Government quietly, but IF.
hclenty, performs the sole legitimate end of po-
htical institutions, IN doing the greatest rood
to the greatest number we present an aggre-
gate OF human prosperity surely not elsewhere
to be found.
How imrcrlous, then, is the obligation i'm
posed upon every citizen, IN his own sphere OF
action, whether limited or extended, to exert
himself IN perpetuaiiNy condition OF things so
sIngularly happy. All the lessons Of history
and experience must be lost upon US # we are
content TO Iu,t alone 10 the peculiar advantages
We happen to possess. Position and climate
aud the bounteons resources that nature ha,
scattered with 50 liberal hand-even the djf
fused intelligence and elevated character Of our
lpeople--wlIi avail us nothing, If we fail sacredly
10 uphold those political institutions that vrrr
! wisely and deliberately formed, with reference
TO every circumstance that could preserve. or
might endangcr, the blessings we enjoy The
thoughtful trainers oil our constitution eriSlatcd
Tor ouI country rs they found II. Looking unon
IL WIN the eyes OF statesmen and OF patrlot~.
they saw all the sources of rapid and wonder
io prosperity; nut they saw also that various
habits, opinions, and Institutions peculiar tn the
various portions OF so vast region, were deeply
hNed. Distinct soverelgnlies were in actual ey
iS'ence whose cordial union was essential IN The
welfare aud happiness ofall. Between many
"' tlen there was, at least to some extent n
real diversity OF interests, liable to be exorne
rated through sinister designs they differed in
sue IN population, IN wealth. and in actu,l,nd
f'o>P'''Ne resources and power; they varied
III the character OF their industry and stanIe
, productions; and in some existed domestic in
suta''ons, Witch, unwisely disturbed. might
endanger the harmony of the whole Mas,
carefully were all these circumstances WEIGHED
ana the foundations of the new Government
iald upon principles of reciprocal concession
ana equitable compromise. The jealou.;es
winch the smaller states might entertain of tho
power OF the rest were allayed by rule of
representation, conicssedly unequal at the time
ana Designed forever to remain so. A natural
tear that the broad scope of general leg.la'
.ion night bear upon and unwselv control par
uca,nr interests, was counteracted by limits
strictly drawn around the action of federal an,bor
n.y. and to the people and the STATES was Ia,