Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-03-06
THE PRESIDENTS INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

Called from retirement which had supposed was
to continue for the residue of my life, to fill the Che
Executive Office Of this great and free nation, appear
before You, ellowctzens, to take the oahs which the
Constitution prescrihes necessary qualihcation ior
the performance Of IT'S duties And in obedience to
custom o,evai with our Government, and what be.
ere 10 he your expectations proceed to present Il
you summary Of the principles which will govern
me IN the discharge of the duties which l shall be
called upon TO perform.
!; was the remark of Roman Consul, in an early
period of tina. celebrated Republic, that most strk
ing contrast was observable in the conduct of cand
dates for Offices Of power and trust before and after OBJ
tanning them-tbey seldom carrying out in the latter
case the pledges and promises made in the former
However much the world may have improved in ma.
nv respects, IN the lapse of upwards OF two thousand
years SINCE the remark made by the vrtuous and
indignant Roman | fear that strict examination al
the annals Of some of the modern elective Government.
would develop similar instances Of violated confidence
Although the fiat of the People has gone forth, pro
claiming the Chief NJ .gstrate ofths glorious Union
nothing upon their part remaining to be DONE it ma,
De- thought that motive may exist to keep up the de
uson unc-r which they may be supposed to have acet
IN relation 10 my principles and opinions and perhaps
there may be some in this assembly who have come
hee either prepared to condemn thnse shall Dc
liver, or approving them, TO doubt the sincerity viii
which they are uttered. But the lapse ola few mon,h
wal nirm or dispel their fears The outline of prn
cprs Il govern and measures to he adopted by ar
Administration not yet begun, will soon be exchanged
i'' immu,able history, aud shall stand, either exoDe
rated BY my countrymen, classed with the mass o
those who promised that they night deceive, and fiat
tered with the intention 10 betray.
However strong may be my present purpose to real
70 tho expectations of magnnnimous and con6dins
People, too we'll understand the infrn,es Of human
nature, and the dangerous temptations to which
shall be exposed, from the magnitude Of the powe
which IT has been the pleasure of the People TO com
mt 10 my hands, no, place my chief confidence upor
lac AID OF that Almighty power which has hitherto pro
'rc'ed me, and enabled to bring to favorable issues
oner important but s greatly inferior trusts, here
'onre c"nhded to me by my country.
mr. broad foundation upon which our Constitution
fesS beng the Peope-a breath of theirs having made
asa breath can unmake, change modify lit car
pT assigned TO none of the great divisions of Govern
ment but To that Of Democracy If such is its theory
tose who are called upon to administer it must recog-
hsFas lis leading principle, the duty Of shaping their
measures so To produce the greatest good 10 the
greatest number But, with these broad admissions, il
we would compare the gnty acknowledged 10 ex
~ IN the nass of People with the power claimed by
o'er sorere'gnties, even by those which have been
cons dered most purely democratic, shall find most
essential difference All others lag claim to power IL
Mled only by their will The majority Of our citi.
1ens on the contrary possess sovereignty with an
am"nnt of power pr. csely equal to that which has
0ren granted to them by the powers of the national
pact, and nothing beyond We admit of no Govern
meat BY Divine right; believing that, far power
seoncerned, the benefcent Creator has made dis.
"Ac'on amongst men, that oil are upon an equality,