Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-03-15
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF PRESIDENT HARRISON.
From the National h,ielligencer Extra. !

OF PRESIDENT HARRISON.
From the National htelligencer Erird1
Called from retirement which had supposed
to continue for the residue of my life, to fill
the Chief Executive Office of this great and free
nation appear before you, fellow-citizens to take
the oaths which the Constitution prescribes, as a
necessary qualification for the performance of its
duties. And in obedience to a custom coeval with
our Government and what believe to be your ex-
pectatons, I proceed to present to you summa-
~ of the principles which will govern me in the
discharge of the duties which shall be called up
on to perform.
1t was the remark of Roman Consul in an ear
ly period Of that celebrated Republic, that a most
striking contrast was observable in the conduct of
candidates for Offices Of power and trust before and
after obtaining them-they seldom carrying out, in
the latter case, the pledges and promises made in
the former. However much the world may have i'm
proved in many respects, in the lapse of upward of
two thousand years since the remark was made by
the virtuous and indignant Roman, fear that
strict examination of the annals of some of the mo-
dern elective governments would devcope similar
instances of violated confidence
Although the fiat Of the people has gone forth,
proclaimng me the Chief Magistrate of this glo-
rious Union, nothing upon their part remaining to
be DONE it may be thought that motive may exist
to keep up the delu5ion under which they may be
supposed to have acted in relation to my principles
and opinions; and perhaps there may be some in
this assembly who have come here either prepared
TO condemn those | shall now deliver, or approving
them, to doubt the sincerity with which they are ut
tered But the lapse of few months will confirm
or dispel their fears. The outline of principles to
govern, and measures to be adopted by an Admin
lstraton not yet begun, will soon be exchanged for
immutable history and | shall stand, either exon
Grated by my countrymen, classed with the mass
of those who promised that they might deceive, and
fiattered with the intention to boray. However
pectatlons OF magnanmous and confidng people,
l too well understand the nirnites of human ma
ture and the dangerous temptations to which shall
be exposed from the magnitude of the power which
i has been the pleasure of the people to commit to
my hands, not to place my chief confidence upon
the aid of that Almighty power which has hitherto
protected me- and enabled me to bring to favorable
issues important but still greatly inferior trusts
heretofore confded to me by my country.
The broad foundation upon which our Constitu-
ton rests being the People-a breath of theirs hav-
ing made, as breath can unmake, change, or mod
ify tit can be assigned to of the great d.
Visions OF Government, but to that of Democracy.
If such is its theory, those who called upon to
administer it must recognize, its leading princ-
pie the duty OF shaping their measures so as to
produce the greatest good to the greatest number
But, with these broad admissions, if we would COM
pare the sovereignty acknowledged to exist in the
mass of our People, with the power claimed by 9TH
considered most purely democratic, we shall find
most essential difference. All others Law claim to
power limited by their own will. The majority of
our citizens, on the contrary, possess sovereignty
with an amount of power precisely equal to that
which has been granted to them by the parties to
the national compact, and nothing beyond. We ad-
NIT Of no Government by divine right, believing
that, SO far as power is concerned, the Benefcent
Creator has made no distinction amongst men, that
all upon equality, and that the only legitimate
right to govern is an express grant of power from
the governed.
strument containing this grant of power to the sew
cral departments composing the Government On an
examination of that instrument it will be found to
contain declarations of power granted and of power
withheld. The latter is also susceptible of division
into power which the majority had the right to grant
but which they did not think proper to ntrust to
their agents, and that which they could not have
granted not being possessed by themselves In 9TH
er words there are certain rights possessed by each
individual American citizen, which, in his compact
with the others, he has never surrendered. Some
of them, indeed, he is unable to surrender being in
the language Of our system unalienable The boast
ed privilege OF u Roman citizen was to him shield
only against petty provincial ruler while the proud
democrat of Athens could console himself under 9
sentence of death, for supposed violation of the
national faith, which no one understood and which
at times was the subject of the mockery of all, o.
the DanlShrnent from his home his family, and hs
country with or without an aledged cause, that i
was the act, not of single tyrant hated aristoc
racy, but Of his assembled countrymen
Far different is the power of our sovereignty
can interfere with ones filth, prescribe forms
worship for no ones observance, inflict no punish
ment but after well ascertained guilt the result o
investigation under rules prescribed by the consttu
ton ITSELF These precious privileges and those
scarcely less important, Of giving expression to hi
thoughts and opinions, either by writing or speak
ing, unrestrained but by the liability for injury t.
others, and that of full participation in all the ad
yantages which flow from Government the ack
nowledged property Of ALL the American citizei
derives from no charter granted from his fellow-mar
lie claims them because he is himself man. fash
Toned by the same Almighty hand as the rest of hi
species, and entitled TO full share of the blessing
with which he has endowed them.
Notwithstanding the limited sovereignty possess
ed by the People Of the United States and the res
trlcted grant OF power to the Government whic
they have adopted, enough has been given to &C
complsh all the objects for which il was create,
1t has been found powerful in war, and hthert,
justice has been administered, an intimate unio
effected, domestic tranquility preserved and person
al liberty secured TO the citizen. AS was TO be e,
pected however, from the defect of language. an
the necessarily sententlous manner in which tn
Constitution is written, disputes have arisen as
the amount of power which il has actually granite
or was intended to grant
Inns Is more particularly the case in relation
tnat part OF the instrument which treats of the Il
gsiatVe branch; and not only Regards the e.
stpise OF powers claimed under general claus
e"iHg 'hat BODY the authority to pass all laws N