Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-03-24
President HarrisOn's
INAUGURAL ADDRESS. !


great and free nation, appear before you,
Fellow Citizens, TO take the oaths which the
Constitution prescribes, as a necessary qualifi-
cation for the performance of its duties And
In obedience 70 custom coeval with orr Gov
crnment, and what believe to be your expec-
tatlons, Iproceed to present you a summary
ofthe principles which WIN govern me IN the
discharge Of the duties which shall be called
upon t. perform.
TWAS the remark Of a Roman Consul, in
an early period Of that celebrated Republic,
that a most striking contrast was observable
in the conduct of candidates for Offices ofpOw-
or 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 improv-
cd, in many respects in the lapse of upwards
two thousand years, since the remark was
made, by tho virtnous and indignant Roman,
fear that a strict examination Os the annals
Of some of the mo Tern elective governments,
would devcope similar instances of violated
confidence.
Although the fat of the People has gone
forth, proclaiIning me the Chef Magistrate
Of this Curious Union, nothing upon their part
remaining to be done, Il may be thought that
under which they may be supposed 10 have
acted in relation 10 my principles and opin-
ions; and perhaps there may be some in this
assembly who have come here either prepared
to condemn those / shall now deliver, or, APP
proving them, to doubt the sincerity with
which they are uttered. But the lapse of
few months will confirm or dispel their fears.
The outline Of principles to govern, and meas
ures TO be adopted, by an administration not
yet begun, VIII soon be exchanged for immu-
table history, and shall stand, either exonera-
ted by my ceuntymen, or classed with the
mass ofthose who promised, that they might
deceive, and fattered with the intention to be-
tray. However strong may be my present
purpose 10 realize the expectations OF mag
unanimous and coniding People, too, well UNI
derstand the dangerous temptations to which
Ishall be exposed, from the magnitude of the
power which it 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 favorite issues other
important but still greatly inferior trusts, here
tofore conided to me by my countrymen.
The broad foundation upon which our Con-
stitution rests, being the people, breath Of
theirs having made, as a breath can unmake
schange or modify tit can he assigned to
none of the great divisions of government, but
to that of democracy. If such is its theory,
those who are called upon to administer it
must recognize, as its leading principle, the
duty Of shaping their measures so as to pro-
duce the greatest good to the,greatest number.
But, with those broad admissions, if we would
compare the sovereignty acknowledged TO ex-
ist in the mass Of our people, with The power
claimed by other sovereignties, even by those
which have been conside, ed most purely Gem
6cratic, we shall find most essential differ
ence. All others lay claim to power limited
only by their will. The majority of our citi
zens, on the CO ltrary, possess a sovereignty
with an amount ofpower precisely equal to
that which has been granted to them by the
parties, TO the national compact, and no'hlng
beyond. We admit of no government by d.
vine right. Believing that, as far as power Is |
concerned, the Beni6cent Creator has made |
no distinction amongst men, they all are upon /
an equality, and that the only legitimate right |
TO govern rs an express grant OF power from /
the governed.-The Constitution of the Unit
ted States is the instrument containing this
grant of power to the several departments
composing the government. On an exami-
nation of that instrument it will be found 10
power withhed.-The latter is also suscept-
bic Of division, into power which the majority
had the r ight to grant, but they did not think
proper to intrust their agents, and that which
they could not have granted, not being pos
sessed 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 Ian.
guage OF rsysiem unalienable. The boast
ed privilege OF Roman citizen was 10 him
shield only against petty provincial ruler,
whilst the proud democrats of Athens could |
console himself under sentence of death, for
a supposed violation of the national faith which |
no one understood, and which at times was
the subject Of the mockery of all, or the ban |
ishment from his home, his family, and his |
country, with or without, an alleged cause;
that It was the act, not of single tyrant, or
hated aristocracy, but of his assembled coun-
trymen, Far different is tie power Of our
sovereignty. It can interfere with no ones
faith, prescribe forms of worship for no ones
observanees, inflIct no punishment, but after
well ascertained guilt, the result of investiga-
ton under rules prescribed by the constitution
itseI These precious privileges, 'and those
scarcely less important, of giving expression
to his thoughts and opinions, either by wri-
ity for injury TO others, and that of a full par
ticipatiOn in all The advantages which flow
from the govern ment, the acknowledged prop
erty Of all, the American citizen derives from
no charter granted by his fellow man. He
claims them because he is himselfa man, fash
Toned by the same almighty hand as the rest
of his species, and entitled to a full share Of
the blessings with which he has endowed
them. Notwithstanding the limited sove-
reIgnty possessed by the people of the United
States, and the restricted grant of power to the
government which they have adopted, enough
has been given TO accomplish all the objects
for which It has created. II has been found
powerful in war, and, hitherto, Justice has beer
administered, an intimate union, effected, do
nestle tranquility preserved, and personal lib
erty secured to the citizen. As was L
be expected from the defect of language
and the necessarily senteniious manner
IN which the Constitution is written, dispute
have arisen as to the amount Of power whicl
has actually granted, or was intended t
grant.
This is more particularly the case inrelatio
TO that part Of the instrument which treat
of the legislative branch. And not only a
regards the exercise ofpower claimed unde
general clause, giving That body the author
ty to pass all laws necessary to carry int
effect the specified powers, but in relation {
the litter, also. II is however, consolator
TO reflect that most Of the instances Of alec
ed departure from the letter or spirit of tn
constitution, have ultimately received IN
sanciiun Of a majority of the people, And tn
fact, that many of our statesmen, most distin
guished for talent and patriotism, have been
one time or other Of their political career, o
both sides Of each Of the most warmly dispul