The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-04-17
JEFFERSON'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS
MARCH A, 1901

Friends and felIoto-citizens:
Called upon to undertake the duties of the first Ex-
ecutive Office of country, avail myself of the pre-
of that portion of my fellow citizens which is
here assembled, to express my grateful thanks for the
favor with which they have been pleased to look to-
wards me, to declare sincere consciousness that the
task is above my talents and that approach it with
those anxious and awful presentiments which the
greatness of the charge, and the weakness of my
powers SO Justly inspire. rising nation spread
wide and fruitful land, traversng all the seas with
the rich productions of their industry, engaged in
commerce with nations who feel power and forget
right, advancing rapidly to destinies beyond the
reach of mortal eye; when contemplate these tran
scendant Objects and the honor the happiness and
the hopes of this beloved country committed to the is
sue and the auspices of this day, shrink from the
tude Of the undertaking. Utterly indeed should
despair, did not the presence of many whom here
remind me- that in the other high authorities pro-
vided by constitution shall find resources of wis
dom, Of virtue and of ZEAL which to rely under all
difficulties. Toyou, then, gentlemen, who are charg
ed with the sovereign functions of legislation, and to
those associated with YOU look with encouragement
for that guidance and support which may enable US to
steer with safety the vessel in which we all en-
barked, amid the conflicting elements of troubled
world.
During the contest of opinion through which we
have passed, the animation of discussions and of ex
ertions has sometimes worn an aspect which might
impose on strangers unused think freely, and to
now decided by the voice of the nation, announced
according to the rules Of the constitution, all will Of
course arrange themselves under the will of the law
and unite in common efforts for the common good
All too will bear in mind this sacred principle that
though the will of the majority is in all to pre-
vail that will, to be nghfu must be reasonable; that
the minority possess their equal rights, which equal
law must protect and 70 violate would pc preston
Let US then, fellow citizens unite with one heart and
mind let restore social intercourse that har
mony and affection without which, liberty and even
life ITSELF are but dreary things And let us reflect
that having banished from land that religious in
tolerance under which mankind SO long bled and suf-
fered, we have yet gained little, if counenance
political intolerance as despotic, as wicked, and
pable of as bitter and bloody prosecutions. During
the throes and commissions of the ancient world dur
ing the agonlzng spasms OF inturlaled man. seeking
through blood and slaughter his long lost liberty it
not wonderful that the agitation Of the pillows
should reach even this distant and peaceful shore;
that this should be felt and feared by some and
less by others; and should divide opinions to mea
of safety but every difference of opinion not
difference Of principle. We have called by different
names brethren of the principle. We are all re-
pubicans we all federalists. If there be any
among who would wish to dissolve this Union, or
to change its republican form, let them stand undis
turbed as monuments of the safety with which error
of opinion may be tolerated where is left free
to combat it. know indeed that some honest men
fear that republican government cannot be strong
that this government is not strong enough But would
ment, abandon government which has so far kept us
free and firm the theoretic and visionary fear that
this government the worlds hest hope, may, by pos
sibiity, want energy to preserve itself? trust not
believe this the contrary, the strongest govern
ment earth believe it the only where every
man, at the call of the laws would fly the standard
Of the law, and would meet nvasions of the public
order as his own personal concern. Sometimes it is
said that man cannot be trusted with the government
of himsef2 Can he then be trusted with the govern
nf har Or haua fnnnI IN he
form of kings to govern him. Let history answer
this question
Let US, then, with courage and confidence, pursue
our own federal and republican principles attach
ment to union and representative government Kind
ly separated by nature and a wide from the
havoc Of one quarter of the globe; too
high minded to endurethe degradatons of The others
possessing chosen country, with room enough for
our descendants to the thousandth and thousandth
generation; entertaining a due of our equal
right to the use of our faculties, to the acqusi
tons of industry, to honor and confidence from
our felowcitizens, resulting not from birth, but from
our actions and their sense of them enlightened by
benign religion proessed indeed and pracsed in vari-
Gus forms, yet all of them intoxicating honesty truth
gratitude, and the love of man, acknow
Lodging and adoring everything Providence which,
by all its dspensatons proves that it delights in the
happiness of man here and his greater happiness here
after with all these blessings, what is necessa-
ny to make us happy and prosperous people2 Still
one thing more, fellow-citiZens-a wise and frugal
government which shall restrain men from iniuring
one another shall leave them otherwise free to regulate
their own pursuits of industry and improvement and
shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it
has earned. This is the sum of good government
and this is necessary to close the circle of our fectes
About to enter tellow-citizens, the exercise of
duties which comprehend every thing dear and valua
BILE to you, it is proper that you should understand
what deem the essential principles Of our govern
ment, and consequently those which ought to shape
It's administration. will compress them within the
narrowest compass they will bear stating the general
principle, but not all its limitations Equal and exact
justice to all of whatever state or persuasion re-
iglous or political; peace commerce, and honest
friendship with all nations, entanglng alliances with
none the support of the state governments in all their
rights, as the most competent administrations for our
domestic concerns, and the surest buwarks against
ant-republican tendencies the preservation Of the
general government in its whole constitutional vipor
as the sheet anchor of peace home, and safety
abroad; jealous of the right of election by the
people, mild and safe corrective of abuses which are
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