Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-03-06
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
PR sIDENT HARRISo
NATIONAL INTErLIGENCER-E1rH,
Tuuaan.y M.rrl

NATIONAL lNTEELIGENCER-ExrR.
ThuRspAr March 4, lsgl.
, Called from retirement which had supposed
was TO continue for the residue OF my life TO IN th
Chlef Executive office ofths great and free nation
appear before yog, fellow eiizens. TO take m,
oaIhs which the Constitution Sprescribes as =
necessary qualification for the performances of Il,
duties. And IN obedience TO custom coeva
win our government, and what believe to bC
your expectations, proceed to present 10 YOU q
summary OF the principles which will govern me in
the discharge OF the duties which | shall be called
upon ID perform.
IL was the remark Of Roman Consul, in an ear
~ period OF that celebrated Republic that n most
striking contrast was observable in the conduct Of
Candidates Tor offices OF power and trust before and
alter obtaining them-they seldom CARRYING out in
the latter case the pledges and promises made in the
former. However much the world NAV have i'm.
proved, IN many respects, in the lapse of upwards
OF two thousand years since the remark was made
by the virtuous and dsnant Roman I fear tha,
striet examination OF the annals of some of the
MODERN elective Governments would develop
similar instances of violated confidence
Although the fiat of the People has gone forth
proe'aming me the Chief Magistrate ofthis glorious
Union, nothing upon their part remaining to he
done, 1t may be thought that n motive may exist 70
AeeP up the de'nsion under which they may be sup
posed 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
10 condemn those shall now deliver or apDroving
them, TO doubt the sincerity with which they are
uttered But the lapse OF few months will con6rn
OF dispel their fears. The outline of principlex IN
govern, and measures TO be adopted by an Admin.
lstration not yet begun, will soon be exchanged for
immutaoe history, and shall stand, either exone.
rated by my countrymen or classed with the mas.
OF those who promised that they might deceive and
battered with the intention to betray.
| however strong may be my present purpose 10
ra"ze me expectations OF magnanimous and con
hdns People, too we'll understand the intirmi,ies
naf anal he
which l shall be exposed, from the magnitude Of
the power which il has been the pleasure of tho
PEOPLE TO commit TO my hands not to place nv
chief confidence upon the aid Of that AImiqb,v
rover whleh mas hitherto protected me, and enabled
me TO bring TO favorable issues other important bur
still greatly inferior trusts heretofore coniided TO me
| by my country.
The broad foundation upon which our Constitu-
ton rests being the Peope-a breath of theirs hnv
| ing made, as breath can unmake, change or mod .
NY ut en- be assigned to none OF the great diy-
sons OF Government hut 10 that Of Democracy If
such is It's theory, those who are called upon 10 ad
minister IT, must recognise as its leading princinle
the duty of shaping their so as to produce
| the greatest good TO the greatest number But
| with these broad admissions if we would comnars
the sovereignty acknowledged 10 exist in th. mass
oil our People with the power claimed by other
severe gnues, even by those which have been con.
essential difference. All others lay claim TO power
limited only by their own will The ms iority of
our citizens, on the contrary, possess sovereignty
with an amount Of power precisely equal 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 benefceni
creator has made no distinction amongst men, that
all are upon an equality, and that the only iest-
mate right TO govern IS an express grant Of power
from the governed. The Constitution of The I'm; .
ted States is the instrument containing this grant
OF power to the several departments composing the
Government, On az examination of that instru
ment, II 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 thew did
not think proper TO entrust TO their agents and tb,
| which they could not have granted, not being nos
sessed by themselves. In other words, there are
certain rights possessed by each individual Ameri-
can 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 boasted privilege of a Roman citizen was IN
him shield only against petty provincial ruler
| whilst the proud democrat of Athens could console
himself under n sentence of DEATH for a supnoSed
violation OF the national faith, which no one under
stood, and which at times was the subject or The
mockery ofall, or Of punishment from his home his
family, and his country, with or without an alleged
cause; that IL was the act not Of a singh tyrsnt or
hated aristocrncy, but OF his assemb led countrvmen
Far different IS the power of our sovereignty IL
can interfere with no ones faith, prescribe forms of
worship for no ones observance, inhict no punish.
ment but after well ascertaned guilt the esult M
investigation under forms prescribed bv the Cons,;
tuition ITSELF These precious privileges, and those
/ scarcely less important Of giving expression To his
thoughts and opinions, either by writing or speak.
ing, unrestrained but by the liability for injury to
Others and that Of full participation in all the adj
yantlges which flow from the Government, the sc.
knowedged property Of all, the American citizen
derives from no charter granted by his felloy.man
tie claims them because he IS himself a man, FASH
Ioned by the same Almighty hand as the rest Of his
species, and entitled 10 full share Of the BLESSINGS
with which hs has endowed them.
notwithstanding the limited sovereignty oossess.
ed by the People Of the United States and the re.
strieIed grant Of power to the Government which
they have adopted, enough has been given IN hc
complish all the objects for which il was created
II has been found powerful IN war, and, hithsrto
justice has been administered an Intimate union 81
iected, domestic tranquility preserved and person
81 liberty secured 20 the citizen. was To- i,. =
yoctod. INV yot from the defect OF lnngu,pe and
the necessarily senienti9us manner in which the
Constitution - written, disputes have arisen as to
the amount Of power which Il has actually rFantsd
ar was INTENDED 70 grant. This Is more particular
lY the case m relation 70 that part Of the instrument
which ueats Of the legislative branch. And not on
ly regards the exercise OF powsrs claimed under
general clause, giving that body the authority 10
pass Jaws necessary 70 carry into effees the soc
ched powers, but N relation 10 the later also ft
is however cOnso'aofy to reflect that most of he
instances Of alleged departure from the letter or sol.
ri Of the CONSTITUTION have ultimately received the
sanction Of a m,jony Of the people. And the fact,
that many OF our statesmen, most distinguished FOL
talent and p1troIlsm have been, ono time or other
% their political career, both sides Of each Of the
most warmly disputed questions, forces upon US tho
inference that the errors f errors there we're ere e
trDulabie " tho intrinsic difficulty in many nstsn
ces OF ascerthnng The ntsgtions Of the fTamers oil
tie Constitution, rather than the influence Of any
sinister or unpalrotic motive.
Httf he 4
appeaf 10 noe 70 be IN usurpation, by the Gov.
eminent, Of power not granted by the People but
by the accumulation, IN Of the departments az
that which was assigned 70 others. Limited ne are
tbe powers Which have been granted, still enough
have been granted 10 constitute a dospotison n roo
centrated IN one Of the departments. This dance,
Is greatly heightened, az u has always been obIsr
vabe that men are less jealous OF encro,ebmsn,s NJ
ono department upon another than upon their own
reserved rights.
When the Consutntiop Of tho United S,a,es Ere,
came from the hands Of the Convention which form.
ed u, many Of the sterneg republicans Of the dav
were alarmed At The eEtent Of the power which had
been granted 70 the Federal Government. and more
particularly Of that portion which had been assigned
20 the Executive branch. There were in n features
which appeared not 10 be IN harmony with their
IDEAS Of simple representative dernoeraev. or 70.
public. And knowing tho tendsnov III nowsr 10
increase ITSELF particularly when executed by sim
gle individual, predictions were rnade That a, no
very remote period, the Goyeroment would termi
/ IA ala n