The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1845-03-13
PRESIDENT POLK'S INAUGURAL
ADDRESS.
MARCH 4 , "a 5

voluntary SURFACES OF my Couh'iy ihe"
the most honorable and most responsible
Office ON earth. | am deeply impressed
with gratitude for the confidence rePosed1
In me, Honored with this distinguished
consideration at an earlier period OF lie
than any of my predecessors, | cannot dis
euse the diifidcnce with which l am a.
bout to enter on the discharge of my Off
cial duties.
In assuming responsibilities so vast, |
iervently invoke the aid of that Almighty
Ruler of the universe, in whose hands are
the destinies Of nations and Of men, to
guard this heaven.favored land against the
IN ischiefs which, without his guidance
might arise from nm unwise pnblc policy
With a firm reliance upon the wisdom OF
Omnipotence to sustain and direct me IN
the path of duty which ] am appointed to
pursue, stand in the presence OF this as
sembed multitude Eo( my countrymen, to
take upon myself the solemn obligation, "to
the best of my ability, to preserve, protect
and defend the Constitution Of the United
States"
If the more aged and experienced men
who have filed the Office Of President OF
the United States, even in the infancy OF
their republic, dstrusted their ability to
discharge the duties Of that exalted station,
what ought not to be the apprehcnsions
of one so much younger and less endowed,
now that our domain extends from ocean
to ocean, that our people have so greatly
increased in numbers, and at time when
so great diversity of opinion prevails in re-
gard to the principles and policy which
should characterize the administration OF
our government Well may the boldest
fear, and the wisest tremble, when incurr-
ing responsibilities on which may depend
our country'speace and prosperity, and, in
some degree, the hopes and happiness OF
the whole human family.
A concise enumeration Of the principles
which will guide me in the administrative,
policy of the government, is not only IN
accordance with the examples set me by
all my predecessors, but is eminen,ly be-
fitting the occasion.
The constitution itself, plainly written
as it is, the safeguard of our iederatlve
compact, the offspring Of concession and
compromise, binding together in the bonds
Of peace and union this great aud increas'
lug family of free and independent States,
viii be the char! by which l shall be d.
rected
1t will be my first care to administer the
government in the true spirit OF that lnstru-
men,, and to assume no powers not expess-
y granted, or clearly granted in its terms.
The government Of the United States is
one ofJelegated and limited powers, andi is
by strict adherence to the clearly granted
powers, and by abstaining from the exer-
else Of doubtful or unauthorized implied
powers, that we have the Only sure guaran-
ty against the recurrence OF those uniortl-
nate collisions between the Federal and
State authorities, which have occasional
" so much disturbed the harmony Of our
system, and even threatened the pcrpctulty
Of our glorious Union.
"To the States respectively, or to the
people," have been reserved "the powers
not delegated to the United States by the
Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the
States" Each State is a complete sover-
eighty within the sphere of its reserved
powers. The Government Of the Union,
acting within the sphere of its delegated
authority, is also complete sovereignty
While the General Government should abb
stain from the exercise Of authority not
clearly delegated to it, the States should
be equally careful that, in the maintenance
of their rights, they do not ovcrstep the
limits Of powers reserved to them. One
Of the most distinguished Of my predeces-
sors attached deserved importance to "the
support of the State Governments in all
their rights, as the most competent ad-
minlsrration for our domestic concerns,
and the surest bulwark against anti-re'
publican tendencies" and to the "preseva-
ton of the General Government in its
whole constitutional vigor, as the sheet
anchor of our peace at home, and safety
abroad"
To the Government of the United States
has been n,rusted the exclusive manage
ment of our Foreign Affairs. Beyond that
it Yields few general enumerated powers
II does not force reform on the States
1t leaves individuals, over which it casts
its protecting influence, entirely free to i'm,
prove their own condition by the legitimate
exercise of all their mental and physical
powers. 1t is a common protector of each
and all the States; of every man who lives
upon our soil, whether OF native or foreign
birth; of every religious sect, in their wor-
ship of the Almighty according to the die
tates Of their own conscience; of every
shade Of opinion, and the most free inqui-
ry, of every art, trade and occupation,
consistent with the laws Of the States
And we rejoice in the general happiness,
prosperity and advancement Of our Coun-
try, which have been the offspring of free
dom, not of Power.
This most admirable and wisest system
of well-regulatcd self:government among
men, ever devised by human minds, has
been tested by its successful operation for
more than halfa century; and, preserved
from the usurpations of the Federal Gov.