Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-03-19
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF PRESIDENT J. X. POLK, DELIVER.
ED MARCH 4, I845.

Ible office on earth. | am deeply npress-
ed with gratitude for the con6dene repo-
sed in me. Honored with this distin-
/ guished consideration at an earlierperiod
lof lie than any of my predecessors,
cannot disguise the diffidence withwnich
am about to enter on the dischrge of
my official duties.
the more aged and experienced men
who have filled the Office of President of
the United States, even in the infancy Of
the Republic, distrusted their abiliIyto dis
charge the duties of that exalted sation,
what ought not to be the apprehasions
of one so much younger and less en'owed,
now that our domain extends fromoeean
to ocean, that our people have so greatly
increased in numbers, and at a time when
so great diversity of opinion prevaiIsin re-
gard to the principles and policy which
should characterize the administration Of
our government. Well may the Oldest
fear, and the wisest trembIe, when iuSur-
ring responsibilities on which may depeld
our country's peace and prosperity, ana
in some degree, the hopes and happiness
of the whole human family.
In assuming responsibilities so vast,
frequently invoke the aid of that Almighty
Ruler of the Universe, in wlose hands
are the deslinies of nations ard of men,
to guard this heaven favored Ind against
the miSchiefs, which, without hs guidance,
might arse from an unwise pblic policy.
With firm reliance upon the wisdom of
Omnipotence TO sustain and dtect me in
The path of duty which am appointed 10
pursue, stand in the presenceof this as
sembIed multitude Of my c0unrymen, to
take upon myself the solemn obligation,
''to the best of my ability to preserve, pro-
tect, and defend the Constitution of the
United States"
A concise enumeration Of theprinciples
which will guide me in the administrative
policy of the government, is pt only in
accordance with the examples ct me by
all my predecessors, but is eminnily bene-
fitting the occasion.
The Constitution itself, plainly written
as it is, the safeguard of our lucrative
compact, the offspring of concession and
compromise, binding together in he bonds
of peace and union this great ane increas-
ing family of free and independent States,
will be the chart by which | shall be d.
rected.
II will be my first care 10 administer the
government in the true spirit of that in
strument, and to assume no powers not ex.
pressly granted, or clearly implied in lis
terms. The government of the United
States is one of delegated and limited
powers; and il is by strict adherence to
The clearly granted powers, and By alb
staining from the exercise of doubtful or
unauthorized implied powers, that wehave
the only sure guarantee against the lecur-
renee of those unfortunate collisions be-
tween The federal and state authorizes,
which have occasionally so much disturb
ed the harmony of our system, andeven
threatened the perpetuity of our Curious
Union.
ITO the States respectively or the
: people" have been reserved "the powers
not delegated to the United States BY the
Constitution, nor prohibited TO it Iy the
. States" Each State is a complete sove-
reignty within the sphere of lis reserved
powers. The Government of the Union,
acting within the sphere of its delegated
authority, is also complete sovereignty.
f While the General Government should alb
stain from the exercise of authority not
clearly delegated to il, the States sh1uld be
equally careful that in the maintenance oil
their rights, they do not oversrep the limits
of powers reserved to them. One of the
most distinguished of my predecessors at.
Iached deserved importance to tie sup
port of the State governments in al theil
> rights as the most competent admnistra.
ton for our domestic concerns, and the
surest bulwark against ant-replblcar
tendencies; and to the preservatioI of the
general government in its whole censtitu
Ilonal vigor, as the sheet anchor of oul
| peace at home and safety abroad.n
To the government OF the United States
y has been entrusted the exclusive manage
ment of our foreign affairs. Beyond that
it yields few general enumerated pow
ers. 1t does not force reform on the States
;, 1t leaves individuals, over whom il cast
Its protecting influence, entirely free I
7 improve their mental and physical pow
u ers. 1t is common protector 10 eac
e and all the States; Of every man who live
It upon our soil, whether Of native or foreig
i birth; of religious sect, in the worship {
$ the Almighty, according TO the dictates {
3 their own conscience; of every shade {
), opinion, and the most free inquiry; {
= every art, trade, and occupation, consister
with the laws of the States. And we re
l. ioice in the general happiness, prosperity
1t aud advancement of our country, whic
n have been the offspring of freedom, an
not of mower.