Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-03-13
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
PRONOUNCED BY
A les X. POLK, PREs1pENr.
4" The presence Of lhe Senate and People Of the
United States.
AT THE CAPITOL, MARCH 4. ls.5.

Z,
FELLow-ciTIzENs :-Without solicitation ON nv
part, have been chosen by the free and volunta.
y SURFACES Of my countrymen to the most honor.
able and most responsible Office on earth. l am
deep'y Impressed with gratitude for the confidence
rePosed In me. Honored with this distinguished
consideration at an earlier period of life than anv
OF my predecessors, cannot disguise the diff.
dence with which am about to enter on the dis.
charge of my official duties.
IL the more aged and experienced men who
have filled the office of President of the United
States. even in the infancy of the Republic, dis.
trusted their ability to discharge the duties of ,h,,
exalted s,a,ioo, what ought not to be the apnre.
tensions OF ore SO much younger and less en-
dowed, now that our domain extends from ocean
TO ocean, that our people have so greatly increas.
ed IN numbers, and at a time when so great di.
versty OF opinion prevails in regard to the prin.
ciples and policy which should cha racterize the
administration of our Government Well NAV
the boldest fear, and the wisest iremble. when
incurring responsibilities on which NAV de.
pend our couniry's peace and prosperty and. in
some degree, the hopes and happiness of the
whole human family.
In assuming responsibility so vast, I fervently
invoke The aid OF that Almighty Ruler Of the Uni.
verse, IN whose hands the des,inies of nations
and oil men, to guard this heaven-favorod land
against the mischiefs which, without his guild
ance, might arise from an unwise public policy,
With firm reliance upon the wisdom of Omnip-
otence to sustain and direct me in the path of duiy
which am appointed to pursue, 1 stand in the
! presence Of this assembled multitude of NV
countrymen, to take upon myself the solemn oh.
legation, "to the best of my ability to preserve.
protect, and defend the Constitution of the Uni.
ted States"
A concise enumeration of the principles which
VIII guide mo in the administrative policy of the
Government, is not only in accordance with the
py nnlo hv,
eminently BETTING the occasion
The Constitution itself, plainly written as IL ia.
the safeguard of our federative compact. the off.
spring OF concession and compromise. binding
together in the bonds Of peace and union This
great and increasing family of free and independ.
ent States, will be the chart by which shall be
directed.
1t will be my first care to administer the Co
vernment in the true spirit of that instrument.
and to assume no powers not expressly granted
or clearly implied in its terms. The Government
OF inc United States is one of delegated and linn
tied powers; and it is by strict adherence TO
me clearly granted powers, and by abstaininp
from The exercise OF doubtful or unauthorized
implied powers, that we have the only sure guar
anty against the recurrence Of those unfortunate
collisions between the Federal and State author
ihes which have occasionally so much disturbed
inc harmony OF our system, and even threatened
the perpetuity of our glorious Union.
peOple.
nave been reserved "the powers not delegated to
The United States by the Constitution, nor pro.
hlbited by it 10 the States.' Each State com
pete sovereignty within the sphere of its reserv.
ed power. The Government of the Union, acting
within the sphere Of its delegated authority. is al
SO complete sovereignty. While the General
| Government should abstain from the exercise of
authority not clearly delegated to it, the States
should be equally careful that, in the .mainten-
ance oil their rights, they do not overstep the linn
Its OF powers reserved to them. One of the most
distinguished of my predecessors attached de-
served Importance TO "the support of the State
governments in all their rights, as the most COM
Petent administration for our domestic concerns,
and the surest bulwark against an.republican
tendencies" and to the representation of the Cen
eral Government in lis whole constitutional viqor
as the sheel-anchor of peace at home and safe.
ty abroad"
10 the Government Of the United States has
Ceen entrusted the exclusive management of our
foreign affairs; beyond that, it Yields few gen.
eral enumerated powers. 1t does not force re-.
form on the States. 1t leaves individuals. over
whom 1t casts lis protecting influence, entirely
Tree 10 improve their own condition by the lepiii-
mate exercise of all their mental and physical
powers. IL is 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 the worship of the Almighty
according to the dictates Of their own conscience
Oh every shade OF opinion, and the most free in.
curry; OF every art, trade, and occupation, con-
slstent with the laws Of the States And we re.
+ ]oice IN the general happiness, prosperity, and
advancement OF our country, which have been the
offspring OF freedom, and not Of power
This most admirable and wisest system oil
well-regnlated sef-government among men ever
devised 0y human minds, has been tested BY its
successful operation for more than half centu
ry and, II preserved from the usurpatons of the
Federal Government on the one hand, and the
exercise by the States of powers not reserved &c
them on the other, will, lefvenily hope and be-
leve, endure for ages to come, and dispense the
blessings OF civil and religious liberty TO distan
generations. TO effect objects so dear to ever,
patriot. shall devote myself with anxious solici
f tude. 1t will be my desire TO guard against tina
! most fruitful source of danger to the harmoniou
action oil our system which consists in substitut
ing the mere discretion and caprice OF the Execu
tive, or Of majorties in the Legislative department
OF the Government, for powers which have bee
, withheld from the Federal Government by tn
: Constitution. By the theory Of our Government
majorties rule; but this right is not an arbitar
or unlimited one. 1t is right to be exercised Il
subordination to the Constitution, and in con
iormity to 1t. One great object Of the Constbu
ZION was TO restrain majorities from oppressh,
mlnorltles, or encroachihg upon their just rights
Minori'ies have right to appeal 10 The Consttu
lion as shield against such oppression.
That the blessings Of liberty which our Con
stltutlon secures may be enjoyed alike by mfnori
ties and maJorities, the Executive has beenwise
ly invested with qualified veto upon The arts q
the Legislature. II is negative power, and il
conservative in its character. Ii arrests for III
time hastv, inconsiderate, or unconstitutional lie
I gisIaioD, invites reconsideration, and transfer
Q questions at issue between the Legislative ant
{, Executive departments to the tribunal q the PEG
pie. Like all other powers, it is SUBJECT TO b.
G cised, the Constitution itself may u saved from
iDfractiopi and the rights Of all preserved and uto