American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-03-05
MR., POLk'S
INAUGURAL ADDRESS,
MARCH 4, 1915.

FrLLow-CirIzENs: Without solicitation on
NV part, | have been chosen by the free and
voluntary suffrages OF my countrymen TO the
most honorable and most responsible Office on
earth. | am deeply impressed with gratitude
for the confidence reposed in me- Honored
with this distinguished consideration at an ear
licr period of life than any of my predecessors,
cannot disguise the ditidence with which am
about to enter on the discharge of my official
duties.
If the more aged and experienced men who
have filled the Office Of President of the United
States, even in the infancy of the repGblic, dis
trusted their ability TO discharge the dnties of
that exalted station, what ought not to be the
apprehensions of one so much Younger and less
endowed, now that our domain extends fiom
ocean to ocean, that uur people have so great
!! increased in numbers, and at Il time when so
great diversity of opinion prevails in regard to
the principles and policy which should charac-
.crZe the administration OF our government
Well may the bodcst fear, and the wisest trem-
Die, when mourning responsibilities on which
may depend our country's peace and prosper-
ly, and, in some degree, the hopes and happ-
ness of the whole human family.
In assuming responsibilities so vast, | fer
vently invoke the aid of that Almighty Ruler
Of the universe, in whose hands are the dcst-
MES of nations and of men, to guard this hea-
VENT, vored land against the mschiefs which,
without His guidance, might arise from an I'M
wise public policy. With firm reliance upon
the wisdom of Omnipotence to sustain and di-
rect me in the path of duty which am APP
pointed to pursue, L stand in the presence OF
this assembled multitude of my countrymen,
10 take upon myself the solemn obligation, "to
the best of my ability, to preserve, protect, and
,iof, bo q Of hp Ipifp cd
A concise enumeration Of the principles
wni Oh will guide me in the administrative poll
cyof the government, is not enly in accord
ance with the examples set me by all my pre-
decessors, but is eminently BETTING the occa-
sion.
The constitution itself, plainly written as it
is the safeguard of our tederative compact,
the offspring of concession and compromise.
binding together in the bonds of peace and
union this great and increasing family of free
and independent States, will be the chart by
which shall be directed.
1t will be my first care to administer the 90
rernment in the true spirit of that instrument,
and to assume no powers not expressly granted
or clearly implied, in its terms. The govern
ment Of the United States is one of delegated
and limited powers; and it is by strict adhcr-
enco to the clearly granted powers, and by alb
staining from the exercise OF doubtful or unau-
Ihorized implied powers, thatwe have the only
sure guaranty against the recurrence OF those
unfortunate collisions between the Federal and
State authorities, which have occasionally SO
much disturbed the harmony, of our system, and
even threatened the perpetuty Of our glorious
Union.
''To the States respectively, or to the pco-
pie, have been reserved ''the powers not dele
gated to the United States by the constitution,
nor prohibited by it to the States" Each
state is complete sovereignty within the
sphere of its reserved powers. The govern
ment of the Union, acting within the sphere of
it's delegated authority, is also complete sove-
reignity While the general government should
abstain from the exercise of authority not clear
ly delegated to it, the States should be equally
careful that, in the maintenance of their rights,
they do not overstep the limits of powers re-
served to them. One of the most distinguish
ed of my predecessors attached deserved i'm
portance to ''the support of the State govern-
ments in all their rights, as the most compe-
tent administration for our domestic concerns,
and the surest bulwark against snti-republcan
tendencies" and to the "preservation of the ge-
neral 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 intrnsted the exclusive management Of our
foreign affairs. Beyond that, it yields a few
general enumerated powers 1t does not force
reform on the States. 1t leaves individuals,
over whom it casts its protecting iehuence, en-
tirely free to improve their own own condition
by the legitimate exercise of all their mental
and physical powers. 1t is a common pro-
tectoc of each and all the. States, Of every
man who lives upon our soil, whether OF ma
tive or foreign birth; of every religious sect,
in their worship of the Almighty according to
the dictates of their own conscience; of every
shade of opinion, and the most free inquiry; of
every art, trade, and occupation, consistent
with the laws of the States. And we rejoce in
the general happiness, prosperity and advance
nent ofour country, which have been the off
spring of freedom, and not Of power.
This most admirable and wisest system ct
well regulated self-government among men,
lever devised by human minds, has been tested
by its successful operation for more than half
century; and, if preserved from the usurpa-
tons of the federal government on the one
hand and the exercise by the States of powers
not reserved to them on the other, WILL / fer
venuy hope and believe, endure for ages to
come, and dispense the blessings of civil and
religious liberty to distant generations. 70 eff
feet objects 50 dear 10 every patriot, ] shall do
vote aayself with anxious solicitude. 1t will be
my desire to guard against that most fruitful
source of danger to the harmonious action Of
our system, which consists in substituting the
mere discretion and caprice of the executive, or
of majorities in the legislative department of
the government, for powers which have been
withheld from the federal government by the
constitution. BY the theory of our govern
ment, majorlties rule; but this right is not an
arbitrary or unlimited one. 1t is light to be
exercised in subordinaton to the constitution,
and in conformity TO it. One great object OF
the constitution was to restrain ma iorities from
expressing minorties, or encroaching upon
their just rights. Mnorities have a right to
appeal to the constitution, as a shield against
such oppression.