The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-03-16
inaugural Address.

yesterday, In the presence oil the high
functionaries ofgovernment, and ola vas
concourse of citizens congregated from
every quarter of the Republic; Franklin
Pierce pronounced his Inaugural Address,
with that grace and propriety OF elocuiion
which is among the chief forn aments Of his
oratory. We publish that address in the
Union Of this morning, and impressed, as
the reader will be. with its excellence oi
style, sentiment, and spirit, he will yet fail
10 realize the effect upon the vast multitude
who heard it uttered with all the feeling
and solemnity Of heart touched and ele-
vated by sense Of awful responsibility to
Heaven and TO humanity.
With mind absorbed in the admiration
of higher and more essential excellence, il
may be thought unworthy TO suffer the at
teniion to be diverted by the mere literary
beauties of this grave address to the nation;
but weary as we are of the traditional com.
monplaces Of presidential messages, it is
impossible not TO be struck with an Inau.
gural Address in which the art Of the schol.
ar is as conspicuous as the wisdom Of the
stateman and the devotion ofthe patriot.
In its nature and intent, an Inaugural
Address is a declaration OF the general
principles in accordance with which the
President proposes to administer the gov.
ernment. The Inaugural Address of Pres.
ident Pierce is comprehensive though brief,
and it perfectly accomplishes its designs
No principle Of public policy is omitted
no great question about which the nation
is supposed TO feel an anxious concern is
avoided or confused by the ambiguous ex.
pressions Of a mind pretending to dvulge
but solicitous to conceal. President Pierce
is frank, manly, and emphatic. With the
candor Of conscious integrity, he declares
his purposes and speaks outh sentiments.
And why should he affect reserve in the
presence Of a people who have confded
to him the guardianship Of whatsoever is
more precious in political liberty or ma.
tional honor? Himself chosen from the
mass Of the people, sympathizing with
their feelings and partaking Of their opin.
ions, there was no cause for apprehension
that he would utter one sentiment to which
their hearts would no. respond. or promul.
gate one principle which they would not
applaud. t5 4ija s aee's
Nor has he done so. From the first sen.
tence ofhis address, in which he makes
brie! but touching allusion to his recent af.
fiction. to the last. in which he implores
the favor Of Him without whose counter.
ance and support the best endeavors of
man are impotent and vain, there is not
one sentiment, there is not one declaration
not wish, aspiration, or resolve, which
is not in harmony with the pulsalions Of
the great heart Of the people. In his per.
feet confidence in the inherent strength
and expansive energy Of our institutions
lin his aspiration for the growth ofAmer-
ican empire and American power--in his
recognition Of the exalted dignity Of an
American freeman, fiji to stand .'unabash-
ed in the presence Of princes" s"-in his ap-
probation Of the sacred name of American
citizenship, and in his purpose to make it
a "panoply Of protection in every region
and against whatsoever insolent power
in his quick sensibility to national wrong
and insult, and his determination TO main.
tain the honor, of the country's hag-in
his recognition Of the obligations oftreaty
and of public faith--in his stern resolve to
enforce the execution of the laws, whether
in behalf of foreign nations or of domestic
peace--in his determinati to maintain
the just balance Of our political system,
with equal firmness resisting any disorgan.
izing tendancy towards anarchy, and pro-.
tecting the sovereign rights Of the States
lin his rebuke Of faction, and in his fer
vent declaration of devotion TO the Cow.
srITUTIoN and the UNIoN--in the noble
spirit OF patriotism which pervades and in.
forms every line and syllable Of bis Ad.
dress-in its every sentiment and ,princi.5
pie and purpose and feeling, President.
Pierce will have the warm sympathy and
cordial support Of the honest and incorrupt
PEOPLE. Faction may rave, and the de-
mon Of party may vent iis1wrath and con.
ceal its modification in the language Of q
capiious and snafling criticism. but the
voice Of the patriotic PEOPLE will re-echoI
and applaud the noble sentiments OF Pres
ident Pierce's Inaugural Address. II,
The ship is again on the q Republ blicanI
track" "a disciple Of Jefferson and Jack
son is at the helm Of State, and the coun-l
try has, in tbe Inaugural Address, . chart
II the voyage before il Con6ding 10 his
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