The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1853-03-16
Inaugural Address
PRESIDENT PIERCE
harch 4. lsss.

Mafc4 - lcot. III
Mr. CouSfsfxES: II 10 a relief 10 lerl
that no heart bar my own ran know ,le
personal rrgrst aud bilier sas"w ovrr
shirh have heen hnrne 30 position so
suitable for alhen rather Than desirable
Tor myself.
he~ircamsiances under whirh have
been called. fps llmlled PERIOD. 10 pre-
side over the deslinisr 81 lhr Rrpublir. GIL
~ wilh q prafn1nd sense ofrespnnsihili@ |
Iiy, but with nnlhisg like shrinking APP
lprehenslan. 1 repair 70 llse rnsl assigned
me. moi as 10 one sought. haii obedirnre
10 lhe unsolicited expression Of your will.
answsrzbly only for lrarless. faithful. and
.Iiligenl sr-rcise ef my bes, powers. |
oagh. 20 be. and am. Truly grateful for The
rare manifestation nf ihe nations conf
dence; bui This. so far from l'ghiening nv
obligations. only adds 10 their weight.
Yan have summoned me in my weakness
you must sasisin me .by your strength.
When looking for the fulhlmeni Of Iea-'
sonahle requirements. ynn wall mol be un-
mindfnl Of The great changes which have
occurred. even within tho last quarter Of
q century, and the consequent augmen,a.
iicn and compleriiy Of duties imposed IN
The administration both Of your home and
foreign affairs.
Whether The elements nf inherent force
. in the Republic have KEEP, pace with lis
Unparalleled progression in territory. po-
: pulslion. and wealth. has been the suhjeci
Of earnest thought and discussion, m both
sides Of The ocean. Less Than sixiy-four
years ago the Father VI his Country made
4 the then rereni accession of the impor-
iant State Of North Carolina 10 the Con.
.iiluiion Of die United States me II The
subjrcis of his special congra,ulsion. Al
ltha, mnmenl, however. when the agi'a'
hon consequent upnn The revolutionary
j struggle had hardly subsidized. when We
! were jus, emerging from ths weakness,
and cmbarrassmrnts az the confederation
, lhers was an evident consciousness Of vi
!. gor. equal 10 the great mission 30 wisel,
and brayeiy fulfilled by our fathers. !
was not premmpiuous assurance. but ;
Cdttn tftt - " =
the SOURCES Of power in a Governmen
= constituted lihe ours. Il 10 No parade,
= to say that. although comparatively weak
: the new -bnrn nation was inulnsicall,
J. strong. lnconsiderahle in population an
y apparent resources. IL was upheld By
!. broad and Intelligent eomprehensie- o
E rights. and an all,n.-. "alns ..s :
II maintain sheYh, fynacs n Il. r.raIn'
J. came .iperod 10 the necessities of the
le ..on. The ihonghis Of he men II that
u nay were a. practical 40 their sentiments
wsrs patriotic. They wasied no portion
OF their energies upon idle and delusive
speeulaiions. but with firm and fearless
step advanced beyond the governmental
landmarks which had hitherto circum-
scrihed the limits Of human freedom, and
planted their standard where il has stood
against dangers whirh have threatened
4 from abroad. and internal agitation which
, has a, times fearfnlly menaced al home.
They approved themselves equal to the
solulion of The great problem. 10 under.
stand which their minds had been illnmi
/ naiad by the dawning lights of The ievnlu-
ion. Thu ohjerrsoughl was mot Thing
1 dieamsd Of: il was . Thing realized. They
had exhibited moi only the power IA
achieve. hu, what all history. afIirms 10 he
SO much more unusual. The capacity "a
maintain. This oppressed throughout the
world. from iha, day 10 the present. have
I iurnod their eyss hifhrrward. moi TO lind
: lihnss lights ex,inguishcd. or 10 fear iesl
d they should wnne. hui IN he constantly
!. cheered BY Their steady and increasing "a
E dance.
: In his. our country has in my judgment
2 thus far fulfilled lis highest duty 10 suffer-
: ing humanity. h has spoken, and will
; continue 10 speak. mol only bysits words
! but BY lis acts, the language OF sympashy
I encouragement and hope to those who
Z earnestly listen to tones which pronounce
for The largest rational liberty. Bn,, after
] all. the ms, animaling encouragement aud
5 potent appeal for freedom will DO us own
history. It's trials and lis triumphs. Pre-
: cminently The power Of our advocacy re-
Z poses N our example; bui no example,
be il remembered. can he powerful for
lasting good. whatever apparcnl.adranlage.
! may be gained. ,whirh Is mol based upon
, eternal principles Of right and jusuce.
Our fathers decided for themselves both
npon the hour 10 declare and the honr 10
strike. They were their own judges Of
. the circumstances under which il became
Them 10 pledge ID each other " their lives,
their fortunes, and lhoir sacred honos."
for The acquisition Of The priceless inher-
iianco transmitted 10 Us. The energy
with which that great conflict was opened.
aarl under The guidance ri a manifes. and
4 hsnefinen. Providence, the nncompIaining
endurance with whleh Il was prosecuted
20 lis contamination, vera only surpassed
| by The wisdom and pairi",ic spirit Of con-
"essian which characterized all The coun.
sels Of the early fathers.
One. of the most impressive evidences
ri thai wisdom is to be found in The fact
/ that The actual working of our sys,em has