Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-03-08
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
FRANKLEV PIER G n,
PRESIDENT OF THE U. s'FATEs, alARCH 4, 1855

which have been borne position, 80 sHtiaolt i"f
others, :aIltr than desirable !ur myself.
The circumstances under which have been Called of
limited period 10 preside over the dcsnics Of the RePnS
ill vlth prnfuun oi responsibility rlt VIVA
nothing like shrinking apprehension repair ~ 'hc Pu
assignt me, sought, but IN oo achce 10 u
unsolicited PRESTON OF your will oaswfra5ie ohy !or
fearless faithful and di!igen exercise o my Drs pe"ats
our III Ia be- and an truly gra efu for ltc manifestation
OF The cunidercc thi far from tightening my
obIig ationR only adds 10 their Weight gu have sa"h
"a m in my weakness: von mus snstain me by your
sergih When booking for The tuh'meE II rcasc.ois !"-
qarrcn!s you will not be unmludIu Of the great changes
whiCl ha"& occurred whn thc last GarTef ~ cen
'n.y ard the consequent augmentation sEd conhtSF u
lSrd alllns'! ZION U you! s'''''t '
Iorsigu affairs. ,r
Whether the elements OF Inherent f'.cc IL the Republic
have krp; pa with it unparalleled progression IN territory
population ard wealth, has hccn the subject o: earnest
bnroh md discussion OH both sides of the occ:: Less
than sixty years og, The Fsrhc: Ct his country ais
the cn recent accession oi inc iin1?.t; et.e c'
Carolina 10 tho Constitution nf the United States "nc y
the subjects Of E special congatua'Ion. Al ihat m"'
hnwcvrr when agirn'nn con-"g!"n, nr"n We ;eY,',
,onury srnaer had hardly suhsJ,d, whc: "a were Just
cf..i from the weakness a:: eniaarfass'"h7 ot o."
Cunfrtera:;)r tl.fc evident CONSCIOUSNESS o Fn'
equal 10 ihr great mission 50 wisely md brl"@'y ht' "y
oar fathers l. was no, pcsnmntnons GHs'incG ba.
calm allh spugh. ITun = cle.' :ie" :" ';c "u'' @ 80 u
nnw.r IN government constituted Ike ours |; II no Para
iox 10 that although co'a'Tciy weak t!a
nation was nirns;c,ly strong. lnc0naiala1e h pou''I
Inn ~, nroar.ut rrspn!crs IL upheld by broad an!
ntiten comnreh. ol rights, and On all PcfVau!HS
purpose maintain tlc'n, s'r"ncr! 'han afHa"sn, ~
uc rom the furnace al the re"uG einncfcd 10 INC ne
r.ssrs c - tnr= The thoughts o the lrn ~ thald Gay
were IA practical their scn'innus were a'T!oc n'
wasted no pei ui their energies upon c ao1 deus'e
s,rcuar;nna hu, with firm nnd fearless step advanced be.
yun The goyernn,:n.a Landmarks which hah iihrft' c't
cuu,srribcd The Limits OF human Fccd and !iha .cif
standard where il has soud against dhUgrS "h!ch ha'c
threatened from abroud and internal cghun WHICH mas al
times leafuly cnucei a, home Ihcy approved i'cintiSeS
equal To the so'uon Of the great pToorn 70 Understand
,h n th,r minds had been ILLUMINATED BY lie dAwnlag
oh nj tho revolution. TIE object sought was ho !lns
,ISamed Of was thing realized. They hid exhibited
not only the power 10 achieve oni "'lnl a' n!st"s %
N he so much more unusual the caccii" 70 maintain Inc
onn,ssed Throughout the world from That day - mo pre-
sent have turned their cgss hiIlet"aTd no! 20 ma ''c
phs eytjnpuised lest they shen!d ~ane out l."
he constantly cheered by lhei. steady and increasing rad
ancr. -. ,,,,. r.. e,,r,l,I
r hnh. dulv 10 suffering humanity !! mas spoken ana
| Continue 10 sre.k not only by is words but by s nets,
the language sympathy NJ ana nope 10 hose
who earnestly sen 10 tones when pronounce lo7 lhe
LARGEST rational liberty. But after all Inc most anlHane
ncour, and potent appeal for f'red" VIII ne lis
own history its trials nndlts triumphs P'ceminens 'he
power Of ou advocacy reposes 10 our example, pu no cHa
ple he II remembered be powerful for lasting good,
whaeyer anpsrent advantages may DO gained "hch IL not
bosrd unon eternal principles OF Tght and luSuce oH'
fathers decided i"r in. hs.'es ~ oo.' utui M. @ @ @ ,.
re oJ the hour strike They Wee mar own JHoees
oT ih circumstances which became 'hen to pcdgr
To each other e lives, their fortunes and 'heif sacIcd
honor for the acquisition Of The priceless inheritance sFans
,,ed m The energy, with which that great conflict
yas nncned and under The guidance Of manifest ana benr
.o,t p,nvi1 oc. he IrCoupulnrg endurance win winch
hv IA. wisdom and patriotic sPrIl o concession, "lch
chsracterizs %, all the counscIs OF the early fathers
One of the mos impressive cencos vi iAt "isdon Is
to l.. found in fact that the actual WORKING oi our sYs
ton, "a dsnpIc degree n sOicliude, "hlch al ts out
s.t disturbed bold and ar-raachlng inriec's me
apreieE ion of dangers from extended cit'" hupn.o
t,Io. accumulated wealth and aurmcnc phHluti2n tS
,nysd IN he unouudcd The sarS upon your banner nave
hacom, ne, rr trce.od their original nunoE your tehs"y
populated POSSESSIONS skift INC s''t.s ~ M ."p .sa
OCEANS and vet this incrcase u e"' and territory has
moi nnv shawn itself compatible with The harmonious aclI
NJ he States and the Federal government in 'eir respective
sncres bu has Afforded an additional g1en-
Tee of The strength and integrity oi o"ih.
with an experience thus suggestive anu CicefhS n Po
,cv r rr ADMINISTRATION will mol be controlled by any iint
f,bndnys of evil from expansion. Indeed Is not H. D:
disguised that our attitude a, nation, ard cur p1'oh ."
rh Globe render the acquisition OF certain POSSESSIONS mol
within our ut-ci!ua cInEeniiy important dr or po"c
ton if not in future essential "r c n'c,tt 's," -!
,ho ,;rhts ~ ,o;uerc. and ~. peace ni the n! Shou
,hey r oaainr! il will b. hou@A 10 Gts2in" sr!:i nn
with view 10 obvious national nIcest 81! 'cr";i'' ""
in manner entirely consistent with III" sr!s Observance
Of national faith Wc haze nothing 10 sur hs'o? o. posi-
.in "a .vr aggression; have every !r 10 tccR"a ~
20 Tie cultivation g! relations % peace s1a atiy VA" a.
nations Purppses hce'u': ut once lrsl ana Iacr WIZ
", sirn,T,: marked the cunuc ut ouI ir!ei5n aiits
intend thai my administration S.'a leave ~ dol upon cur
fair record nud trust MAJ sa"y si'e s insurance .a NJ
ne, within the legitimate scope :" my constitutional cpa"s
will be ,ols. ,teA the part oi any "n oi our cHA:he,
which c,n.p challenge rca ~ s!!!c"1n before m hio'
nal Of IN 81, 1r world An administrator woui! De NJ.
worthy caf >rc 4! nm", or Tr-2cs ah'oad, shH1"
ccas, 10 be Influenced s.; The COn'c;ioE mai no 2Hprirts
advantage can purchased Al price So hT IA thai {" ~
tioul soG dist. Il j. r1' EoNr rSl'tec = ns
rjo, Il, sneak .. o:si,nt past The sAiaa ir"jd.n- oi
vour history :.ie- with instruction. an furnishing acui-
dant grounds hu2etl cJnfl"nc -" comprised ~ pc
r,d comra4:ivcy bre! BGt if your past Is limited your
future is ouna.s. lis obligations thinng the u"eSpo''a
o,lhway OF slvancrucu ana will be Ii,less duration
no: c.s thn di.,n, future, Than Ie urgent prcsent
The crest Uh,ecs y! our pursuit, as r:oi' arc oess "
he a.!u.d b. pescr IN! entirely cuGsslcni "th '
tranquility :n interests o the rest Of mankind WIN ths
peiuh nti,us
Kindly sr1 ra'rna tciali"as We can tc';rc np; VI IT,
gard to t;em mich, ca 10 see them consniiaa" w"
>renmi and pursue the paths al prosperity and hdp4inesS
H. in tic cnHrs" "i tc'r growth %2 -h"nl "n"h ne" G.
nails rf ~ e. auI atiltuGc tlcil'es fer 2H'? IL
;.rcors H.. b n.f,s realized will be cqrn ana Mutual
OF the complicated European s"s'cfts o. ;;"n%! a@ v"
have heretofore been independent. am icr w:'S, siH
tunn!is ard anx;ctiys have been hn"piy on1s. ct
~ excn;t Whilst h.a" confined 10 the nations "f,;cl
gave them e,..tcace, ara ~li t!a.: 'c c Jufisl'c'
they a.Ct except u iiey app.a' iH onr Hfn'
,h:cs in e OF huin:n freedom a!' uaivF5I dais
nt III" irf:ss al c1:n"'c'cc are coi'n'" -
M ,nankni aud the advantages Of 'r'r '1d ints,Haona
Intercourse away. present noble field iV' Ae mon"
i!iI"ncc at grca; Trgr
With llcs. views n:ly honestly carried ou;, We a"e
tigh, III cxrcc, nd s, unds; al circumstances fCGTc
nrmpt :c,prnc;iy The rights, which bclorg 10 US ns na
lion a!rne 10 m regarded hll "ar "ch Per ''h "
every citizen in Individual capacity ., hrnn and a1p"
be sacrcy tnainacd. So long as hG can diSceih
every star in a rarc upon hHt ensign w'!ut nHH'th 70
purchase i ha p-fn;I,c' ,it srcr:c TOR him place
will be s privilege ara unsl be his acknowledges TlEi "
stand uuahashed in The presence ct p'inc2', WI"
proud consciousness that he s himself o! nn'"a !"
suvereigns ard he cannot IT, lcaitmc pursnit wan
der far from home that thu agent. whom he shall i.Vc
behind in the place which now occupy WI! not 7"e 'a
rude hand Of power yTaanicai passion IS atd upon
him with lpunv. He rlnst rra'iZc 'hlt uon every s'
and cScry .oi where cr'GTrTis" may Thiy setA
the protection ni far, Americas citizenship Is IN lnSio
liable pannpy for the security ~ American rights Ana, "
this cunnexnn hardly be 10 reai:Ei m!h
cipr which shouIi be regarded as fundamental re
rights security, and spose OF this Coaederacy eJcs w
Idea of interference colonization on this SIDE :" me
by any foreign power beyond prcscn, nrsdicon Us u'c
inadmissihe. -: ri
The opportunities nf osnrva.inn furnished ny M ec'
experience as snlisr confirmed in my own 'lHu hf 'i'i
on entertained ard aret upon ~ others from the
OF government That the ma!ntalnance oi large s.a"S
armies in country would b. only danscrnns e u"
necessary. They aso illustrated The Importance @ mn,
well the absolute necessity OF The military ScI"'t' M
practical sk furnished in such an en'heit degiee' ~ M
institution, whch has made your army wh1! II u, "na' M
discipline and instruction II uictrs not more d5'-
for their solid a;iGnmenis, saianrry hnd GrVnh :" ~
pu5ic vice. !hnn Tor uuutfusivc h-a'!ng a'o 'Sh %
The aTI1Y, organized, must be The nacie's a
which, In every inc nj necd Inc strength ~ year MA,
power the sure bulwaik oi your Defence na@fs IT, %
may be readily formed into well discipEned a'c e.' IT.
organiza lion And the skill and sedcvnnn OIL ''H L',
you that you may take the performance OF '''
as pledge for The future and may confidently eSpect @
a. ~,.htot h., hEH