Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-05-03
WAsHINGToN'S INAUGURAL AID
DRESS.

DIR ESS.
The following is the inaugural
address delivered by Geo. Wash
ington in New York 100 years ago:
FeUO,r. CitizenS Of the Senate and
| House of representatives Among
the vicissltudes incident to life no
event could have filed me with
greater anxieties than that of
which the notification was trans
mitted by your order and received
on the 14th day OF the present
month. On the one hand, | was
summoned by my country, whose
voice can never hear but with
yeneratiOn and love, from retreat
which l had chosen with the fond
est prediction, and, IN my flatter-
ing homes, with an immutable de.
cIslon, as the asylum Of my de-
clining years-a retreat which was
rendered every day more necessary
as we'll as more dear 10 me by the
addition of habit TO inclination,
and of frequent Interruptions IN
my health to the gradual waste
committed on it by time. On the
other hand, the magnitude and dit.
ficulty of the trust to which the
voice of my country called me,
being sufficient to aw AIKEN in the
wisest and most experienced OF her
citizens distrustful scrutiny into
bis qualifications, could not but
overwhelm with dependence one
who, inheriting inferior endOw.
ments from nature and, unprac.
ticed in the duties of civil admins
tration, ought to be peculiarly con
scious of his own Deficiencies. In
this conflict of emotions all l dare
aver is that it has been my faith
full study to collect my duty from
a Just appreciation OF every circum-
stance by which it might be affect
ed. All dare hope is that if, in
accepting this task, | have been
too much swayed by grateful
remembrance of former instances,
or by an affectionate senslbility to
this transcendent proof of the con
fidence of my fellOw.citizens, and
have hence too little consulted nv
incspacity as well as Discrimination
for the weighty and untried cares
before me, my error Will be palll-
ated by the motives which mlsled
me, and its consequences he judged
by my country with some share OF
the Partially with which they
originated.
sUPPLICATION TO PROVIDENCE.
Such being the impressions under
which | have, in obedience TO the
public summons, repaired TO the
present station it would bepeculiar
~ improper to omit in this first Off
cial act my fervent applications
to that Almighty Being who rules
over the universe, who presides in
the councils of nations, and whose
providential aids can supply every
human defect, that Ills benedlc'
ton may cOnsecrate TO the llber'
ties and happiness of the people OF
the United States a government
instituted by themselves for these
essential purposes, and may en-
able every instrument employed IN
It's administration to execute with
success the functions allotted to his
charge. In rendering this homage
to the great Author of every pub
lie and private good, | assure my
self that it expresses your sentl'
ments not less than my OVID, nor
those of my fellOw-citizens at large .
less than either. No people can
be bound to acknowledge and #,
adore the invisible Hand which |
CONDUCTS the affairs of men more |
than the people Of the United !
States. Every step by which they /
have advanced to the character of /
an independent nation seems to
have been distinguished By some .
token of provldential agency, and /
in the important revolution Just
accomplished IN the system of their .
united government, the tranquil .
deliberations and voluntary con
sent of so many distinct cOmmuni- /
ties from which the event has re- .
suited, cannot be compared with .
the means by which most, govern
ments have been established with /
out some return OF piOus gratitude,
along with an humble anticipation /
of the future blessings which the |
past seems to presage. These re-
Elections, arising out OF the present /
crisis, have forced themselves too /
strongly on my mind to be sup
pressed. You will join with me, |
trust, in thinking that there are
none under the influence of which .
the proceedings of new and free /
government can more auspiciOusll /
commence.
THE CONSTITUTION AS A GUIDE.
BY the article establishing the
executive department it is made
the duty of the President "to
recommend to your consideration
such measures as lie shall judge
necessary and expedlent." The
circumstances under which | now
meet you will acquit me from en-
tering into that subject further
than IN reter IN the great cOnsti.