Year: 1862

o'"'' iCotioii uICu lHluIlu0 Ouo duOlueT,
shall leave them otherwise free to regulate
their own pursuits of industry and improve
ment, and shall not take from the mouth of
labor the bread it has earned. This is the
sum of good government and this is nec
essary to close our falicities.


About to enter, fellow citizens, on the ex-
ercise of duties which comprehend every
thing near and valuable to you, it is proper
you should understand what deem the es-
sential principles Of our government, and
consequently tho o who ought to shape its
administration: will compress them with
IN the narroAes compass they will bear,
stating its general principle, but not all its
limitations. Equal and exact justice to all
ious or politcal; peace, commerce and hon.
est friendship, with all nations, entangled al
lance with none; the support of the State
Governments in all their rights, as the
most competent administration Of our do
mestic concerns, and the surest bulwark
against anti republican tendencies the per
servaton Of tn General Government in its
whole constitutional vgor, as the sheet anl
chor of our peace at home, and safety abroad;
a Jealous care of the right of election by the
People, a mild and safe corrective of abuses
which are Topped by the sword of revolution
where peaceabe remedies are unprovidel;
absolute acquescence in the decisions of the
majority, the vital princi pies of republics,
from which is no appeal but to force, the vi,
tai principle and immediate parent Of des-
potism; awell disciplined MALTA, our best
reliance in peace, and for the first moment:
| Of RI ill raoulnrc roliaya tla,p
the supremacy of the civil over the military
authority; economy in the public expense
that labor may be lightly burthened; the
honest payment of our debts, and sacred pre-
servation of the public faith; encouragement of
agriculture, and of commerce as its hand
maid; the diffusion of information, and ar
raignment Of all abuses at the bar Of public
reason; freedom of religion, freedom of the
press, and freedom of the person under the
protection of the habeas corpss; and trial by
juries impartialIy selected. These princi pies
form the bright constellation, which has gone
before us, and guided our steps through an
age Of revolution and reformation. The
wisdom of our sages, and bood of our he,
roes, have been devoted to their altannenl;
they should be the creed of our political
faith, the text Of civic instruction, the touch
stone 10y which to try the services of those
we trust, and should we wander from them
in moments of error or of alarm, let us has
ten to retrace our steps, and to regain the
road which alone leads to peace, liberty and
safety.


| repair then, fellow citizens, to the post
you have assigned me. With experience
enough in subordinate offices to have seen the
difficulties Of this, the greatest of all, have
learnt to expect that it will rarely fall to the
Ioi of imperfect man to retire from this sta
ton with the reputation and favor which
brings him into it, Without pretentions 10
that high confidence you reposed in our first
and great revolutionary character, whose pre-
eminent services has entitled him to the first
place in his countrys love, and destined for
him the fairest page in the volume of faith
full history, ask SO much confidence only
as may give firmness and effect to the legal
administration of your affairs. | shall often
90 wrong, through defect of judgement.
When right, shall often be thought wrong
by those whose position will not command
view of the whole ground. | ask your in
diligence for my own errors, which will new
er be Intentional; and your support against
the errors Of others, who may condemn
what they would not, if seen in all its parts.
The appreciation implied by your suffrage is
great consolation to me for the past; and
my future solicitude will be, to retain the
good opinion of those who have bestowed it
in advance, to conciliate that of Others by
doing them all the good in my power, and
to be instrumental in the happiness and freel
dom Of all


Relying, then, on the patronage of your
good will, | advance with obedience to the
work, ready to retire from it whenever you
become sensible how much better choices il
is in your power to make. And may that
infinite Power which rules the destinies OF
the universe lead our connsels to what is best
and give them a favorable issue for your
peace and prosperity.


THOMAS JEFFERSON.