GENERAL HISTORY. 



[145 



with the proper discharge of wliich 

 the highest interests of a great and 

 free people are intimately con- 

 nected. Conscious of my own 

 deficiency, I cannot enter on their 

 duties without great anxiety for 

 the result. From a just respon- 

 sibility I will never shrink ; calcu- 

 lating with confidence, that in my 

 best efforts to promote the public 

 welfare, my motives will always 

 be duly appreciated, and my con- 

 duct be viewed with that candour 

 and indulgence which I have ex- 

 perienced in other stations. 



"In commencing the duties of 

 the Chief Executive office, it has 

 been the practice of the distin- 

 guished men who have gone before 

 me to explain the principles which 

 Avould govern them in their re- 

 spective administrations. Jn fol- 

 lowing their venerated example, 

 my attention is naturally drawn to 

 the great causes which have contri- 

 buted in a principal degree to pro- 

 duce the present happy condition 

 of the United States. Tkey will 

 best explain the nature of our 

 duties, and shed much light on the 

 policy which ought to be pursued 

 in future. 



" From the commencement of 

 our revolution to the present day, 

 almost forty years have elapsed ; 

 and from the establishment of 

 this constitution, twenty-eight. 

 Through this whole term the Go- 

 vernment has been what may em- 

 phatically be called self-govern- 

 ment ; and what has been the 

 effect ? To whatever object we turn 

 our attention, whether it relates 

 to our foreign or domestic con- 

 cerns, we find abundant cause to 

 felicitate ourselves in the excellence 

 of our institutions. During a pe- 

 riod frauejht with difficulties, and 



Vol. LIX. 



marked by very extraordinary 

 events, the United States have 

 flourished beyond example. Their 

 citizens, individually, have been 

 happy, and the nation prosperous. 

 Under this constitution our com- 

 merce haM been wisely regulated 

 with foreign nations, and between 

 the States ; new States have been 

 admitted into our union j our ter- 

 litory has been enlarged by fair 

 and honourable treaty, and with 

 great advantage to the original 

 States ; the States, respectively, 

 protected by the national Govern- 

 ment, under a mild parental sys- 

 tem, against foreign dangers, and 

 enjoying within their separate 

 spheres, by a wise partition of 

 power, a just proportion of the 

 sovereignty, have improved their 

 police, extended their settlements, 

 and attained a strength and ma- 

 turity which are the best proofs 

 of wholesome laws well admi- 

 nistered. And if we look to the 

 condition of individuals, what a 

 proud spectacle does it exhibit ? 

 On whom has oppression fallen in 

 any quarter of our union ? Who 

 has been deprived of any right of 

 person or of property ? Who re- 

 strained from offering his vows, in 

 the mode which he prefers, to the 

 Divine Author of his being ? It 

 is well known, that all these bless- 

 ings have been enjoyed in their 

 fullest extent : and I add, with 

 peculiar satisfaction, that theie has 

 been no example of a capital pu- 

 nishment being inflicted on any 

 one for the crime of high treason. 

 " Some who might admit the 

 competency of our Government to 

 these beneficent duties, might 

 doubt it in trials which put to the 

 test its strength and efficiency, as 

 a nicuiber of the great community 

 LL] of 



