150] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1817. 



not be the only defaulters, nor 

 will the demoralizing effect be 

 confined to them. It will evince 

 a relaxation and want of tone 

 in the administration, which will 

 be felt by the whole community. 

 I shall do all that I can to secure 

 economy and fidelity in this im- 

 portant branch of the administra- 

 tion ; and I doubt not that the 

 Legislature will perform its duty 

 with equal zeal. A thorough ex- 

 amination should be regularly 

 made, and I will promote it. 



" It is particularly gratifying to 

 me to enter on the discharge of 

 these duties, at a time when the 

 United States are blessed with 

 peace. It is a state most consist- 

 ent with their prosperity and hap- 

 piness. It wiU be ray sincere duty 

 to preserve it, so far' as depends 

 on the Executive, on just princi- 

 ples, with all nations, claiming 

 nothing unreasonable of any, and 

 rendering to each what is its due. 

 Equally gratifying is it to witness 

 the increased harmony of opinion 

 which pervades our union. Dis- 

 cord does not belong to our sys- 

 tem. Union is recommended, as 

 well by the free and benign prin- 

 ciples of our Government, extend- 

 ing its blessings to every indivi- 

 dual, as by the other eminent ad- 

 vantages attending it. The Ame- 

 rican people have encountered to- 

 gether great dangers, and sus- 

 tained severe trials with success. 

 They constitute one great family, 

 with a common interest. 



" Experience has enlightened 

 us on some questions of essential 

 importance to the country. The 

 progress has been slow, dictated 

 by a just reflection, and a faitl^ful 

 regard to every interest connected 

 witli it. To promote this harmony. 



in accord with the principles of 

 our Republican Government, and 

 in a manner to give them the most 

 complete effect, and to advance in 

 all other respects the best inte- 

 rest of our Union, will be the ob- 

 ject of my constant and zealous 

 exertions. Never did a Govern- 

 ment commence under auspices so 

 favourable, nor ever Avas success 

 so complete. If we look to the 

 history of other nations, ancient 

 or modern, we find no example of 

 a growth so rapid, so gigantic ; 

 of a people so prosperous and 

 happy. 



" In contemplating what we 

 have still to perform, the heart of 

 every citizen must expand with 

 joy, when he reflects how near 

 our government has approached 

 to perfection ; that, in respect to 

 it, we have no essential improve- 

 ment to make : that the great ob- 

 ject is to preserve it in the essen- 

 tial principles and features which 

 characterize it ; and that it is to 

 be done by preserving the virtue 

 and enlightening the minds of the 

 people ; and, as a security against 

 foreign dangers, to adopt such ar- 

 rangements as are indispensable 

 to the support of our independ- 

 ence, our rights, and liberties. If 

 we persevere in the career in which 

 we have advanced so far, and in 

 the path already traced, we cannot 

 fail, under the favour of a gra- 

 cious Providence, to attain the 

 high destiny which seems to a- 

 wait us. 



" In the administrations of the 

 illustrious men who have preceded 

 me in this high station, with some 

 of whom I have been connected by 

 the closest ties from early life, 

 examples are presented which will 

 always be found highly instructive 



and 



