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Show 414 INAUGUHAL AND FAREWELL ADDRESSES. INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF .JOliN ADAMS, PRESIDENT . OF THE UNITED S'rAr.rEs. Jlla1·ch 4, 17 97. When it was first perceived, in early times, tbat no middle course for America remained between unlimited submi sion to a. foreign legislature and a total iudepcndencc of its claims, men of refiection ·were Jess apprc1cn ivc of dan ger from the formidable power of fleet and armies they mu t dct.errnino to resist, than from those contests and dissensions which would certaiuly arise concerning the fonns of govemment to be instituted over the whole and over the parls of t]lit; extensive country. R •lyino·, howevc!', on the purity of their intention , the justice of their cause, and the integrity and intelligence of the people, under an overruling Providence, which had so signally protected this country from the first., the reprcscntalivc, of thi: nation, then conf)isting of lit.llc more than hnlf its pr ·. cnt number, not only broke to piPC'es the cl1ain.· \\'hich were forging, an<l the rod of iron that was lif'tell up, but frankly cut asunder the tics which hall bound them, and lnll!lChcd into an ocean of uncertainty. 'l'he zeal and ardor of the people, during the revolntionnJ'y war, snpplying the place of government, commanded a degree of order, sufficient at least Cor tl1c temporary preservation of society. The Confederation, which was early felt to be necessary, was prepm·ed f1·om the models of the Batavian nnd IIclvctic confederacies-the only examples whi h rcmnin, wilh any detail nnd precision, in hi. tory, nnd ccrtaillly the 01dy ones which the people at larO'e hnd ever considcr·cd. But, reflecting on the striki11g differen ce, in :o many particulnr , between thi cou ntry and those wiH'I'e a courier may go from the scat of govcmment to the fronti er in a single day, it was then ccrtaiJJ1y foreseen, by some who assisted in Congress at the formation of it, that it could not be durable. INAUGURAL AND FAREWELL ADDRESSES. 415 Ne(J'ligcncc of its regulati ons, innt tcntion to its rccommend~ tions, if not disobed i<·uec to its authori ty, not only in individuals, but in StflleH, soon app('ared, with the ir melancholy conHC<] ucn es : un i vcnml languo r; jealousies and rivalries of Lates; decline of navigation and commerce; discouragement of ncces ary llHl.lllrfaclures; univertl:tl fall in the value of lands and their produce; contempt of public and private faith; loss of COJISidcration and credit with foreign nations; and, at leng-th, in discontents, animosities, combinations, partial conve11lions, n.nd in urrection, threatenin( J' some great national cal<ullit.y. In thiH dangerous crisis, the people of America were not abandoned. by thrir usual good sen.'c, pre~cuce of mind, resolution, or inlpO'rity. Mcmmre~-; wrrc ptrr:-;ucd to concert a plan to form a 1n orc perfect 11nion, establish jii.'Licc, ensuro domestic tranq~tillity, provide for the COlll tn On clt'f'nsc, promote the genern.I wclfnJre, and :(•('tire the blessings of liberty, 'rho puulic clis<]nii:liLions, di~ctL'Hions, and delil>emtions, i -. ncd in the present happy con;)tilutioll of govemment. Employed in the . crvice of my country abroad during the whole conr. c of these trnrH-mcLionH, I firi:)t saw the Constitution of the United Staks in n. foreign country. Jnitatcd by no literary altercation, animated. by no public debate, heated by no party animosity, I rcacl it with great satisfaction, as the result of gooc1 heads, prompted by good hearts-as an cxpcri men t, bolter ada ptcd to the genius, chamctcr, siluntion, and relations, of this nation and country, than any which had ever been proposed or suggested. In its g·cncral principles aud great outlines, it was conformable to such a sy.tem of government as I had ever most esteemed, an(} in some States, my own native State in particular, bad contributed to cstabli ·h. Claiming a right of suffrage, in common with my fellow-citizens, in the adoption or rejection of a Constitution which was to rule me and my posterity, as well as them and theirs, I did not hesitate to |
