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Show 420 INAUGURAL AND FARK\VE LL ADDRESSES. jnst cause, and remove every colorable pretense of complnint; if an in tention to pursne, by am icable negotiat ion, a reparation for the injuries that have ueen eom mi U<'cl on the commerce of our fell ow - c i tiz<'w~, by whutrver nation, and if uccc,s cannot be obtain 'd, to lay the facts before tho Jrcri ·latnre, that they mny con"ider what further meaf.lures the honor and intcn•st of the gon'rnJnent a nd its con:Litn cnt. demand; if a resolu tion to do just.ice, as far as may depend upon me, at all Lim . and to a ll nations, and maint ain pence, fri endship, nn fl benevolence, wi th al l the world ; if an nn : huken co nfidence in the honor, spiri t, a.nr1 re1wnrces of the American peopl e, on wh ich I hn. .,·e, o often hazarded my all, and never be n dere ive(l ; if elevated i<lc•as of the high destinies, of t his co untry, and of my own dutie. toward it, foun ded on a kn owledg-e of the moral pri nc iples and intcll ec tnnl improvements of the p eo ple, dee ply eng r:nen on my mind in en rly life, and not obsc ured, bu t exalted, by experience aud age ; and, with ilnml>le reverence, I feel it to be my <ln ty to add, if a vc ur ra lion for the rel igion of n. people who profess an cl ca ll themselves Christ ians, and a fixeclrcsol ut ion lo consicler a d<'<'t• nL res pect fo r Ch rist ian ity among the best rc ommcndations for the pul>lic se rvice,can ena.ule mr, in any dcgn'r, to co u1ply with yo ur wishes, it shall be my strenuous endeavor that this sagacious inj unction of the two hou es hnll not lJc ·wi thout effect. WiLh this g reat example bt• fore me-·with the sense and spirit, the fa.ith and honoJ', Lhe du ty and in tere, t, of the same American peopl r, plcdg·rcl to support the Constitution of the United Stutes, I ente rta in no doubt of it. conti nn ance in all its en rgy, nnd my minc1 is prcpnred, wi thout hes itati on, to la.v my;;;elf under the most solemn olJlio·ations to support it to the nLm ost of my polrC I'. And mny tha t Being wl1o is supreme ov r all, the Patron of order, the F ountain of justice, and the Protector, in all ages of the world, of virtuous lilJerty, continue His bless- INAUGURAL AND FAREWELL ADDRESSES. 421 ing upon this nation and its governmrnt, and give it all possihl suer :s and duration consi:Lent with the encls of His providcn 'C. INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON, PRESIDENT OF TIIE UNITED STATES, At hi::; jir~t lc>nn of oUiC'(', Jl[urch 4, 1 01. Friends and fellow- ·iliz ns :-Oullc<l upon to nnclcrtnka 1,1le duties of the fir t executive oiiico of our country, I nvail myself of the presence of thnt portion of my fellow citizens which is here a scmlJled, to exprc:s my <>·Tateftll 1hauks for the favor with which t IH•y hnve been pleas •d to look towards me, to declare a. incere on.· 'iou~nc s that tl1e task is above my talents, a11cl thnt I nppron.ch it wi th tho. e anxious and awful presentimentH whi ·h the greatn 'S of the charge, and the weakness of my power., so justly inspire. A ri sing nation, spread ov •r a wide and fruitful land; traversing all the seas with the ri ch production. of their ind ustry ; encraged in commerce with nations who feel power, and forget right; advaneing· rap idly to destinies beyon d the reach of mortal eye- when I contemplate thc:e transcendent objects, and sec the honor, the happiness, n.ncl the hopes of this beloved country, committed to the issue and the aus pices of this day, I shrink from the contemplation, and humble myself before the magnitude of the under tak in cr. Utterly, indeed, should I despai r, did not the presence of many ·whom I here ser, reminc1 me, that, in the other high authorities proviclccl by our Constitution, I shall fiud re. onrces of wi.-dom, of virtue, and of zeal, on which to rely under all dilTicnlties. To you, then, gentlemen, who are charged with the sovereign fun ctions of legislation, and to tho. e associn t ('<l with you, I look wHh encouragement fol' that guid<ll lC<' nncl support which may enable us to steer with safety the r c~sel in which we are all |