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Show 434 INAUGURAL A '\D FAREWELL ADDRESSES. the use mndo of iL in reducing the public debt; and in tho va]nnble works nncl esLnblishments everywhere mnlLiplying over the fncc of our land. It is a prccions rcflecLion, that ihc transition from this pro per ns condition of onr conntry, to the scene which has for some time been di trcs. ing ns, is not chargcnblo on nny nnwarrnntn.ble viewR, nor, as I trnst, on any in voluntary errors in the puhlic conucil~. Jn(1u1giug no pnRR ions whieh trespass on the rights or the repose of other nation R, it hns been t.he t.rne rrlory of the U11itc·<1 Stat es to cultivate penc·c, by observing justice, and t.o cnt itle themselves to tl1r re~pc<'t of th nations at war, hy fulfilling their neutral ol>l igntions with the most scrupulous impartinlity. If there he ca.Hdor in the world, the truth of these n.Rsertions will not be qn estioned. Posterity, at least, will do justice to th em. 'rhis unexceptionable cour e conld not avail ngainst the injustice and violence of the bclJigcrcnt powers. In their rage against each other, 01· impelled by more direct m ot ive~, principles of retaliation have been introduced, cqnally contrary to universal reason and aclmow lodged law. Jr ow long their arbitrary edicts will be continued, in spi te of the demonstrations that not even a pretext for th em hns been given by the United States, and of the fait· and libcrnl attempts to indnce a revocation of them, cannot be nuticipated. AsRnring myself that, under every vici, si tude, tbo determined spit·it and united councils of the nation will be safeguards to its honor and its essential interests, I repair to the post assigned me, with llO other discourarrement than what Rprings fl'om my O\vn inadequacy to its high duti es If I do not sink nndc'r the weight of this deep conviction, it is because I find some support in a consciousness of tho purposes, and a confidence in the principles which I bring with me into this arduous service. To cherish peace and friendly intercourse with a1l nations, having correspondent dispositions; to maintain 11in- INAUGURAL .AND FARE\-rET.L ADDRESSES. 43!) cere 11eutrn1 ity townnls belligcr 'nl. nat ions ; to prefer, in nl l "C"' 'llll ien,lde di en.-. "• • ~eu s s i n n ancl n•n sonahlc nccommoda t inn of <l irl'('l't'l lC('H, to a de<.: ision of tit 111 hy nn app :1l to n.nns ; to ex ·ludc f'ol' ig-n in trig ues and foreig-n p:utialities, so dcp; rn.cling to n.ll conn tri es, a11d so ban cfnl to fr c ones; to fost r u ~ piri L of in clcp ndcnce; too just to invade tho right A of ot he n; ; too proud to r-; urrctult'r our O\vn ; I oo liberal to jndulrre 1111\?HHt hy pnjudie s oursrlvcr.:;, and too clcvn,ted not to lool· cl own npon them in others; to holcl the union of the tates as the bn. is of their 1wnce and h:lppin rss ; to support the Consti tution, whieh iH t,hr, c·en l<' tlt of the Union, ns well in its lirnilnt inns ns in its authorili<•s ; to rcspt'('( the rights nnd nu thor it ies rrse rvc<l to the Stnt<'S and to the pro pl r , as cqu nlly in corporated wi th, nnd cs.·<•n tin, l to the stt eCNlS of the gctwral systrm; to nvoid tl1o slight st int.('l'fct·c·ncc with the ri g-hLH of c!ons<·icn<'e, ot· the fun ctions of relig ion, so wis<•ly cxen1plc<l from civil jHrisdietion; to prese r ve, to th c' ir frill t' ll ergy, the olh <'l' salu tary provi sinnR in br hnlf of pri vate and personal rights, and of the freedom of the ]H'ess ; to oi>R<' I'V · economy in ptthl ic c• xprncli t urcs ; to liberate l h<• pu bl ic rcso urcrs by :111 honorable di scharge of the public tlcbts; to kt•cp with in the requisite limits n. standing mil itnry force, alwnys remembering thnt n.n armed n.ncl tl'ain ctl mili tia is the firmest bulwark of repnblieR; that without stnnding n1·mies their liberty can never be in tlnnger, nor, with l:u·ge ones, safe ; to promote, by nnt.h oriz •d mcnn s, improvements fri ndly to agri r nltu rc, to manufactures, and to external ns well os in t<'l'nnl commerce ; to fn.vo r, in like manner, the ncl vn ncement of scienrc and the di ffusion of i11 fo rmntion, us the best al iment to true liberty ; to rn rry on the benevolent plans which hnve l>rcu so meri to riously applied to the conversion of onr abor iginal neigh hors, from the cl ecrraduti on and wretchcclne ·s of savage life, to a participation of the improvements of which the hnmnn mind and manners are susceptible in n. eivi1izc<1 |
