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Show 4.78 INAUGURAL ANJ)' FARJ~WELL ADDRESSES. the r mccly mn t nnd will lJe applied, if you determi ne upon iL. While I am thu endeavoring to press upon your attention the princi pl cs which I drem of vi tal im por tance in the flo. mc:·il ic coneerns of the country, I ourrht not to pa s 0\'C r, without uoticc, the import ant considerations which should g·ovcrn your policy towards foreign po wers. I t is Ull(]_ncsti onably, out· true interest to cul tiva te the most fri endly underl'llnnding with every nat ion, and to nvo icl, by every l10n orablc mean s, the calami tics of \Var; and we shall best attain this objeet l>y frankn cRs and . in ccri t.y in our foreign int er our.'c, by the prompt and faithful execution of treaties, fill(l by justice and impartiality in our conduct to all. But no nation, however des irous of peace, ca.u hope to escnpe occasion al colli ions wi th other powers ; and the soundest dictates of policy require that w should place oursclvcH in a condition to asse rt. out· rig hts, if a reso rt to Coree should ever l>ec·on1c nccessnry. Our local situation, Olll' long liuc of sen.-com;t, imlcntcd l>y nutHCrOIIS bays, with deep ri vers opeuing into t he in te ri or, a!:! well ns our extended and still inerr <lsing commerce, point to the navy as our na tural menus of defense. lL will, in the end, be found to Lc the cheapest nud most cfl'cctual; and uow is the tim e, iu a scuRon of peace, und with an overflowing revenue, that we cn.n, year aft r year, adu to its streng th, without increasing LlJC burdens of the people. It is your true policy. ] or your 11avy will not only protect your rich and fiouri ·hiug commerce in di~>tnnt seas, but will enable you to reach and anuoy the etlt tny, and will give to defcn e it g reatest effi ciency, l>y mecLing danger at a di tancc from home. It is i mpos~i blc, by any line of forLificalio ns, to g uanl every point from atlack ugninsL a hostile force ad vaneing from the ocean and sc1eeti11g its object; but they arc indispensable to protect eitie.· from bombardment, dock yards and uuval arsenals from destruction; to give shelter to merchant vessels in time of wur, nnCI. to singlo ships o t· wenkcr f;fl ll tt<lrons wlten pressed hy superior force. P ortificat ionH of thiH d .·cription cn.nnot bo too soon compl ctc<l and anllcd, nncl placed in a condi tion of the most pe rfect preparation. The al>un<lnnt means we now possess cn nnot be npplird in nny manner more usrful to the coun try ; and when this is do ne, and our twval force sullieiently strengthened, ntHl our mil itia armed, we need not fear th n.t n.uy nation will wanto nly insuH uR, or nccdlcsHiy provoke hosti li ties. We ::;hall 1no re cerLninly prcs<•rve pen<·c, when it is well uuderf-lLood llmt we nrc prepared for wal'. In presenting to yo u, my fcllow -citiz;cns, the.·c pul'ling co ut JHC IH, I lmve hl'ought hcfo l'c }'O il the leading principles upon wll i<·h I endeavo red lo admin iHter the govemmcnt in the high ofriee wiLh which you twice honorctl me. Knowing that the path of freedom is ·ontintt:tlly be ·et by enemies, who oft en n.Rsume the disg-uise of fri endH, I 1Htvo devoted the ]nHt h OIIl'S of my puhlie life f.o W:l.l'l1 )'011 Of tho dangers. ~rh e progrcHs of th<• United StateR, under our free and ll nppy in sti tutio ns, })[Is Hurpnsscd the moHt sanguine hopes of the fou nders of the rcpuhlie. Our a;rowlh ltas been rn.p icl beyond all form er example, in I IUJ I1 bers, in wealth, in kn ow ledge, and all the w;cful arts which contribute to the comforts and conv<•ni •nee: or man; and from the earliest ages of history to 1 he present clay, t here never have been thirteen millions of people associated in one political lJody, who enjoyed so much free<]om antl happiness as the peopl e of these Uni ted LatcH. You have no longer u.ny cau se to fen.r danget· from n.b ron.d ; you r strength and. power o.rc well kn own througho ut the civilizeu world, :~s w ll as the hi g-h and gallant l>cnrinp; of your sons. It JS from withi n, among yourselves, from cupidity, from conuption, from disappointed aml> ition, and inordi nnLc th irst for power, that factions will be formed, and libcl'ly enda ngered. It is against such designs, whatever disguise the actors may nswmc, that you have especially io guard yourselves. Yon |