Second Inaugural Address of James Monroe

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Fellow-Citizens：

Ishallnotattempttodescribethegratefulemotionswhichthenewandverydistinguishedproofoftheconfidenceofmyfellow-citizens，evincedbymyreelectiontothishightrust，hasexcitedinmybosom.TheapprobationwhichitannouncesofmyconductintheprecedingtermaffordsmeaconsolationwhichIshallprofoundlyfeelthroughlife.Thegeneralaccordwithwhichithasbeenexpressedaddstothegreatandnever-ceasingobligationswhichitimposes.Tomeritthecontinuanceofthisgoodopinion，andtocarryitwithmeintomyretirementasthesolaceofadvancingyears，willbetheobjectofmymostzealousandunceasingefforts.

Havingnopretensionstothehighandcommandingclaimsofmypredecessors，whosenamesaresomuchmoreconspicuouslyidentifiedwithourRevolution，andwhocontributedsopreeminentlytopromoteitssuccess，IconsidermyselfratherastheinstrumentthanthecauseoftheunionwhichhasprevailedinthelateelectionInsurmounting，infavorofmyhumblepretensions，thedifficultieswhichsooftenproducedivisioninlikeoccurrences，itisobviousthatotherpowerfulcauses，indicatingthegreatstrengthandstabilityofourUnion，haveessentiallycontributedtodrawyoutogether.Thatthesepowerfulcausesexist，andthattheyarepermanent，ismyfixedopinion；thattheymayproducealikeaccordinallquestionstouching，howeverremotely，theliberty，prosperityandhappinessofourcountrywillalwaysbetheobjectofmymostferventprayerstotheSupremeAuthorofAllGood.

Inagovernmentwhichisfoundedbythepeople，whopossessexclusivelythesovereignty，itseemsproperthatthepersonwhomaybeplacedbytheirsuffragesinthishightrustshoulddeclareoncommencingitsdutiestheprinciplesonwhichheintendstoconducttheAdministration.Ifthepersonthuselectedhasservedtheprecedingterm，anopportunityisaffordedhimtoreviewitsprincipaloccurrencesandtogivesuchfurtherexplanationrespectingthemasinhisjudgmentmaybeusefultohisconstituents.Theeventsofoneyearhaveinfluenceonthoseofanother，and，inlikemanner，ofaprecedingonthesucceedingAdministration.Themovementsofagreatnationareconnectedinalltheirparts.Iferrorshavebeencommittedtheyoughttobecorrected；ifthepolicyissounditoughttobesupported.Itisbyathoroughknowledgeofthewholesubjectthatourfellow-citizensareenabledtojudgecorrectlyofthepastandtogiveaproperdirectiontothefuture.

JustbeforethecommencementofthelasttermtheUnitedStateshadconcludedawarwithaverypowerfulnationonconditionsequalandhonorabletobothparties.Theeventsofthatwararetoorecentandtoodeeplyimpressedonthememoryofalltorequireadevelopmentfromme.Ourcommercehadbeeninagreatmeasuredrivenfromthesea，ourAtlanticandinlandfrontierswereinvadedinalmosteverypart；thewasteoflifealongourcoastandonsomepartsofourinlandfrontiers，tothedefenseofwhichourgallantandpatrioticcitizenswerecalled，wasimmense，inadditiontowhichnotlessthan$120，000，000wereaddedatitsendtothepublicdebt.

Assoonasthewarhadterminated，thenation，admonishedbyitsevents，resolvedtoplaceitselfinasituationwhichshouldbebettercalculatedtopreventtherecurrenceofalikeevil，and，incaseitshouldrecur，tomitigateitscalamities.Withthisview，afterreducingourlandforcetothebasisofapeaceestablishment，whichhasbeenfurthermodifiedsince，provisionwasmadefortheconstructionoffortificationsatproperpointsthroughthewholeextentofourcoastandsuchanaugmentationofournavalforceasshouldbewelladaptedtobothpurposes.Thelawsmakingthisprovisionwerepassedin1815and1816，andithasbeensincetheconstanteffortoftheExecutivetocarrythemintoeffect.

Theadvantageofthesefortificationsandofanaugmentednavalforceintheextentcontemplated，inapointofeconomy，hasbeenfullyillustratedbyareportoftheBoardofEngineersandNavalCommissionerslatelycommunicatedtoCongress，bywhichitappearsthatinaninvasionby20，000men，withacorrespondentnavalforce，inacampaignofsixmonthsonly，thewholeexpenseoftheconstructionoftheworkswouldbedefrayedbythedifferenceinthesumnecessarytomaintaintheforcewhichwouldbeadequatetoourdefensewiththeaidofthoseworksandthatwhichwouldbeincurredwithoutthem.Thereasonofthisdifferenceisobvious.Iffortificationsarejudiciouslyplacedonourgreatinlets，asdistantfromourcitiesascircumstanceswillpermit，theywillformtheonlypointsofattack，andtheenemywillbedetainedtherebyasmallregularforceasufficienttimetoenableourmilitiatocollectandrepairtothatonwhichtheattackismade.Aforceadequatetotheenemy，collectedatthatsinglepoint，withsuitablepreparationforsuchothersasmightbemenaced，isallthatwouldberequisite.Butiftherewerenofortifications，thentheenemymightgowherehepleased，and，changinghispositionandsailingfromplacetoplace，ourforcemustbecalledoutandspreadinvastnumbersalongthewholecoastandonbothsidesofeverybayandriverashighupineachasitmightbenavigableforshipsofwar.Bythesefortifications，supportedbyourNavy，towhichtheywouldaffordlikesupport，weshouldpresenttootherpowersanarmedfrontfromSt.CroixtotheSabine，whichwouldprotectintheeventofwarourwholecoastandinteriorfrominvasion；andeveninthewarsofotherpowers，inwhichwewereneutral，theywouldbefoundeminentlyuseful，as，bykeepingtheirpublicshipsatadistancefromourcities，peaceandorderinthemwouldbepreservedandtheGovernmentbeprotectedfrominsult.

Itneedscarcelyberemarkedthatthesemeasureshavenotbeenresortedtoinaspiritofhostilitytootherpowers.Suchadispositiondoesnotexisttowardanypower.Peaceandgoodwillhavebeen，andwillhereafterbe，cultivatedwithall，andbythemostfaithfulregardtojustice.Theyhavebeendictatedbyaloveofpeace，ofeconomy，andanearnestdesiretosavethelivesofourfellow-citizensfromthatdestructionandourcountryfromthatdevastationwhichareinseparablefromwarwhenitfindsusunpreparedforit.Itisbelieved，andexperiencehasshown，thatsuchapreparationisthebestexpedientthatcanberesortedtopreventwar.Iaddwithmuchpleasurethatconsiderableprogresshasalreadybeenmadeinthesemeasuresofdefense，andthattheywillbecompletedinafewyears，consideringthegreatextentandimportanceoftheobject，iftheplanbezealouslyandsteadilyperseveredin.

TheconductoftheGovernmentinwhatrelatestoforeignpowersisalwaysanobjectofthehighestimportancetothenation.Itsagriculture，commerce，manufactures，fisheries，revenue，inshort，itspeace，mayallbeaffectedbyit.Attentionisthereforeduetothissubject.

AttheperiodadvertedtothepowersofEurope，afterhavingbeenengagedinlonganddestructivewarswitheachother，hadconcludedapeace，whichhappilystillexists.Ourpeacewiththepowerwithwhomwehadbeenengagedhadalsobeenconcluded.ThewarbetweenSpainandthecoloniesinSouthAmerica，whichhadcommencedmanyyearsbefore，wasthentheonlyconflictthatremainedunsettled.Thisbeingacontestbetweendifferentpartsofthesamecommunity，inwhichotherpowershadnotinterfered，wasnotaffectedbytheiraccommodations.

Thiscontestwasconsideredatanearlystagebymypredecessoracivilwarinwhichthepartieswereentitledtoequalrightsinourports.Thisdecision，thefirstmadebyanypower，beingformedongreatconsiderationofthecomparativestrengthandresourcesoftheparties，thelengthoftime，andsuccessfuloppositionmadebythecolonies，andofallothercircumstancesonwhichitoughttodepend，wasinstrictaccordwiththelawofnations.Congresshasinvariablyactedonthisprinciple，havingmadenochangeinourrelationswitheitherparty.Ourattitudehasthereforebeenthatofneutralitybetweenthem，whichhasbeenmaintainedbytheGovernmentwiththestrictestimpartiality.Noaidhasbeenaffordedtoeither，norhasanyprivilegebeenenjoyedbytheonewhichhasnotbeenequallyopentotheotherparty，andeveryexertionhasbeenmadeinitspowertoenforcetheexecutionofthelawsprohibitingillegalequipmentswithequalrigoragainstboth.

Bythisequalitybetweenthepartiestheirpublicvesselshavebeenreceivedinourportsonthesamefooting；theyhaveenjoyedanequalrighttopurchaseandexportarms，munitionsofwar，andeveryothersupply，theexportationofallarticleswhateverbeingpermittedunderlawswhichwerepassedlongbeforethecommencementofthecontest；ourcitizenshavetradedequallywithboth，andtheircommercewitheachhasbeenalikeprotectedbytheGovernment.

RespectingtheattitudewhichitmaybeproperfortheUnitedStatestomaintainhereafterbetweentheparties，Ihavenohesitationinstatingitasmyopinionthattheneutralityheretoforeobservedshouldstillbeadheredto.FromthechangeintheGovernmentofSpainandthenegotiationnowdepending，invitedbytheCortesandacceptedbythecolonies，itmaybepresumed，thattheirdifferenceswillbesettledonthetermsproposedbythecolonies.Shouldthewarbecontinued，theUnitedStates，regardingitsoccurrences，willalwayshaveitintheirpowertoadoptsuchmeasuresrespectingitastheirhonorandinterestmayrequire.

Shortlyafterthegeneralpeaceabandofadventurerstookadvantageofthisconflictandofthefacilitywhichitaffordedtoestablishasystemofbuccaneeringintheneighboringseas，tothegreatannoyanceofthecommerceoftheUnitedStates，and，aswasrepresented，ofthatofotherpowers.OfthisspiritandofitsinjuriousbearingontheUnitedStatesstrongproofswereaffordedbytheestablishmentatAmeliaIsland，andthepurposestowhichitwasmadeinstrumentalbythisbandin1817，andbytheoccurrenceswhichtookplaceinotherpartsofFloridain1818，thedetailsofwhichinbothinstancesaretoowellknowntorequiretobenowrecited.Iamsatisfiedhadalessdecisivecoursebeenadoptedthattheworstconsequenceswouldhaveresultedfromit.Wehaveseenthatthesechecks，decisiveastheywere，werenotsufficienttocrushthatpiraticalspirit.Manyculpritsbroughtwithinourlimitshavebeencondemnedtosufferdeath，thepunishmentduetothatatrociouscrime.Thedecisionsofuprightandenlightenedtribunalsfallequallyonallwhosecrimessubjectthem，byafairinterpretationofthelaw，toitscensure.ItbelongstotheExecutivenottosuffertheexecutionsunderthesedecisionstotranscendthegreatpurposeforwhichpunishmentisnecessary.Thefullbenefitofexamplebeingsecured，policyaswellashumanityequallyforbidsthattheyshouldbecarriedfurther.Ihaveactedonthisprinciple，pardoningthosewhoappeartohavebeenledastraybyignoranceofthecriminalityoftheactstheyhadcommitted，andsufferingthelawtotakeeffectonthoseonlyinwhosefavornoextenuatingcircumstancescouldbeurged.

GreatconfidenceisentertainedthatthelatetreatywithSpain，whichhasbeenratifiedbyboththeparties，andtheratificationswhereofhavebeenexchanged，hasplacedtherelationsofthetwocountriesonabasisofpermanentfriendship.TheprovisionmadebyitforsuchofourcitizensashaveclaimsonSpainofthecharacterdescribedwill，itispresumed，beverysatisfactorytothem，andtheboundarywhichisestablishedbetweentheterritoriesofthepartieswestwardoftheMississippi，heretoforeindispute，has，itisthought，beensettledonconditionsjustandadvantageoustoboth.ButtotheacquisitionofFloridatoomuchimportancecannotbeattached.ItsecurestotheUnitedStatesaterritoryimportantinitself，andwhoseimportanceismuchincreasedbyitsbearingonmanyofthehighestinterestsoftheUnion.ItopenstoseveraloftheneighboringStatesafreepassagetotheocean，throughtheProvinceceded，byseveralrivers，havingtheirsourceshighupwithintheirlimits.ItsecuresusagainstallfutureannoyancefrompowerfulIndiantribes.ItgivesusseveralexcellentharborsintheGulfofMexicoforshipsofwarofthelargestsize.ItcoversbyitspositionintheGulftheMississippiandothergreatwaterswithinourextendedlimits，andtherebyenablestheUnitedStatestoaffordcompleteprotectiontothevastandveryvaluableproductionsofourwholeWesterncountry，whichfindamarketthroughthosestreams.

ByatreatywiththeBritishGovernment，bearingdateonthe20thofOctober，1818，theconventionregulatingthecommercebetweentheUnitedStatesandGreatBritain，concludedonthe3dofJuly，1815，whichwasaboutexpiring，wasrevivedandcontinuedforthetermoftenyearsfromthetimeofitsexpiration.Bythattreaty，also，thedifferenceswhichhadarisenunderthetreatyofGhentrespectingtherightclaimedbytheUnitedStatesfortheircitizenstotakeandcurefishonthecoastofHisBritannicMajesty''''sdominionsinAmerica，withotherdifferencesonimportantinterests，wereadjustedtothesatisfactionofbothparties.NoagreementhasyetbeenenteredintorespectingthecommercebetweentheUnitedStatesandtheBritishdominionsintheWestIndiesandonthiscontinent.TherestraintsimposedonthatcommercebyGreatBritain，andreciprocatedbytheUnitedStatesonaprincipleofdefense，continuestillinforce.

ThenegotiationwithFrancefortheregulationofthecommercialrelationsbetweenthetwocountries，whichinthecourseofthelastsummerhadbeencommencedatParis，hassincebeentransferredtothiscity，andwillbepursuedonthepartoftheUnitedStatesinthespiritofconciliation，andwithanearnestdesirethatitmayterminateinanarrangementsatisfactorytobothparties.

OurrelationswiththeBarbaryPowersarepreservedinthesamestateandbythesamemeansthatwereemployedwhenIcameintothisoffice.Asearlyas1801itwasfoundnecessarytosendasquadronintotheMediterraneanfortheprotectionofourcommerceandnoperiodhasintervened，ashorttermexcepted，whenitwasthoughtadvisabletowithdrawit.ThegreatinterestswhichtheUnitedStateshaveinthePacific，incommerceandinthefisheries，havealsomadeitnecessarytomaintainanavalforcethereIndisposingofthisforceinbothinstancesthemosteffectualmeasuresinourpowerhavebeentaken，withoutinterferingwithitsotherduties，forthesuppressionoftheslavetradeandofpiracyintheneighboringseas.

ThesituationoftheUnitedStatesinregardtotheirresources，theextentoftheirrevenue，andthefacilitywithwhichitisraisedaffordsamostgratifyingspectacle.Thepaymentofnearly$67，000，000ofthepublicdebt，withthegreatprogressmadeinmeasuresofdefenseandinotherimprovementsofvariouskindssincethelatewar，areconclusiveproofsofthisextraordinaryprosperity，especiallywhenitisrecollectedthattheseexpenditureshavebeendefrayedwithoutaburthenonthepeople，thedirecttaxandexcisehavingbeenrepealedsoonaftertheconclusionofthelatewar，andtherevenueappliedtothesegreatobjectshavingbeenraisedinamannernottobefelt.Ourgreatresourcesthereforeremainuntouchedforanypurposewhichmayaffectthevitalinterestsofthenation.Forallsuchpurposestheyareinexhaustible.Theyaremoreespeciallytobefoundinthevirtue，patriotism，andintelligenceofourfellow-citizens，andinthedevotionwithwhichtheywouldyieldupbyanyjustmeasureoftaxationalltheirpropertyinsupportoftherightsandhonoroftheircountry.

Underthepresentdepressionofprices，affectingalltheproductionsofthecountryandeverybranchofindustry，proceedingfromcausesexplainedonaformeroccasion，therevenuehasconsiderablydiminished，theeffectofwhichhasbeentocompelCongresseithertoabandonthesegreatmeasuresofdefenseortoresorttoloansorinternaltaxestosupplythedeficiency.Onthepresumptionthatthisdepressionandthedeficiencyintherevenuearisingfromitwouldbetemporary，loanswereauthorizedforthedemandsofthelastandpresentyear.Anxioustorelievemyfellow-citizensin1817fromeveryburthenwhichcouldbedispensedwithandthestateoftheTreasurypermittingit，Irecommendedtherepealoftheinternaltaxes，knowingthatsuchreliefwasthenpeculiarlynecessaryinconsequenceofthegreatexertionsmadeinthelatewar.ImadethatrecommendationunderapledgethatshouldthepublicexigenciesrequirearecurrencetothematanytimewhileIremainedinthistrust，Iwouldwithequalpromptitudeperformthedutywhichwouldthenbealikeincumbentonme.BytheexperimentnowmakingitwillbeseenbythenextsessionofCongresswhethertherevenueshallhavebeensoaugmentedastobeadequatetoallthesenecessarypurposes.Shouldthedeficiencystillcontinue，andespeciallyshoulditbeprobablethatitwouldbepermanent，thecoursetobepursuedappearstometobeobvious.Iamsatisfiedthatundercertaincircumstancesloansmayberesortedtowithgreatadvantage.Iamequallywellsatisfied，asageneralrule，thatthedemandsofthecurrentyear，especiallyintimeofpeace，shouldbeprovidedforbytherevenueofthatyear.

Ihaveneverdreaded，norhaveIevershunned，inanysituationinwhichIhavebeenplacedmakingappealstothevirtueandpatriotismofmyfellow-citizens，wellknowingthattheycouldneverbemadeinvain，especiallyintimesofgreatemergencyorforpurposesofhighnationalimportance.Independentlyoftheexigencyofthecase，manyconsiderationsofgreatweighturgeapolicyhavinginviewaprovisionofrevenuetomeettoacertainextentthedemandsofthenation，withoutrelyingaltogetherontheprecariousresourceofforeigncommerce.Iamsatisfiedthatinternaldutiesandexcises，withcorrespondingimpostsonforeignarticlesofthesamekind，would，withoutimposinganyseriousburdensonthepeople，enhancethepriceofproduce，promoteourmanufactures，andaugmenttherevenue，atthesametimethattheymadeitmoresecureandpermanent.

ThecareoftheIndiantribeswithinourlimitshaslongbeenanessentialpartofoursystem，but，unfortunately，ithasnotbeenexecutedinamannertoaccomplishalltheobjectsintendedbyit.Wehavetreatedthemasindependentnations，withouttheirhavinganysubstantialpretensionstothatrank.Thedistinctionhasflatteredtheirpride，retardedtheirimprovement，andinmanyinstancespavedthewaytotheirdestruction.Theprogressofoursettlementswestward，supportedastheyarebyadensepopulation，hasconstantlydriventhemback，withalmostthetotalsacrificeofthelandswhichtheyhavebeencompelledtoabandon.Theyhaveclaimsonthemagnanimityand，Imayadd，onthejusticeofthisnationwhichwemustallfeel.Weshouldbecometheirrealbenefactors；weshouldperformtheofficeoftheirGreatFather，theendearingtitlewhichtheyemphaticallygivetotheChiefMagistrateofourUnion.Theirsovereigntyovervastterritoriesshouldcease，inlieuofwhichtherightofsoilshouldbesecuredtoeachindividualandhisposterityincompetentportions；andfortheterritorythuscededbyeachtribesomereasonableequivalentshouldbegranted，tobevestedinpermanentfundsforthesupportofcivilgovernmentoverthemandfortheeducationoftheirchildren，fortheirinstructionintheartsofhusbandry，andtoprovidesustenanceforthemuntiltheycouldprovideitforthemselves.MyearnesthopeisthatCongresswilldigestsomeplan，foundedontheseprinciples，withsuchimprovementsastheirwisdommaysuggest，andcarryitintoeffectassoonasitmaybepracticable.

Europeisagainunsettledandtheprospectofwarincreasing.Shouldtheflamelightupinanyquarter，howfaritmayextenditisimpossibletoforesee.Itisourpeculiarfelicitytobealtogetherunconnectedwiththecauseswhichproducethismenacingaspectelsewhere.Witheverypowerweareinperfectamity，anditisourinteresttoremainsoifitbepracticableonjustconditions.Iseenoreasonablecausetoapprehendvariancewithanypower，unlessitproceedfromaviolationofourmaritimerights.Inthesecontests，shouldtheyoccur，andtowhateverextenttheymaybecarried，weshallbeneutral；butasaneutralpowerwehaverightswhichitisourdutytomaintain.Forlikeinjuriesitwillbeincumbentonustoseekredressinaspiritofamity，infullconfidencethat，injuringnone，nonewouldknowinglyinjureus.Formoreimminentdangersweshouldbeprepared，anditshouldalwaysberecollectedthatsuchpreparationadaptedtothecircumstancesandsanctionedbythejudgmentandwishesofourconstituentscannotfailtohaveagoodeffectinavertingdangersofeverykind.Weshouldrecollectalsothattheseasonofpeaceisbestadaptedtothesepreparations.

Ifweturnourattention，fellow-citizens，moreimmediatelytotheinternalconcernsofourcountry，andmoreespeciallytothoseonwhichitsfuturewelfaredepends，wehaveeveryreasontoanticipatethehappiestresults.Itisnowrathermorethanforty-fouryearssincewedeclaredourindependence，andthirty-sevensinceitwasacknowledged.Thetalentsandvirtueswhichweredisplayedinthatgreatstrugglewereasurepresageofallthathassincefollowed.Apeoplewhowereabletosurmountintheirinfantstatesuchgreatperilswouldbemorecompetentastheyroseintomanhoodtorepelanywhichtheymightmeetintheirprogress.Theirphysicalstrengthwouldbemoreadequatetoforeigndanger，andthepracticeofself-government，aidedbythelightofexperience，couldnotfailtoproduceaneffectequallysalutaryonallthosequestionsconnectedwiththeinternalorganization.Thesefavorableanticipationshavebeenrealized.

Inourwholesystem，nationalandState，wehaveshunnedallthedefectswhichunceasinglypreyedonthevitalsanddestroyedtheancientRepublics.Inthemthereweredistinctorders，anobilityandapeople，orthepeoplegovernedinoneassembly.Thus，intheoneinstancetherewasaperpetualconflictbetweentheordersinsocietyfortheascendency，inwhichthevictoryofeitherterminatedintheoverthrowofthegovernmentandtheruinofthestate；intheother，inwhichthepeoplegovernedinabody，andwhosedominionsseldomexceededthedimensionsofacountyinoneofourStates，atumultuousanddisorderlymovementpermittedonlyatransitoryexistence.Inthisgreatnationthereisbutoneorder，thatofthepeople，whosepower，byapeculiarlyhappyimprovementoftherepresentativeprinciple，istransferredfromthem，withoutimpairingintheslightestdegreetheirsovereignty，tobodiesoftheirowncreation，andtopersonselectedbythemselves，inthefullextentnecessaryforallthepurposesoffree，enlightenedandefficientgovernment.Thewholesystemiselective，thecompletesovereigntybeinginthepeople，andeveryofficerineverydepartmentderivinghisauthorityfromandbeingresponsibletothemforhisconduct.

Ourcareerhascorrespondedwiththisgreatoutline.PerfectioninourorganizationcouldnothavebeenexpectedintheoutseteitherintheNationalorStateGovernmentsorintracingthelinebetweentheirrespectivepowers.Butnoseriousconflicthasarisen，noranycontestbutsuchasaremanagedbyargumentandbyafairappealtothegoodsenseofthepeople，andmanyofthedefectswhichexperiencehadclearlydemonstratedinbothGovernmentshavebeenremedied.Bysteadilypursuingthiscourseinthisspiritthereiseveryreasontobelievethatoursystemwillsoonattainthehighestdegreeofperfectionofwhichhumaninstitutionsarecapable，andthatthemovementinallitsbrancheswillexhibitsuchadegreeoforderandharmonyastocommandtheadmirationandrespectofthecivilizedworld.

Ourphysicalattainmentshavenotbeenlesseminent.Twenty-fiveyearsagotheriverMississippiwasshutupandourWesternbrethrenhadnooutletfortheircommerce.Whathasbeentheprogresssincethattime？TheriverhasnotonlybecomethepropertyoftheUnitedStatesfromitssourcetotheocean，withallitstributarystreams（withtheexceptionoftheupperpartoftheRedRiveronly），butLouisiana，withafairandliberalboundaryonthewesternsideandtheFloridasontheeastern，havebeencededtous.TheUnitedStatesnowenjoythecompleteanduninterruptedsovereigntyoverthewholeterritoryfromSt.CroixtotheSabine.NewStates，settledfromamongourselvesinthisandinotherparts，havebeenadmittedintoourUnioninequalparticipationinthenationalsovereigntywiththeoriginalStates.Ourpopulationhasaugmentedinanastonishingdegreeandextendedineverydirection.Wenow，fellow-citizens，comprisewithinourlimitsthedimensionsandfacultiesofagreatpowerunderaGovernmentpossessingalltheenergiesofanygovernmenteverknowntotheOldWorld，withanutterincapacitytooppressthepeople.

EnteringwiththeseviewstheofficewhichIhavejustsolemnlysworntoexecutewithfidelityandtotheutmostofmyability，IderivegreatsatisfactionfromaknowledgethatIshallbeassistedintheseveralDepartmentsbytheveryenlightenedanduprightcitizensfromwhomIhavereceivedsomuchaidintheprecedingterm.Withfullconfidenceinthecontinuanceofthatcandorandgenerousindulgencefrommyfellow-citizensatlargewhichIhaveheretoforeexperienced，andwithafirmrelianceontheprotectionofAlmightyGod，Ishallforthwithcommencethedutiesofthehightrusttowhichyouhavecalledme.