前言:本站为你精心整理了Second Inaugural Address of Andrew Jackson范文,希望能为你的创作提供参考价值,我们的客服老师可以帮助你提供个性化的参考范文,欢迎咨询。
ThewilloftheAmericanpeople,expressedthroughtheirunsolicitedsuffrages,callsmebeforeyoutopassthroughthesolemnitiespreparatorytotakinguponmyselfthedutiesofPresidentoftheUnitedStatesforanotherterm.Fortheirapprobationofmypublicconductthroughaperiodwhichhasnotbeenwithoutitsdifficulties,andforthisrenewedexpressionoftheirconfidenceinmygoodintentions,Iamatalossfortermsadequatetotheexpressionofmygratitude.ItshallbedisplayedtotheextentofmyhumbleabilitiesincontinuedeffortssotoadministertheGovernmentastopreservetheirlibertyandpromotetheirhappiness.
Somanyeventshaveoccurredwithinthelastfouryearswhichhavenecessarilycalledforth——sometimesundercircumstancesthemostdelicateandpainful——myviewsoftheprinciplesandpolicywhichoughttobepursuedbytheGeneralGovernmentthatIneedonthisoccasionbutalludetoafewleadingconsiderationsconnectedwithsomeofthem.
TheforeignpolicyadoptedbyourGovernmentsoonaftertheformationofourpresentConstitution,andverygenerallypursuedbysuccessiveAdministrations,hasbeencrownedwithalmostcompletesuccess,andhaselevatedourcharacteramongthenationsoftheearth.TodojusticetoallandtosubmittowrongfromnonehasbeenduringmyAdministrationitsgoverningmaxim,andsohappyhavebeenitsresultsthatwearenotonlyatpeacewithalltheworld,buthavefewcausesofcontroversy,andthoseofminorimportance,remainingunadjusted.
InthedomesticpolicyofthisGovernmenttherearetwoobjectswhichespeciallydeservetheattentionofthepeopleandtheirrepresentatives,andwhichhavebeenandwillcontinuetobethesubjectsofmyincreasingsolicitude.TheyarethepreservationoftherightsoftheseveralStatesandtheintegrityoftheUnion.
Thesegreatobjectsarenecessarilyconnected,andcanonlybeattainedbyanenlightenedexerciseofthepowersofeachwithinitsappropriatesphereinconformitywiththepublicwillconstitutionallyexpressed.TothisenditbecomesthedutyofalltoyieldareadyandpatrioticsubmissiontothelawsconstitutionallyenactedandtherebypromoteandstrengthenaproperconfidenceinthoseinstitutionsoftheseveralStatesandoftheUnitedStateswhichthepeoplethemselveshaveordainedfortheirowngovernment.
Myexperienceinpublicconcernsandtheobservationofalifesomewhatadvancedconfirmtheopinionslongsinceimbibedbyme,thatthedestructionofourStategovernmentsortheannihilationoftheircontroloverthelocalconcernsofthepeoplewouldleaddirectlytorevolutionandanarchy,andfinallytodespotismandmilitarydomination.Inproportion,therefore,astheGeneralGovernmentencroachesupontherightsoftheStates,inthesameproportiondoesitimpairitsownpoweranddetractfromitsabilitytofulfillthepurposesofitscreation.Solemnlyimpressedwiththeseconsiderations,mycountrymenwilleverfindmereadytoexercisemyconstitutionalpowersinarrestingmeasureswhichmaydirectlyorindirectlyencroachupontherightsoftheStatesortendtoconsolidateallpoliticalpowerintheGeneralGovernment.Butofequaland,indeedofincalculable,importanceistheunionoftheseStates,andthesacreddutyofalltocontributetoitspreservationbyaliberalsupportoftheGeneralGovernmentintheexerciseofitsjustpowers.Youhavebeenwiselyadmonishedto“accustomyourselvestothinkandspeakoftheUnionasofthepalladiumofyourpoliticalsafetyandprosperity,watchingforitspreservationwithJealousanxiety,discountenancingwhatevermaysuggestevenasuspicionthatitcaninanyeventbeabandoned,andindignantlyfrowninguponthefirstdawningofanyattempttoalienateanyportionofourcountryfromtherestortoenfeeblethesacredtieswhichnowlinktogetherthevariousparts.”Withoutunionourindependenceandlibertywouldneverhavebeenachieved;withoutuniontheynevercanbemaintained.Dividedintotwenty-four,orevenasmallernumber,ofseparatecommunities,weshallseeourinternaltradeburdenedwithnumberlessrestraintsandexactions;communicationbetweendistantpointsandsectionsobstructedorcutoff;oursonsmadesoldierstodelugewithbloodthefieldstheynowtillinpeace;themassofourpeoplebornedownandimpoverishedbytaxestosupportarmiesandnavies,andmilitaryleadersattheheadoftheirvictoriouslegionsbecomingourlawgiversandjudges.Thelossofliberty,ofallgoodgovernment,ofpeace,plenty,andhappiness,mustinevitablyfollowadissolutionoftheUnion.Insupportingit,therefore,wesupportallthatisdeartothefreemanandthephilanthropist.
ThetimeatwhichIstandbeforeyouisfullofinterest.TheeyesofallnationsarefixedonourRepublic.Theeventoftheexistingcrisiswillbedecisiveintheopinionofmankindofthepracticabilityofourfederalsystemofgovernment.Greatisthestakeplacedinourhands;greatistheresponsibilitywhichmustrestuponthepeopleoftheUnitedStates.Letusrealizetheimportanceoftheattitudeinwhichwestandbeforetheworld.Letusexerciseforbearanceandfirmness.Letusextricateourcountryfromthedangerswhichsurrounditandlearnwisdomfromthelessonstheyinculcate.
Deeplyimpressedwiththetruthoftheseobservations,andundertheobligationofthatsolemnoathwhichIamabouttotake,IshallcontinuetoexertallmyfacultiestomaintainthejustpowersoftheConstitutionandtotransmitunimpairedtoposteritytheblessingsofourFederalUnion.Atthesametime,itwillbemyaimtoinculcatebymyofficialactsthenecessityofexercisingbytheGeneralGovernmentthosepowersonlythatareclearlydelegated;toencouragesimplicityandeconomyintheexpendituresoftheGovernment;toraisenomoremoneyfromthepeoplethanmayberequisitefortheseobjects,andinamannerthatwillbestpromotetheinterestsofallclassesofthecommunityandofallportionsoftheUnion.Constantlybearinginmindthatinenteringintosociety“individualsmustgiveupashareoflibertytopreservetherest,”itwillbemydesiresotodischargemydutiesastofosterwithourbrethreninallpartsofthecountryaspiritofliberalconcessionandcompromise,and,byreconcilingourfellow-citizenstothosepartialsacrificeswhichtheymustunavoidablymakeforthepreservationofagreatergood,torecommendourinvaluableGovernmentandUniontotheconfidenceandaffectionsoftheAmericanpeople.
Finally,itismymostferventprayertothatAlmightyBeingbeforewhomInowstand,andwhohaskeptusinHishandsfromtheinfancyofourRepublictothepresentday,thatHewillsooverruleallmyintentionsandactionsandinspiretheheartsofmyfellow-citizensthatwemaybepreservedfromdangersofallkindsandcontinueforeveraunitedandhappypeople.