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Second Inaugural Address of Andrew Jackson

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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.