Inaugural Address of Martin Van Buren

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Fellow-Citizens：ThepracticeofallmypredecessorsimposesonmeanobligationIcheerfullyfulfill——toaccompanythefirstandsolemnactofmypublictrustwithanavowaloftheprinciplesthatwillguidemeinperformingitandanexpressionofmyfeelingsonassumingachargesoresponsibleandvast.InimitatingtheirexampleItreadinthefootstepsofillustriousmen，whosesuperiorsitisourhappinesstobelievearenotfoundontheexecutivecalendarofanycountry.AmongthemwerecognizetheearliestandfirmestpillarsoftheRepublic——thosebywhomournationalindependencewasfirstdeclared，himwhoaboveallotherscontributedtoestablishitonthefieldofbattle，andthosewhoseexpandedintellectandpatriotismconstructed，improved，andperfectedtheinestimableinstitutionsunderwhichwelive.IfsuchmeninthepositionInowoccupyfeltthemselvesoverwhelmedbyasenseofgratitudeforthisthehighestofallmarksoftheircountry''''sconfidence，andbyaconsciousnessoftheirinabilityadequatelytodischargethedutiesofanofficesodifficultandexalted，howmuchmoremusttheseconsiderationsaffectonewhocanrelyonnosuchclaimsforfavororforbearance！Unlikeallwhohaveprecededme，theRevolutionthatgaveusexistenceasonepeoplewasachievedattheperiodofmybirth；andwhilstIcontemplatewithgratefulreverencethatmemorableevent，IfeelthatIbelongtoalaterageandthatImaynotexpectmycountrymentoweighmyactionswiththesamekindandpartialhand.

Sosensibly，fellow-citizens，dothesecircumstancespressthemselvesuponmethatIshouldnotdaretoenteruponmypathofdutydidInotlookforthegenerousaidofthosewhowillbeassociatedwithmeinthevariousandcoordinatebranchesoftheGovernment；didInotreposewithunwaveringrelianceonthepatriotism，theintelligence，andthekindnessofapeoplewhoneveryetdesertedapublicservanthonestlylaboringtheircause；and，aboveall，didInotpermitmyselfhumblytohopeforthesustainingsupportofanever-watchfulandbeneficentProvidence.

Totheconfidenceandconsolationderivedfromthesesourcesitwouldbeungratefulnottoaddthosewhichspringfromourpresentfortunatecondition.Thoughnotaltogetherexemptfromembarrassmentsthatdisturbourtranquillityathomeandthreatenitabroad，yetinalltheattributesofagreat，happy，andflourishingpeoplewestandwithoutaparallelintheworld.Abroadweenjoytherespectand，withscarcelyanexception，thefriendshipofeverynation；athome，whileourGovernmentquietlybutefficientlyperformsthesolelegitimateendofpoliticalinstitutions——indoingthegreatestgoodtothegreatestnumber——wepresentanaggregateofhumanprosperitysurelynotelsewheretobefound.

Howimperious，then，istheobligationimposeduponeverycitizen，inhisownsphereofaction，whetherlimitedorextended，toexerthimselfinperpetuatingaconditionofthingssosingularlyhappy！Allthelessonsofhistoryandexperiencemustbelostuponusifwearecontenttotrustalonetothepeculiaradvantageswehappentopossess.Positionandclimateandthebounteousresourcesthatnaturehasscatteredwithsoliberalahand——eventhediffusedintelligenceandelevatedcharacterofourpeople——willavailusnothingifwefailsacredlytoupholdthosepoliticalinstitutionsthatwerewiselyanddeliberatelyformedwithreferencetoeverycircumstancethatcouldpreserveormightendangertheblessingsweenjoy.ThethoughtfulframersofourConstitutionlegislatedforourcountryastheyfoundit.Lookinguponitwiththeeyesofstatesmenandpatriots，theysawallthesourcesofrapidandwonderfulprosperity；buttheysawalsothatvarioushabits，opinionsandinstitutionspeculiartothevariousportionsofsovastaregionweredeeplyfixed.Distinctsovereigntieswereinactualexistence，whosecordialunionwasessentialtothewelfareandhappinessofall.Betweenmanyofthemtherewas，atleasttosomeextent，arealdiversityofinterests，liabletobeexaggeratedthroughsinisterdesigns；theydifferedinsize，inpopulation，inwealth，andinactualandprospectiveresourcesandpower；theyvariedinthecharacteroftheirindustryandstapleproductions，and[insome]existeddomesticinstitutionswhich，unwiselydisturbed，mightendangertheharmonyofthewhole.Mostcarefullywereallthesecircumstancesweighed，andthefoundationsofthenewGovernmentlaiduponprinciplesofreciprocalconcessionandequitablecompromise.ThejealousieswhichthesmallerStatesmightentertainofthepoweroftherestwereallayedbyaruleofrepresentationconfessedlyunequalatthetime，anddesignedforevertoremainso.AnaturalfearthatthebroadscopeofgenerallegislationmightbearuponandunwiselycontrolparticularinterestswascounteractedbylimitsstrictlydrawnaroundtheactionoftheFederalauthority，andtothepeopleandtheStateswasleftunimpairedtheirsovereignpowerovertheinnumerablesubjectsembracedintheinternalgovernmentofajustrepublic，exceptingsuchonlyasnecessarilyappertaintotheconcernsofthewholeconfederacyoritsintercourseasaunitedcommunitywiththeothernationsoftheworld.

Thisprovidentforecasthasbeenverifiedbytime.Halfacentury，teemingwithextraordinaryevents，andelsewhereproducingastonishingresults，haspassedalong，butonourinstitutionsithasleftnoinjuriousmark.Fromasmallcommunitywehaverisentoapeoplepowerfulinnumbersandinstrength；butwithourincreasehasgonehandinhandtheprogressofjustprinciples.Theprivileges，civilandreligious，ofthehumblestindividualarestillsacredlyprotectedathome，andwhilethevalorandfortitudeofourpeoplehaveremovedfarfromustheslightestapprehensionofforeignpower，theyhavenotyetinducedusinasingleinstancetoforgetwhatisright.Ourcommercehasbeenextendedtotheremotestnations；thevalueandevennatureofourproductionshavebeengreatlychanged；awidedifferencehasarisenintherelativewealthandresourcesofeveryportionofourcountry；yetthespiritofmutualregardandoffaithfuladherencetoexistingcompactshascontinuedtoprevailinourcouncilsandneverlongbeenabsentfromourconduct.Wehavelearnedbyexperienceafruitfullesson——thatanimplicitandundeviatingadherencetotheprinciplesonwhichwesetoutcancarryusprosperouslyonwardthroughalltheconflictsofcircumstancesandvicissitudesinseparablefromthelapseofyears.

Thesuccessthathasthusattendedourgreatexperimentisinitselfasufficientcauseforgratitude，onaccountofthehappinessithasactuallyconferredandtheexampleithasunanswerablygivenButtome，myfellow-citizens，lookingforwardtothefar-distantfuturewithardentprayersandconfidinghopes，thisretrospectpresentsagroundforstilldeeperdelight.Itimpressesonmymindafirmbeliefthattheperpetuityofourinstitutionsdependsuponourselves；thatifwemaintaintheprinciplesonwhichtheywereestablishedtheyaredestinedtoconfertheirbenefitsoncountlessgenerationsyettocome，andthatAmericawillpresenttoeveryfriendofmankindthecheeringproofthatapopulargovernment，wiselyformed，iswantinginnoelementofenduranceorstrength.Fiftyyearsagoitsrapidfailurewasboldlypredicted.Latentanduncontrollablecausesofdissolutionweresupposedtoexistevenbythewiseandgood，andnotonlydidunfriendlyorspeculativetheoristsanticipateforusthefateofpastrepublics，butthefearsofmanyanhonestpatriotoverbalancedhissanguinehopes.Lookbackontheseforebodings，nothastilybutreluctantlymade，andseehowineveryinstancetheyhavecompletelyfailed.

AnimperfectexperienceduringthestrugglesoftheRevolutionwassupposedtowarrantthebeliefthatthepeoplewouldnotbearthetaxationrequisitetodischargeanimmensepublicdebtalreadyincurredandtopaythenecessaryexpensesoftheGovernmentThecostoftwowarshasbeenpaid，notonlywithoutamurmur；butwithunequaledalacrity.Nooneisnowlefttodoubtthateveryburdenwillbecheerfullybornethatmaybenecessarytosustainourcivilinstitutionsorguardourhonororwelfare.Indeed，allexperiencehasshownthatthewillingnessofthepeopletocontributetotheseendsincasesofemergencyhasuniformlyoutruntheconfidenceoftheirrepresentatives.

IntheearlystagesofthenewGovernment，whenallfelttheimposinginfluenceastheyrecognizedtheunequaledservicesofthefirstPresident，itwasacommonsentimentthatthegreatweightofhischaractercouldalonebindthediscordantmaterialsofourGovernmenttogetherandsaveusfromtheviolenceofcontendingfactions.Sincehisdeathnearlyfortyyearsaregone.Partyexasperationhasbeenoftencarriedtoitshighestpoint；thevirtueandfortitudeofthepeoplehavesometimesbeengreatlytried；yetoursystem，purifiedandenhancedinvaluebyallithasencountered，stillpreservesitsspiritoffreeandfearlessdiscussion，blendedwithunimpairedfraternalfeeling.

Thecapacityofthepeopleforself-government，andtheirwillingness，fromahighsenseofdutyandwithoutthoseexhibitionsofcoercivepowersogenerallyemployedinothercountries，tosubmittoallneedfulrestraintsandexactionsofmunicipallaw，havealsobeenfavorablyexemplifiedinthehistoryoftheAmericanStates.Occasionally，itistrue，theardorofpublicsentiment，outrunningtheregularprogressofthejudicialtribunalsorseekingtoreachcasesnotdenouncedascriminalbytheexistinglaw，hasdisplayeditselfinamannercalculatedtogivepaintothefriendsoffreegovernmentandtoencouragethehopesofthosewhowishforitsoverthrow.Theseoccurrences，however，havebeenfarlessfrequentinourcountrythaninanyotherofequalpopulationontheglobe，andwiththediffusionofintelligenceitmaywellbehopedthattheywillconstantlydiminishinfrequencyandviolence.Thegenerouspatriotismandsoundcommonsenseofthegreatmassofourfellow-citizenswillassuredlyintimeproducethisresult；foraseveryassumptionofillegalpowernotonlywoundsthemajestyofthelaw，butfurnishesapretextforabridgingthelibertiesofthepeople，thelatterhavethemostdirectandpermanentinterestinpreservingthelandmarksofsocialorderandmaintainingonalloccasionstheinviolabilityofthoseconstitutionalandlegalprovisionswhichtheythemselveshavemade.

Inasupposedunfitnessofourinstitutionsforthosehostileemergencieswhichnocountrycanalwaysavoidtheirfriendsfoundafruitfulsourceofapprehension，theirenemiesofhope.Whiletheyforesawlesspromptnessofactionthaningovernmentsdifferentlyformed，theyoverlookedthefarmoreimportantconsiderationthatwithuswarcouldneverbetheresultofindividualorirresponsiblewill，butmustbeameasureofredressforinjuriessustainedvoluntarilyresortedtobythosewhoweretobearthenecessarysacrifice，whowouldconsequentlyfeelanindividualinterestinthecontest，andwhoseenergywouldbecommensuratewiththedifficultiestobeencountered.Actualeventshaveprovedtheirerror；thelastwar，farfromimpairing，gavenewconfidencetoourGovernment，andamidrecentapprehensionsofasimilarconflictwesawthattheenergiesofourcountrywouldnotbewantinginampleseasontovindicateitsrights.Wemaynotpossess，asweshouldnotdesiretopossess，theextendedandever-readymilitaryorganizationofothernations；wemayoccasionallysufferintheoutsetforthewantofit；butamongourselvesalldoubtuponthisgreatpointhasceased，whileasalutaryexperiencewillpreventacontraryopinionfrominvitingaggressionfromabroad.

Certaindangerwasforetoldfromtheextensionofourterritory，themultiplicationofStates，andtheincreaseofpopulation.Oursystemwassupposedtobeadaptedonlytoboundariescomparativelynarrow.Thesehavebeenwidenedbeyondconjecture；themembersofourConfederacyarealreadydoubled，andthenumbersofourpeopleareincrediblyaugmented.Theallegedcausesofdangerhavelongsurpassedanticipation，butnoneoftheconsequenceshavefollowed.ThepowerandinfluenceoftheRepublichavearisentoaheightobvioustoallmankind；respectforitsauthoritywasnotmoreapparentatitsancientthanitisatitspresentlimits；newandinexhaustiblesourcesofgeneralprosperityhavebeenopened；theeffectsofdistancehavebeenavertedbytheinventivegeniusofourpeople，developedandfosteredbythespiritofourinstitutions；andtheenlargedvarietyandamountofinterests，productions，andpursuitshavestrengthenedthechainofmutualdependenceandformedacircleofmutualbenefitstooapparentevertobeoverlooked.

InjustlybalancingthepowersoftheFederalandStateauthoritiesdifficultiesnearlyinsurmountablearoseattheoutsetandsubsequentcollisionsweredeemedinevitable.Amidtheseitwasscarcelybelievedpossiblethataschemeofgovernmentsocomplexinconstructioncouldremainuninjured.Fromtimetotimeembarrassmentshavecertainlyoccurred；buthowjustistheconfidenceoffuturesafetyimpartedbytheknowledgethateachinsuccessionhasbeenhappilyremoved！Overlookingpartialandtemporaryevilsasinseparablefromthepracticaloperationofallhumaninstitutions，andlookingonlytothegeneralresult，everypatriothasreasontobesatisfied.WhiletheFederalGovernmenthassuccessfullyperformeditsappropriatefunctionsinrelationtoforeignaffairsandconcernsevidentlynational，thatofeveryStatehasremarkablyimprovedinprotectinganddevelopinglocalinterestsandindividualwelfare；andifthevibrationsofauthorityhaveoccasionallytendedtoomuchtowardoneortheother，itisunquestionablycertainthattheultimateoperationoftheentiresystemhasbeentostrengthenalltheexistinginstitutionsandtoelevateourwholecountryinprosperityandrenown.

Thelast，perhapsthegreatest，oftheprominentsourcesofdiscordanddisastersupposedtolurkinourpoliticalconditionwastheinstitutionofdomesticslavery.Ourforefathersweredeeplyimpressedwiththedelicacyofthissubject，andtheytreateditwithaforbearancesoevidentlywisethatinspiteofeverysinisterforebodingitneveruntilthepresentperioddisturbedthetranquillityofourcommoncountry.Sucharesultissufficientevidenceofthejusticeandthepatriotismoftheircourse；itisevidencenottobemistakenthatanadherencetoitcanpreventallembarrassmentfromthisaswellasfromeveryotheranticipatedcauseofdifficultyordanger.Havenotrecenteventsmadeitobvioustotheslightestreflectionthattheleastdeviationfromthisspiritofforbearanceisinjurioustoeveryinterest，thatofhumanityincluded？Amidsttheviolenceofexcitedpassionsthisgenerousandfraternalfeelinghasbeensometimesdisregarded；andstandingasInowdobeforemycountrymen，inthishighplaceofhonorandoftrust，Icannotrefrainfromanxiouslyinvokingmyfellow-citizensnevertobedeaftoitsdictates.Perceivingbeforemyelectionthedeepinterestthissubjectwasbeginningtoexcite，Ibelieveditasolemndutyfullytomakeknownmysentimentsinregardtoit，andnow，wheneverymotiveformisrepresentationhaspassedaway，Itrustthattheywillbecandidlyweighedandunderstood.Atleasttheywillbemystandardofconductinthepathbeforeme.Ithendeclaredthatifthedesireofthoseofmycountrymenwhowerefavorabletomyelectionwasgratified“ImustgointothePresidentialchairtheinflexibleanduncompromisingopponentofeveryattemptonthepartofCongresstoabolishslaveryintheDistrictofColumbiaagainstthewishesoftheslaveholdingStates，andalsowithadeterminationequallydecidedtoresisttheslightestinterferencewithitintheStateswhereitexists.”Isubmittedalsotomyfellow-citizens，withfullnessandfrankness，thereasonswhichledmetothisdetermination.TheresultauthorizesmetobelievethattheyhavebeenapprovedandareconfidedinbyamajorityofthepeopleoftheUnitedStates，includingthosewhomtheymostimmediatelyaffectItnowonlyremainstoaddthatnobillconflictingwiththeseviewscaneverreceivemyconstitutionalsanction.TheseopinionshavebeenadoptedinthefirmbeliefthattheyareinaccordancewiththespiritthatactuatedtheveneratedfathersoftheRepublic，andthatsucceedingexperiencehasprovedthemtobehumane，patriotic，expedient，honorable，andjust.Iftheagitationofthissubjectwasintendedtoreachthestabilityofourinstitutions，enoughhasoccurredtoshowthatithassignallyfailed，andthatinthisasineveryotherinstancetheapprehensionsofthetimidandthehopesofthewickedforthedestructionofourGovernmentareagaindestinedtobedisappointed.Hereandthere，indeed，scenesofdangerousexcitementhaveoccurred，terrifyinginstancesoflocalviolencehavebeenwitnessed，andarecklessdisregardoftheconsequencesoftheirconducthasexposedindividualstopopularindignation；butneithermassesofthepeoplenorsectionsofthecountryhavebeenswervedfromtheirdevotiontothebondofunionandtheprinciplesithasmadesacred.Itwillbeeverthus.Suchattemptsatdangerousagitationmayperiodicallyreturn，butwitheachtheobjectwillbebetterunderstood.Thatpredominatingaffectionforourpoliticalsystemwhichprevailsthroughoutourterritoriallimits，thatcalmandenlightenedjudgmentwhichultimatelygovernsourpeopleasonevastbody，willalwaysbeathandtoresistandcontroleveryeffort，foreignordomestic，whichaimsorwouldleadtooverthrowourinstitutions.

Whatcanbemoregratifyingthansucharetrospectasthis？Welookbackonobstaclesavoidedanddangersovercome，onexpectationsmorethanrealizedandprosperityperfectlysecured.Tothehopesofthehostile，thefearsofthetimid，andthedoubtsoftheanxiousactualexperiencehasgiventheconclusivereply.WehaveseentimegraduallydispeleveryunfavorableforebodingandourConstitutionsurmounteveryadversecircumstancedreadedattheoutsetasbeyondcontrol.Presentexcitementwillatalltimesmagnifypresentdangers，buttruephilosophymustteachusthatnonemorethreateningthanthepastcanremaintobeovercome；andweought（forwehavejustreason）toentertainanabidingconfidenceinthestabilityofourinstitutionsandanentireconvictionthatifadministeredinthetrueform，character，andspiritinwhichtheywereestablishedtheyareabundantlyadequatetopreservetousandourchildrentherichblessingsalreadyderivedfromthem，tomakeourbelovedlandforathousandgenerationsthatchosenspotwherehappinessspringsfromaperfectequalityofpoliticalrights.

Formyself，therefore，IdesiretodeclarethattheprinciplethatwillgovernmeinthehighdutytowhichmycountrycallsmeisastrictadherencetotheletterandspiritoftheConstitutionasitwasdesignedbythosewhoframedit.Lookingbacktoitasasacredinstrumentcarefullyandnoteasilyframed；rememberingthatitwasthroughoutaworkofconcessionandcompromise；viewingitaslimitedtonationalobjects；regardingitasleavingtothepeopleandtheStatesallpowernotexplicitlypartedwith，Ishallendeavortopreserve，protect，anddefenditbyanxiouslyreferringtoitsprovisionfordirectionineveryaction.TomattersofdomesticconcernmentwhichithasintrustedtotheFederalGovernmentandtosuchasrelatetoourintercoursewithforeignnationsIshallzealouslydevotemyself；beyondthoselimitsIshallneverpass.

Toenteronthisoccasionintoafurtherormoreminuteexpositionofmyviewsonthevariousquestionsofdomesticpolicywouldbeasobtrusiveasitisprobablyunexpected.BeforethesuffragesofmycountrymenwereconferreduponmeIsubmittedtothem，withgreatprecision，myopinionsonallthemostprominentofthesesubjects.ThoseopinionsIshallendeavortocarryoutwithmyutmostability.

OurcourseofforeignpolicyhasbeensouniformandintelligibleastoconstitutearuleofExecutiveconductwhichleaveslittletomydiscretion，unless，indeed，Iwerewillingtoruncountertothelightsofexperienceandtheknownopinionsofmyconstituents.WesedulouslycultivatethefriendshipofallnationsastheconditionsmostcompatiblewithourwelfareandtheprinciplesofourGovernment.Wedeclinealliancesasadversetoourpeace.Wedesirecommercialrelationsonequalterms，beingeverwillingtogiveafairequivalentforadvantagesreceived.Weendeavortoconductourintercoursewithopennessandsincerity，promptlyavowingourobjectsandseekingtoestablishthatmutualfranknesswhichisasbeneficialinthedealingsofnationsasofmen.Wehavenodispositionandwedisclaimallrighttomeddleindisputes，whetherinternalorforeign，thatmaymolestothercountries，regardingthemintheiractualstateassocialcommunities，andpreservingastrictneutralityinalltheircontroversies.Wellknowingthetriedvalorofourpeopleandourexhaustlessresources，weneitheranticipatenorfearanydesignedaggression；andintheconsciousnessofourownjustconductwefeelasecuritythatweshallneverbecalledupontoexertourdeterminationnevertopermitaninvasionofourrightswithoutpunishmentorredress.

Inapproaching，then，inthepresenceofmyassembledcountrymen，tomakethesolemnpromisethatyetremains，andtopledgemyselfthatIwillfaithfullyexecutetheofficeIamabouttofill，Ibringwithmeasettledpurposetomaintaintheinstitutionsofmycountry，whichItrustwillatonefortheerrorsIcommit.

Inreceivingfromthepeoplethesacredtrusttwiceconfidedtomyillustriouspredecessor，andwhichhehasdischargedsofaithfullyandsowell，IknowthatIcannotexpecttoperformthearduoustaskwithequalabilityandsuccess.ButunitedasIhavebeeninhiscounsels，adailywitnessofhisexclusiveandunsurpasseddevotiontohiscountry''''swelfare，agreeingwithhiminsentimentswhichhiscountrymenhavewarmlysupported，andpermittedtopartakelargelyofhisconfidence，Imayhopethatsomewhatofthesamecheeringapprobationwillbefoundtoattenduponmypath.ForhimIbutexpresswithmyownthewishesofall，thathemayyetlonglivetoenjoythebrillianteveningofhiswell-spentlife；andformyself，consciousofbutonedesire，faithfullytoservemycountry，Ithrowmyselfwithoutfearonitsjusticeanditskindness.

BeyondthatIonlylooktothegraciousprotectionoftheDivineBeingwhosestrengtheningsupportIhumblysolicit，andwhomIferventlypraytolookdownuponusall.MayitbeamongthedispensationsofHisprovidencetoblessourbelovedcountrywithhonorsandwithlengthofdays.Mayherwaysbewaysofpleasantnessandallherpathsbepeace！