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Inaugural Address of Zachary Taylor

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ElectedbytheAmericanpeopletothehighestofficeknowntoourlaws,IappearheretotaketheoathprescribedbytheConstitution,and,incompliancewithatime-honoredcustom,toaddressthosewhoarenowassembled.

TheconfidenceandrespectshownbymycountrymenincallingmetobetheChiefMagistrateofaRepublicholdingahighrankamongthenationsoftheearthhaveinspiredmewithfeelingsofthemostprofoundgratitude;butwhenIreflectthattheacceptanceoftheofficewhichtheirpartialityhasbestowedimposesthedischargeofthemostarduousdutiesandinvolvestheweightiestobligations,IamconsciousthatthepositionwhichIhavebeencalledtofill,thoughsufficienttosatisfytheloftiestambition,issurroundedbyfearfulresponsibilities.Happily,however,intheperformanceofmynewdutiesIshallnotbewithoutablecooperation.ThelegislativeandjudicialbranchesoftheGovernmentpresentprominentexamplesofdistinguishedcivilattainmentsandmaturedexperience,anditshallbemyendeavortocalltomyassistanceintheExecutiveDepartmentsindividualswhosetalents,integrity,andpurityofcharacterwillfurnishampleguarantiesforthefaithfulandhonorableperformanceofthetruststobecommittedtotheircharge.Withsuchaidsandanhonestpurposetodowhateverisright,Ihopetoexecutediligently,impartially,andforthebestinterestsofthecountrythemanifolddutiesdevolveduponme.

InthedischargeofthesedutiesmyguidewillbetheConstitution,whichIthisdayswearto“preserve,protect,anddefend.”FortheinterpretationofthatinstrumentIshalllooktothedecisionsofthejudicialtribunalsestablishedbyitsauthorityandtothepracticeoftheGovernmentundertheearlierPresidents,whohadsolargeashareinitsformation.TotheexampleofthoseillustriouspatriotsIshallalwaysdeferwithreverence,andespeciallytohisexamplewhowasbysomanytitles“theFatherofhisCountry.”

TocommandtheArmyandNavyoftheUnitedStates;withtheadviceandconsentoftheSenate,tomaketreatiesandtoappointambassadorsandotherofficers;togivetoCongressinformationofthestateoftheUnionandrecommendsuchmeasuresasheshalljudgetobenecessary;andtotakecarethatthelawsshallbefaithfullyexecuted——thesearethemostimportantfunctionsintrustedtothePresidentbytheConstitution,anditmaybeexpectedthatIshallbrieflyindicatetheprincipleswhichwillcontrolmeintheirexecution.

ChosenbythebodyofthepeopleundertheassurancethatmyAdministrationwouldbedevotedtothewelfareofthewholecountry,andnottothesupportofanyparticularsectionormerelylocalinterest,IthisdayrenewthedeclarationsIhaveheretoforemadeandproclaimmyfixeddeterminationtomaintaintotheextentofmyabilitytheGovernmentinitsoriginalpurityandtoadoptasthebasisofmypublicpolicythosegreatrepublicandoctrineswhichconstitutethestrengthofournationalexistence.

InreferencetotheArmyandNavy,latelyemployedwithsomuchdistinctiononactiveservice,careshallbetakentoinsurethehighestconditionofefficiency,andinfurtheranceofthatobjectthemilitaryandnavalschools,sustainedbytheliberalityofCongress,shallreceivethespecialattentionoftheExecutive.

AsAmericanfreemenwecannotbutsympathizeinalleffortstoextendtheblessingsofcivilandpoliticalliberty,butatthesametimewearewarnedbytheadmonitionsofhistoryandthevoiceofourownbelovedWashingtontoabstainfromentanglingallianceswithforeignnations.Inalldisputesbetweenconflictinggovernmentsitisourinterestnotlessthanourdutytoremainstrictlyneutral,whileourgeographicalposition,thegeniusofourinstitutionsandourpeople,theadvancingspiritofcivilization,and,aboveall,thedictatesofreligiondirectustothecultivationofpeacefulandfriendlyrelationswithallotherpowers.Itistobehopedthatnointernationalquestioncannowarisewhichagovernmentconfidentinitsownstrengthandresolvedtoprotectitsownjustrightsmaynotsettlebywisenegotiation;anditeminentlybecomesagovernmentlikeourown,foundedonthemoralityandintelligenceofitscitizensandupheldbytheiraffections,toexhausteveryresortofhonorablediplomacybeforeappealingtoarms.IntheconductofourforeignrelationsIshallconformtotheseviews,asIbelievethemessentialtothebestinterestsandthetruehonorofthecountry.

TheappointingpowervestedinthePresidentimposesdelicateandonerousduties.Sofarasitispossibletobeinformed,Ishallmakehonesty,capacity,andfidelityindispensableprerequisitestothebestowalofoffice,andtheabsenceofeitherofthesequalitiesshallbedeemedsufficientcauseforremoval.

ItshallbemystudytorecommendsuchconstitutionalmeasurestoCongressasmaybenecessaryandpropertosecureencouragementandprotectiontothegreatinterestsofagriculture,commerce,andmanufactures,toimproveourriversandharbors,toprovideforthespeedyextinguishmentofthepublicdebt,toenforceastrictaccountabilityonthepartofallofficersoftheGovernmentandtheutmosteconomyinallpublicexpenditures;butitisforthewisdomofCongressitself,inwhichalllegislativepowersarevestedbytheConstitution,toregulatetheseandothermattersofdomesticpolicy.IshalllookwithconfidencetotheenlightenedpatriotismofthatbodytoadoptsuchmeasuresofconciliationasmayharmonizeconflictinginterestsandtendtoperpetuatethatUnionwhichshouldbetheparamountobjectofourhopesandaffections.InanyactioncalculatedtopromoteanobjectsoneartheheartofeveryonewhotrulyloveshiscountryIwillzealouslyunitewiththecoordinatebranchesoftheGovernment.

InconclusionIcongratulateyou,myfellow-citizens,uponthehighstateofprosperitytowhichthegoodnessofDivineProvidencehasconductedourcommoncountry.Letusinvokeacontinuanceofthesameprotectingcarewhichhasledusfromsmallbeginningstotheeminencewethisdayoccupy,andletusseektodeservethatcontinuancebyprudenceandmoderationinourcouncils,bywell-directedattemptstoassuagethebitternesswhichtoooftenmarksunavoidabledifferencesofopinion,bythepromulgationandpracticeofjustandliberalprinciples,andbyanenlargedpatriotism,whichshallacknowledgenolimitsbutthoseofourownwidespreadRepublic.

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