美国总统演讲之James Monroe.docx

美国总统演讲之James Monroe.docx

《美国总统演讲之James Monroe.docx》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《美国总统演讲之James Monroe.docx（18页珍藏版）》请在冰豆网上搜索。

美国总统演讲之JamesMonroe

FirstInauguralAddressofJamesMonroe

TUESDAY,MARCH4,1817

IshouldbedestituteoffeelingifIwasnotdeeplyaffectedbythestrongproofwhichmyfellow-citizenshavegivenmeoftheirconfidenceincallingmetothehighofficewhosefunctionsIamabouttoassume.Astheexpressionoftheirgoodopinionofmyconductinthepublicservice,Iderivefromitagratificationwhichthosewhoareconsciousofhavingdoneallthattheycouldtomerititcanalonefeel.MYsensibilityisincreasedbyajustestimateoftheimportanceofthetrustandofthenatureandextentofitsduties,withtheproperdischargeofwhichthehighestinterestsofagreatandfreepeopleareintimatelyconnected.Consciousofmyowndeficiency,Icannotenteronthesedutieswithoutgreatanxietyfortheresult.FromajustresponsibilityIwillnevershrink,calculatingwithconfidencethatinmybesteffortstopromotethepublicwelfaremymotiveswillalwaysbedulyappreciatedandmyconductbeviewedwiththatcandorandindulgencewhichIhaveexperiencedinotherstations.

IncommencingthedutiesofthechiefexecutiveofficeithasbeenthepracticeofthedistinguishedmenwhohavegonebeforemetoexplaintheprincipleswhichwouldgovernthemintheirrespectiveAdministrations.InfollowingtheirveneratedexamplemyattentionisnaturallydrawntothegreatcauseswhichhavecontributedinaprincipaldegreetoproducethepresenthappyconditionoftheUnitedStates.Theywillbestexplainthenatureofourdutiesandshedmuchlightonthepolicywhichoughttobepursuedinfuture.

FromthecommencementofourRevolutiontothepresentdayalmostfortyyearshaveelapsed,andfromtheestablishmentofthisConstitutiontwenty-eight.ThroughthiswholetermtheGovernmenthasbeenwhatmayemphaticallybecalledself-government.Andwhathasbeentheeffect?

Towhateverobjectweturnourattention,whetheritrelatestoourforeignordomesticconcerns,wefindabundantcausetofelicitateourselvesintheexcellenceofourinstitutions.DuringaperiodfraughtwithdifficultiesandmarkedbyveryextraordinaryeventstheUnitedStateshaveflourishedbeyondexample.Theircitizensindividuallyhavebeenhappyandthenationprosperous.

UnderthisConstitutionourcommercehasbeenwiselyregulatedwithforeignnationsandbetweentheStates;newStateshavebeenadmittedintoourUnion;ourterritoryhasbeenenlargedbyfairandhonorabletreaty,andwithgreatadvantagetotheoriginalStates;theStates,respectivelyprotectedbytheNationalGovernmentunderamild,parentalsystemagainstforeigndangers,andenjoyingwithintheirseparatespheres,byawisepartitionofpower,ajustproportionofthesovereignty,haveimprovedtheirpolice,extendedtheirsettlements,andattainedastrengthandmaturitywhicharethebestproofsofwholesomelawswelladministered.Andifwelooktotheconditionofindividualswhataproudspectacledoesitexhibit!

OnwhomhasoppressionfalleninanyquarterofourUnion?

Whohasbeendeprivedofanyrightofpersonorproperty?

WhorestrainedfromofferinghisvowsinthemodewhichhepreferstotheDivineAuthorofhisbeing?

Itiswellknownthatalltheseblessingshavebeenenjoyedintheirfullestextent;andIaddwithpeculiarsatisfactionthattherehasbeennoexampleofacapitalpunishmentbeinginflictedonanyoneforthecrimeofhightreason.

SomewhomightadmitthecompetencyofourGovernmenttothesebeneficentdutiesmightdoubtitintrialswhichputtothetestitsstrengthandefficiencyasamemberofthegreatcommunityofnations.Heretooexperiencehasaffordedusthemostsatisfactoryproofinitsfavor.JustasthisConstitutionwasputintoactionseveraloftheprincipalStatesofEuropehadbecomemuchagitatedandsomeofthemseriouslyconvulsed.Destructivewarsensued,whichhaveoflateonlybeenterminated.InthecourseoftheseconflictstheUnitedStatesreceivedgreatinjuryfromseveraloftheparties.Itwastheirinteresttostandalooffromthecontest,todemandjusticefromthepartycommittingtheinjury,andtocultivatebyafairandhonorableconductthefriendshipofall.Warbecameatlengthinevitable,andtheresulthasshownthatourGovernmentisequaltothat,thegreatestoftrials,underthemostunfavorablecircumstances.OfthevirtueofthepeopleandoftheheroicexploitsoftheArmy,theNavy,andthemilitiaIneednotspeak.

Such,then,isthehappyGovernmentunderwhichwelive--aGovernmentadequatetoeverypurposeforwhichthesocialcompactisformed;aGovernmentelectiveinallitsbranches,underwhicheverycitizenmaybyhismeritobtainthehighesttrustrecognizedbytheConstitution;whichcontainswithinitnocauseofdiscord,nonetoputatvarianceoneportionofthecommunitywithanother;aGovernmentwhichprotectseverycitizeninthefullenjoymentofhisrights,andisabletoprotectthenationagainstinjusticefromforeignpowers.

OtherconsiderationsofthehighestimportanceadmonishustocherishourUnionandtoclingtotheGovernmentwhichsupportsit.Fortunateasweareinourpoliticalinstitutions,wehavenotbeenlesssoinothercircumstancesonwhichourprosperityandhappinessessentiallydepend.Situatedwithinthetemperatezone,andextendingthroughmanydegreesoflatitudealongtheAtlantic,theUnitedStatesenjoyallthevarietiesofclimate,andeveryproductionincidenttothatportionoftheglobe.PenetratinginternallytotheGreatLakesandbeyondthesourcesofthegreatriverswhichcommunicatethroughourwholeinterior,nocountrywaseverhappierwithrespecttoitsdomain.Blessed,too,withafertilesoil,ourproducehasalwaysbeenveryabundant,leaving,eveninyearstheleastfavorable,asurplusforthewantsofourfellow-meninothercountries.SuchisourpeculiarfelicitythatthereisnotapartofourUnionthatisnotparticularlyinterestedinpreservingit.Thegreatagriculturalinterestofthenationprospersunderitsprotection.Localinterestsarenotlessfosteredbyit.Ourfellow-citizensoftheNorthengagedinnavigationfindgreatencouragementinbeingmadethefavoredcarriersofthevastproductionsoftheotherportionsoftheUnitedStates,whiletheinhabitantsoftheseareamplyrecompensed,intheirturn,bythenurseryforseamenandnavalforcethusformedandrearedupforthesupportofourcommonrights.Ourmanufacturesfindagenerousencouragementbythepolicywhichpatronizesdomesticindustry,andthesurplusofourproduceasteadyandprofitablemarketbylocalwantsinless-favoredpartsathome.

Such,then,beingthehighlyfavoredconditionofourcountry,itistheinterestofeverycitizentomaintainit.Whatarethedangerswhichmenaceus?

Ifanyexisttheyoughttobeascertainedandguardedagainst.

Inexplainingmysentimentsonthissubjectitmaybeasked,Whatraisedustothepresenthappystate?

HowdidweaccomplishtheRevolution?

HowremedythedefectsofthefirstinstrumentofourUnion,byinfusingintotheNationalGovernmentsufficientpowerfornationalpurposes,withoutimpairingthejustrightsoftheStatesoraffectingthoseofindividuals?

Howsustainandpasswithglorythroughthelatewar?

TheGovernmenthasbeeninthehandsofthepeople.Tothepeople,therefore,andtothefaithfulandabledepositariesoftheirtrustisthecreditdue.HadtheeopleoftheUnitedStatesbeeneducatedindifferentprincipleshadtheybeenlessintelligent,lessindependent,orlessvirtuouscanitbebelievedthatweshouldhavemaintainedthesamesteadyandconsistentcareerorbeenblessedwiththesamesuccess?

While,then,theconstituentbodyretainsitspresentsoundandhealthfulstateeverythingwillbesafe.Theywillchoosecompetentandfaithfulrepresentativesforeverydepartment.Itisonlywhenthepeoplebecomeignorantandcorrupt,whentheydegenerateintoapopulace,thattheyareincapableofexercisingthesovereignty.Usurpationisthenaneasyattainment,andanusurpersoonfound.Thepeoplethemselvesbecomethewillinginstrumentsoftheirowndebasementandruin.Letus,then,looktothegreatcause,andendeavortopreserveitinfullforce.Letusbyallwiseandconstitutionalmeasurespromoteintelligenceamongthepeopleasthebestmeansofpreservingourliberties.

Dangersfromabroadarenotlessdeservingofattention.Experiencingthefortuneofothernations,theUnitedStatesmaybeagaininvolvedinwar,anditmayinthateventbetheobjectoftheadversepartytooversetourGovernment,tobreakourUnion,anddemolishusasanation.OurdistancefromEuropeandthejust,moderate,andpacificpolicyofourGovernmentmayformsomesecurityagainstthesedangers,buttheyoughttobeanticipatedandguardedagainst.Manyofourcitizensareengagedincommerceandnavigation,andallofthemareinacertaindegreedependentontheirprosperousstate.Manyareengagedinthefisheries.Theseinterestsareexposedtoinvasioninthewarsbetweenotherpowers,andweshoulddisregardthefaithfuladmonitionofexperienceifwedidnotexpectit.Wemustsupportourrightsorloseourcharacter,andwithit,perhaps,ourliberties.Apeoplewhofailtodoitcanscarcelybesaidtoholdaplaceamongindependentnations.Nationalhonorisnationalpropertyofthehighestvalue.Thesentimentinthemindofeverycitizenisnationalstrength.Itoughtthereforetobecherished.

Tosecureusagainstthesedangersourcoastandinlandfrontiersshouldbefortified,ourArmyandNavy,regulateduponjustprinciplesastotheforceofeach,bekeptinperfectorder,andourmilitiabeplacedonthebestpracticablefooting.Toputourextensivecoastinsuchastateofdefenseas