Unwilling to depart from examples of the most revered
authority, I avail myself of the occasion now presented, to
express the profound impression made on me by the call of my
country to the station, to the duties of which I am about to
pledge myself by the most solemn of sanctions. So distinguished
a mark of confidence, proceeding from the deliberate and
tranquil suffrage of a free and virtuous nation, would, under
any circumstances, have commanded my gratitude and devotion,
as well as filled me with an awful sense of the trust to be
assumed. Under the various circumstances which give peculiar
solemnity to the existing period, I feel that both the honor
and the responsibility allotted to me are inexpressibly
enhanced.
The present situation of the world is, indeed, without a
parallel, and that of our own country full of difficulties. The
pressure of these, too, is the more severely felt, because they
have fallen upon us at a moment when the national prosperity
being at a height not before attained, the contrast, resulting
from the change, has been rendered the more striking. Under
the benign influence of our Republican institutions, and the
maintenance of peace with all nations, whilst so many of them
were engaged in bloody and wasteful wars, the fruits of a just
policy were enjoyed in an unrivalled growth of our faculties
and resources. Proofs of this were seen in the improvements
of agriculture; in the successful enterprises of commerce; in
the progress of manufactures and useful arts; in the increase
of the public revenue, and the use made of it in reducing the
public debt; and in the valuable works and establishments every
where multiplying over the face of our land.
It is a precious reflection that the transition from this
prosperous condition of our country, to the scene which has
for some time been distressing us, is not chargeable on any
unwarrantable views, nor, as I trust, on any involuntary errors
in the public councils. Indulging no passions which trespass
on the rights or the repose of other nations, it has been the
true glory of the United States to cultivate peace by observing
justice; and to entitle themselves to the respect of the
nations at war, by fulfilling their neutral obligations with
the most scrupulous impartiality. If there be candor in the
world, the truth of these assertions will not be questioned;
posterity, at least, will do justice to them.
This unexceptionable course could not avail against the
injustice and violence of the belligerent powers. In their
rage against each other, or impelled by more direct motives,
principles of retaliation have been introduced, equally
contrary to universal reason and acknowledged law. How long
their arbitrary edicts will be continued, in spite of the
demonstrations that not even a pretext for them has been given
by the United States, and of the fair and liberal attempt to
induce a revocation of them, cannot be anticipated. Assuring
myself, that, under every vicissitude, the determined spirit
and united councils of the nation will be safeguards to its
honor and its essential interests, I repair to the post
assigned me with no other discouragement than what springs from
my own inadequacy to its high duties. If I do not sink under
the weight of this deep conviction, it is because I find some
support in a consciousness of the purposes, and a confidence in
the principles which I bring with me into this arduous service.
To cherish peace and friendly intercourse with all nations
having correspondent dispositions; to maintain sincere
neutrality towards belligerent nations; to prefer, in all
cases, amicable discussion and reasonable accommodation of
differences, to a decision of them by an appeal to arms;
to exclude foreign intrigues and foreign partialities, so
degrading to all countries, and so baneful to free ones; to
foster a spirit of independence, too just to invade the rights
of others, too proud to surrender our own, too liberal to
indulge unworthy prejudices ourselves, and too elevated not
to look down upon them in others; to hold the union of the
States as the basis of their peace and happiness; to support
the constitution, which is the cement of the Union, as well in
its limitations as in its authorities; to respect the rights
and authorities reserved to the States and to the people, as
equally incorporated with, and essential to the success of, the
general system; to avoid the slightest interference with the
rights of conscience or the functions of religion, so wisely
exempted from civil jurisdiction; to preserve, in their full
energy, the other salutary provisions in behalf of private
and personal rights, and of the freedom of the press; to
observe economy in public expenditures; to liberate the public
resources by an honorable discharge of the public debts; to
keep within the requisite limits a standing military force,
always remembering that an armed and trained militia is the
firmest bulwark of Republics; that without standing armies
their liberty can never be in danger, nor with large ones
safe; to promote, by authorized means, improvements friendly
to agriculture, to manufactures, and to external as well as
internal commerce; to favor, in like manner, the advancement
of science and the diffusion of information, as the best
aliment to true liberty; to carry on the benevolent plans which
have been so meritoriously applied to the conversion of our
aboriginal neighbors from the degradation and wretchedness of
savage life, to a participation of the improvements of which
the human mind and manners are susceptible in a civilized
state;--as far as sentiments and intentions such as these can
aid the fulfilment of my duty, they will be a resource which
cannot fail me.
It is my good fortune, moreover, to have the path in which
I am to tread lighted by examples of illustrious services,
successfully rendered in the most trying difficulties, by
those who have marched before me. Of those of my immediate
predecessor it might least become me here to speak. I may,
however, be pardoned for not suppressing the sympathy with
which my heart is full, in the rich reward he enjoys in the
benedictions of a beloved country, gratefully bestowed for
exalted talents, zealously devoted, through a long career, to
the advancement of its highest interest and happiness.
But the source to which I look for the aids which alone can
supply my deficiencies, is in the well-tried intelligence and
virtue of my fellow-citizens, and in the counsels of those
representing them in the other departments associated in the
care of the national interests. In these my confidence will,
under every difficulty, be best placed, next to that which
we have all been encouraged to feel in the guardianship and
guidance of that Almighty Being whose power regulates the
destiny of nations, whose blessings have been so conspicuously
dispensed to this rising Republic, and to whom we are bound
to address our devout gratitude for the past, as well as our
fervent supplications and best hopes for the future.
After which, the oath prescribed by law was administered to the
_President of the United States_, by the Chief Justice.
The President of the United States then retired, and the Senate
repaired to their own chamber.
_Ordered_, That Messrs. ANDERSON and BAYARD be a committee to wait on
the President of the United States, and notify him that the Senate are
ready to receive any communications that he may be pleased to make to
them.
MONDAY, March 6.
FRANCIS MALBONE, appointed a Senator by the Legislature of the State of
Rhode Island, for six years, commencing on the 4th instant, attended,
and produced his credentials, which were read.
The credentials of RICHARD BRENT, appointed a Senator by the
Legislature of the State of Virginia, for six years, commencing on the
4th instant, were read.
The oath required by law was administered to Messrs. BRENT and MALBONE,
respectively.
On motion, by Mr. ROBINSON,
_Resolved_, That the Secretary of the Senate be authorized to pay,
out of the contingent fund of this House, to George Thomas, Walter
Reynolds, and Tobias Simpson, the sum of fifty dollars each, in
addition to their annual compensation.
Mr. ANDERSON reported, from the committee, that they had waited on the
President of the United States, who informed them that he should this
day make a communication to the Senate.
Soon after, a communication was received from the President of the
United States, submitting sundry nominations to office, which were
mostly confirmed.
TUESDAY, March 7.
_Adjournment._
After the consideration of Executive business, Messrs. BAYARD and
REED were appointed a committee to wait on the President of the
United States, and notify him that, unless he may have any further
communications to make to them, the Senate are ready to adjourn.
Mr. BAYARD reported, from the committee, that they had waited upon
the President of the United States, who informed them that he had no
further communications to make to them. Whereupon,
The Senate adjourned without day.