Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the United States. 1989. Andrew Jackson: First Inaugural Address.

Andrew Jackson

First Inaugural Address

Wednesday, March 4, 1829

The election of Andrew Jackson was heralded as a new pagein the history of the Republic. The first military leader elected Presidentsince George Washington, he was much admired by the electorate, who cameto Washington to celebrate "Old Hickory's" inauguration. OutgoingPresident Adams did not join in the ceremony, which was held for the firsttime on the East Portico of the Capitol building. Chief Justice John Marshalladministered the oath of office. After the proceedings at the Capitol, alarge group of citizens walked with the new President along PennsylvaniaAvenue to the White House, and many of them visited the executive mansionthat day and evening. Such large numbers of people arrived that many ofthe furnishings were ruined. President Jackson left the building by a windowto avoid the crush of people.

Fellow-Citizens:
  ABOUT to undertake the arduous dutiesthat I have been appointed to perform by the choice of a free people, Iavail myself of this customary and solemn occasion to express the gratitudewhich their confidence inspires and to acknowledge the accountability whichmy situation enjoins. While the magnitude of their interests convinces methat no thanks can be adequate to the honor they have conferred, it admonishesme that the best return I can make is the zealous dedication of my humbleabilities to their service and their good.
1
  As the instrument of the Federal Constitution it will devolveon me for a stated period to execute the laws of the United States, to superintendtheir foreign and their confederate relations, to manage their revenue,to command their forces, and, by communications to the Legislature, to watchover and to promote their interests generally. And the principles of actionby which I shall endeavor to accomplish this circle of duties it is nowproper for me briefly to explain. 2
  In administering the laws of Congress I shall keep steadilyin view the limitations as well as the extent of the Executive power, trustingthereby to discharge the functions of my office without transcending itsauthority. With foreign nations it will be my study to preserve peace andto cultivate friendship on fair and honorable terms, and in the adjustmentof any differences that may exist or arise to exhibit the forbearance becominga powerful nation rather than the sensibility belonging to a gallant people. 3
  In such measures as I may be called on to pursue in regard tothe rights of the separate States I hope to be animated by a proper respectfor those sovereign members of our Union, taking care not to confound thepowers they have reserved to themselves with those they have granted tothe Confederacy. 4
  The management of the public revenue—that searching operationin all governments—is among the most delicate and important trustsin ours, and it will, of course, demand no inconsiderable share of my officialsolicitude. Under every aspect in which it can be considered it would appearthat advantage must result from the observance of a strict and faithfuleconomy. This I shall aim at the more anxiously both because it will facilitatethe extinguishment of the national debt, the unnecessary duration of whichis incompatible with real independence, and because it will counteract thattendency to public and private profligacy which a profuse expenditure ofmoney by the Government is but too apt to engender. Powerful auxiliariesto the attainment of this desirable end are to be found in the regulationsprovided by the wisdom of Congress for the specific appropriation of publicmoney and the prompt accountability of public officers. 5
  With regard to a proper selection of the subjects of impostwith a view to revenue, it would seem to me that the spirit of equity, caution,and compromise in which the Constitution was formed requires that the greatinterests of agriculture, commerce, and manufactures should be equally favored,and that perhaps the only exception to this rule should consist in the peculiarencouragement of any products of either of them that may be found essentialto our national independence. 6
  Internal improvement and the diffusion of knowledge, so faras they can be promoted by the constitutional acts of the Federal Government,are of high importance. 7
  Considering standing armies as dangerous to free governmentsin time of peace, I shall not seek to enlarge our present establishment,nor disregard that salutary lesson of political experience which teachesthat the military should be held subordinate to the civil power. The gradualincrease of our Navy, whose flag has displayed in distant climes our skillin navigation and our fame in arms; the preservation of our forts, arsenals,and dockyards, and the introduction of progressive improvements in the disciplineand science of both branches of our military service are so plainly prescribedby prudence that I should be excused for omitting their mention sooner thanfor enlarging on their importance. But the bulwark of our defense is thenational militia, which in the present state of our intelligence and populationmust render us invincible. As long as our Government is administered forthe good of the people, and is regulated by their will; as long as it securesto us the rights of person and of property, liberty of conscience and ofthe press, it will be worth defending; and so long as it is worth defendinga patriotic militia will cover it with an impenetrable aegis. Partial injuriesand occasional mortifications we may be subjected to, but a million of armedfreemen, possessed of the means of war, can never be conquered by a foreignfoe. To any just system, therefore, calculated to strengthen this naturalsafeguard of the country I shall cheerfully lend all the aid in my power. 8
  It will be my sincere and constant desire to observe towardthe Indian tribes within our limits a just and liberal policy, and to givethat humane and considerate attention to their rights and their wants whichis consistent with the habits of our Government and the feelings of ourpeople. 9
  The recent demonstration of public sentiment inscribes on thelist of Executive duties, in characters too legible to be overlooked, thetask of reform, which will require particularly the correction ofthose abuses that have brought the patronage of the Federal Government intoconflict with the freedom of elections, and the counteraction of those causeswhich have disturbed the rightful course of appointment and have placedor continued power in unfaithful or incompetent hands. 10
  In the performance of a task thus generally delineated I shallendeavor to select men whose diligence and talents will insure in theirrespective stations able and faithful cooperation, depending for the advancementof the public service more on the integrity and zeal of the public officersthan on their numbers. 11
  A diffidence, perhaps too just, in my own qualifications willteach me to look with reverence to the examples of public virtue left bymy illustrious predecessors, and with veneration to the lights that flowfrom the mind that founded and the mind that reformed our system. The samediffidence induces me to hope for instruction and aid from the coordinatebranches of the Government, and for the indulgence and support of my fellow-citizensgenerally. And a firm reliance on the goodness of that Power whose providencemercifully protected our national infancy, and has since upheld our libertiesin various vicissitudes, encourages me to offer up my ardent supplicationsthat He will continue to make our beloved country the object of His divinecare and gracious benediction. 12

Inaugural Addressesof the Presidents of the United States. 1989.

Fellow-Citizens: ABOUT to undertake the arduous dutiesthat I have been appointed to perform by the choice of a free people, Iavail myself of this customary and solemn occasion to express the gratitudewhich their confidence inspires and to acknowledge the accountability whichmy situation enjoins. While the magnitude of their interests convinces methat no thanks can be adequate to the honor they have conferred, it admonishesme that the best return I can make is the zealous dedication of my humbleabilities to their service and their good.	1
As the instrument of the Federal Constitution it will devolveon me for a stated period to execute the laws of the United States, to superintendtheir foreign and their confederate relations, to manage their revenue,to command their forces, and, by communications to the Legislature, to watchover and to promote their interests generally. And the principles of actionby which I shall endeavor to accomplish this circle of duties it is nowproper for me briefly to explain.	2
In administering the laws of Congress I shall keep steadilyin view the limitations as well as the extent of the Executive power, trustingthereby to discharge the functions of my office without transcending itsauthority. With foreign nations it will be my study to preserve peace andto cultivate friendship on fair and honorable terms, and in the adjustmentof any differences that may exist or arise to exhibit the forbearance becominga powerful nation rather than the sensibility belonging to a gallant people.	3
In such measures as I may be called on to pursue in regard tothe rights of the separate States I hope to be animated by a proper respectfor those sovereign members of our Union, taking care not to confound thepowers they have reserved to themselves with those they have granted tothe Confederacy.	4
The management of the public revenue—that searching operationin all governments—is among the most delicate and important trustsin ours, and it will, of course, demand no inconsiderable share of my officialsolicitude. Under every aspect in which it can be considered it would appearthat advantage must result from the observance of a strict and faithfuleconomy. This I shall aim at the more anxiously both because it will facilitatethe extinguishment of the national debt, the unnecessary duration of whichis incompatible with real independence, and because it will counteract thattendency to public and private profligacy which a profuse expenditure ofmoney by the Government is but too apt to engender. Powerful auxiliariesto the attainment of this desirable end are to be found in the regulationsprovided by the wisdom of Congress for the specific appropriation of publicmoney and the prompt accountability of public officers.	5
With regard to a proper selection of the subjects of impostwith a view to revenue, it would seem to me that the spirit of equity, caution,and compromise in which the Constitution was formed requires that the greatinterests of agriculture, commerce, and manufactures should be equally favored,and that perhaps the only exception to this rule should consist in the peculiarencouragement of any products of either of them that may be found essentialto our national independence.	6
Internal improvement and the diffusion of knowledge, so faras they can be promoted by the constitutional acts of the Federal Government,are of high importance.	7
Considering standing armies as dangerous to free governmentsin time of peace, I shall not seek to enlarge our present establishment,nor disregard that salutary lesson of political experience which teachesthat the military should be held subordinate to the civil power. The gradualincrease of our Navy, whose flag has displayed in distant climes our skillin navigation and our fame in arms; the preservation of our forts, arsenals,and dockyards, and the introduction of progressive improvements in the disciplineand science of both branches of our military service are so plainly prescribedby prudence that I should be excused for omitting their mention sooner thanfor enlarging on their importance. But the bulwark of our defense is thenational militia, which in the present state of our intelligence and populationmust render us invincible. As long as our Government is administered forthe good of the people, and is regulated by their will; as long as it securesto us the rights of person and of property, liberty of conscience and ofthe press, it will be worth defending; and so long as it is worth defendinga patriotic militia will cover it with an impenetrable aegis. Partial injuriesand occasional mortifications we may be subjected to, but a million of armedfreemen, possessed of the means of war, can never be conquered by a foreignfoe. To any just system, therefore, calculated to strengthen this naturalsafeguard of the country I shall cheerfully lend all the aid in my power.	8
It will be my sincere and constant desire to observe towardthe Indian tribes within our limits a just and liberal policy, and to givethat humane and considerate attention to their rights and their wants whichis consistent with the habits of our Government and the feelings of ourpeople.	9
The recent demonstration of public sentiment inscribes on thelist of Executive duties, in characters too legible to be overlooked, thetask of reform, which will require particularly the correction ofthose abuses that have brought the patronage of the Federal Government intoconflict with the freedom of elections, and the counteraction of those causeswhich have disturbed the rightful course of appointment and have placedor continued power in unfaithful or incompetent hands.	10
In the performance of a task thus generally delineated I shallendeavor to select men whose diligence and talents will insure in theirrespective stations able and faithful cooperation, depending for the advancementof the public service more on the integrity and zeal of the public officersthan on their numbers.	11
A diffidence, perhaps too just, in my own qualifications willteach me to look with reverence to the examples of public virtue left bymy illustrious predecessors, and with veneration to the lights that flowfrom the mind that founded and the mind that reformed our system. The samediffidence induces me to hope for instruction and aid from the coordinatebranches of the Government, and for the indulgence and support of my fellow-citizensgenerally. And a firm reliance on the goodness of that Power whose providencemercifully protected our national infancy, and has since upheld our libertiesin various vicissitudes, encourages me to offer up my ardent supplicationsthat He will continue to make our beloved country the object of His divinecare and gracious benediction.	12