前言:本站為你精心整理了Inaugural Address of Zachary Taylor范文,希望能為你的創(chuàng)作提供參考價(jià)值,我們的客服老師可以幫助你提供個(gè)性化的參考范文,歡迎咨詢。
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.