Newspapers / The Wilmington Gazette (Wilmington, … / March 23, 1797, edition 1 / Page 5
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HAL Ls WILMINGTON GAZETTE Extra. THUR S D AY, MARCH W ' " K 3, I797 Vol PHILADELPHIA, March An account of the inauguration of our new rreuuent ana vice-rreuaent, witutivir Speeches on the oceafion as follow : PRESIDENT and VICE-PRESIDENT. Oh Saturday at 1 2 o'clock, agreeably 1 to the notification which he gave to both houfes of Con grefs fodfy after his election, John Adams, as Prefideut of the United States, attended in the chamber of the houfe of re? prefematives, to take his. oath of office, ac-. cording to the directions of thfe conititution. On his entrance, as well as on the entrance of the late Prefidentand of Tbouias Jef. tenon, tne vice-rrenoent, iouu ami reue-. rated applaufc involuntarily burft from the audience. The Prefident having taken hit feat on the elevated chair of the fpeaker of the houfe of reprefrntatives, ami the Vice Pi efideht, the late Pre fidenr and, the Secre tary of the fenat,e on fiis right,, the Speaker 'and Clerk of the houfe of renrefefttatives on hisjeft, and the Chief JuHiteof the United States and the Aflociate Judges at a table, in the centre, all the foreign Minilters and Ambafladors, the Heads of pepartmeuts, Gen. Wilkinfon, the Commander in Chief, and a very crowded anditoryof the principal inhabitants of the city being prelent, fin; Prefident di Weeded to deliver the following S P E E C H: . i When, it was firlt perceived, in early times, .that no middle courfe for America remained , between Onlitnitted lubmiflimi to afofreiftn legiflaturct and a total indepen dence of its ejtfims ; fihen of reflection were Jefs apprchenfive or danger, from t he-formidable powftf of 'fleets and armies, they mult determine to, refitt, than from thole contelts and difierttions, which would cer tainly arife, corice riling the forms of go vernment to be lnltituted, over, the whole and over the partsof this exreafive country. Belying, however, on the purity of their in tentions, the j'dlire of their caufe, and the integrity and intelligence of the people un- ncr an overruling rroviucncc, which nan 10 ftgnafty protected this country from the fn (1. The reprefentatives of this nation, then conflfting of little more than half its prefent numbers, not only broke to pieces the chains wnicn were xorging, ana ine roo 01 iron that was lifted up, out frankly cut afunder the ties Which had bound them , and launch ed into an ocean of uncertainty. ' The zeal and ardour of the people dur ing the revolutionary war, fupplying the jUce of government, commanded a degree pt order, fufficient at leafl lor the tempory prefer vat ion of fociety. The confederation, which was early felt to beneceflary, was pi e pared frmn the models of Batavian and Hel vetic confederacies, the only examples which remain with any detail and prccifion, in hif tory, and certainly the only ones, which the people at large have ever confldered. But reflecting on the flriking difference, in fo niany particulars, between this, country and thofe, where courier may go from the feat of government to the frontier m a fingle day, it was then certainly forefeen by foine who affitted in cowgrefi at the formation of Jt, that it could not be durable. " Negligence of its regulations, inattenti on to its recommendations, if not difobedi. ence r . its authority, not only in individuals but in Hates, foon appeared, with their me lancholy confeqoences ; nniverfal langour, jealoufles and rivalries of Hates; decline of navigation and commerce 1 difcoragement of nereflary manufactures 1 upivcrfal fall in the value of lands and their produce; con tempt of public and private faith; lots of consideration and credit with foreign nati ons, and at length, in dtfeon tents, anomo fities, combinations, partial conventions, and infurrection, threatening foine national calamity. In this dangerous crifis, the people of America were not abandoned by their ufuel good fenfc, prefence of mind, refolution, or integrity. Meafuret were purfued to con cert a plan, to form a more perfect union, eftabliih juflice, enfnredotncHic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the gtneral wtlfare, and fecort the bleflings of liberty. The public difquifitions, dif- cuflions and deliberationt iflncd in the pte fent happy confliturion of government. ,. Employed in the fervice of my country abroad, during the whole courfe of thele tranlactions, 1 firlt, few the conftitution of the United States in a foreign country lr. ritated'by no literary alteration, animated by no public debate, heated by iiq party animofity,, I read it with great fatisfaCKon, as a refute of good heads, prompted by good hearts as an experiment, better adapted to toe genius, character, lunation and rela tions of this nation and country, than any which had ever been propafed or fuggelred. In its general principles and great outlines, it was conformable to fuch a lyltem of go" vernniient, as 1 have ever ntoft efleemed,and in fume Hates, my own harive Hate in parti cular, had contributed to eHablifli. Claim ing a right of fuffrage, in common with my fellow-citizens in the adoption or rejection of a conltitution which was to rule me and ,my pottery, as well as them and theirs, 1 did not heiitate to exprefs my approbation of it, on all occafiops, in public and in pri vate. It was not then, nor has been fincc, to it, in my mind, that the any objection executive and senate were not more perma" nent. Nor havel ever entertah ed a thought or promoting any alteration in it, bi t fuch as the people themfelves, in the courfe of their experience fhould fee and feel to be .neceil'ity or-expedient, and by thetr rcpre- frntattves tu congrefs and the Hate legifla turcs, aceprding to the couHiiuiion iilelf, adopt and ordain. - ; " Returning to the bofom of my country, after a paiiifv.il (epavation from it, for ten years, I had the honor to be elected to a tta tiou Under the new order of things, and I have repeatedly laid myfojf under the molt fei'ious obligations to fupport the conHltuti on. The operation of it has equalled the nio'l fanuine expectations of its friends: and from a habitual attention to ir, fatisfac ttou in its adminiftratiou and delight in its effects, upon the peace, order,' pi ofperiiy and happinefs of the nation, I have acquired an habitual attachment to it, and veneiation for if. " What other form of povernment indeed can fo well delerve our eltecm and love? " There may be little folidity in an anci ent idea, that congregations of men iuto ci ties and nations, are the mofl plnafing ob jects in the fight of Superior IntrNigencies : but this is very certain, that to aloenevolent human mind, there can be nofpectable pre fented by any nation, more pleufing, more noble, majeftic or augnft than an aflembly, like that which has fo often been feen in tli is and the other chamber of congrefs, of a government, in which the executive autho rity, as well as that of all the branches of the legifl iture, are exercifed by citizens felected at regular periods, by their neighbors, to make and execute laws for the general good. Can any thing eflenttal, any thing more than mere ornament and decoration be added to this by robes or diadems ? Can authority be more amiable or refpectahle, when it de feends from accidents, or inHirutions efta blifhed in remote antiquity, than when it fprings f rem from the hearts and judgment! ofanhoneH and enlightened people ? For k is the people only that are reprefented it is their power and majefty that is reflected and only for their good, in eery legitimate government, under whatever form it may appear. The exiHence of fuch a govern ment as oars, for any length of timt, is a fall proof of a general diflemination of knowledge and virtue, throughout the hole body of the people. And what object or eonii deration more pleafmg than this can be prefented to the human mind f If national pride is ever juftifiabie or excufeable, it it when it fpt ings, not from power or riches, grandeur or glory, bat from conviction of national innocence, iutormation and bene volenee. " In the mldft of thefe pleafmg ideal, we mould be unfaithful to earfelvet, it we (houldever lofe fight of the danger to onr liberties, if my thing partial or extraneous fttoald infect the porky of oar free, fair, virtuous ailT independent elections. If an election isiote determined by a majority of a fingle vote, and that can be produced by a party, through artifice or corruption, the government may be the choice of party, for its own ejs, not of the nation, for the na tionalgjood. If that folitary fuffrage can beobSTned by foreign uatibns, by flattery or menaces, by fraud orviolencr, by error, intrigue or venality, the government may not be the choice of the American psople, but of foreign nations. It may be foreign nations who govern us, and not we the peo ple, who govern out felvet.. And candid men will acknowledge, that in fuch cafes, choice would have little advantage to boaft of, over lot or chance. Such is the amjable and ipterefling fy Hem of government (and fuch are tome of the abides to which it may beexpofed) which the people of America have exhibited tothe admiration and anxiety ot tbe wife and vir tuous of all nations, for eight. years, under the adminiftratiou of a citizen, who, by a long courfe of great actirns, regulated by pi udence, ju(lice,ten perance and fortitude'; conducting a people inlpired with the fame I - ' " - " ' K, MV.Ik jwiriotifti; and love of liiieny, independence and peace, to incroaling wealth and unex ampled proipenty, has merited the gratitude ui ins iciiow tniicns, commanr.eu me iugn elt praifes of foreign nations, and fecui ed immortal ylory with poftemv.. . , fin that retirement which nlnt-vfttm tary choice, may he long live to enjoy the delicious recollection of his lervtces, the gratitude of mankind ; the happy fruits of them to hin(Vlf rmH rm wr.rlrl whirti daily increafinc, end that (plendid profpect r . 1. - r. r n' . .r. . vi me mm. c uji mncs 01 ins country, wnicn is opening from year to year. Fis.nome may be Hill a rampart, and a knowledge that he lives, a bulwark ngainH all open or fecret enemies of his country's neare. This example has been recommended to the imitation of his fuceefibrs, by both hnjif - C f . t- . I .1 . a a es ot lougreis, anu oy tne voice or the legt flaturcs and the people, throughout the na tion. " On this fubjectit might become me better to be filent, or to fpeak wph diffidence. But as fomething may be expected, the oc- -cafipn, 14iope, will be admitted as an apo logy, if 1 venture to lhy, that " If. a preference, upon nrincinle. f free republican government, formed upon long and feriour. reflection, after a diligent end impartial enquiry after truth : if au at tachment to the eonHitutibn of the United States, and a ennfeiencious determination to fupport it, until it lhall be altered by the judgments and wiflset of the necple, expre ted in the mode prelcribcd In it ;if a re fpeetfol attention to the conflit 4 ,ons of the , individual Hares, and a conflant caution and delicacy towards the Hate governmentsj if an equal and impartial regard to the rights, interefls, honor and happinefs of all the Hates in the onion, without preference or regard to a northern or fomhern, an eaflern or weflern pofitiou, their various political opinions on unefiential points, or their per (onal a'tachments; if a love of virtuous men of all parties and denomination if a oeof feience and letters, and a wifh to paironize every rational effort to encourage fchools, colleges, nniverfuief, academies, and every inftitmion for propagating knowledge, vir tue and religion among all c la flex of the pco- pie : not oiuy tor me nenign uitluence on the happinefs of life in all its forms, but at the only means of preferving our conftitutl. on from Its natural enemies, the fpirii of lo phiflry, the fpirit of party, the fpirit of in trijrue, the profligacy of corruption, and the pellilence of foreign influence, which if the tngel of destruction to elective rover n mentt , if a love of equal laws, of juftice and humanity, in the interior admlnill ration if an inclination to improve agriculture, commerce and manufactures for nerrrTuy, convenience md defence ; if 9 fpirit ofeqni ty and humanity towards the aboriginal na tives of America, and a difpofninn to meli orate their condition, by inclining them to be more friendly to us, and oar citizens to be more friendly to them ; if an inflexible determination to maintain peace! and mv-
The Wilmington Gazette (Wilmington, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 23, 1797, edition 1
5
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