II IS now rather more than forty-four years
since we declared cur independence, and thir
ty-seyen since il was acknowledged. The tai
eRs and virtues which were displayed N thai
great struggle were a sure presage OF all that
has since followed. A people who were able
10 surmount, in their infant state, such great
perls, would be more competent, as they rose
into manhood, and 10 repel any which they
might meet in their progress. Their physical
strength would be more adequate 10 foreign
danger. and the practice o. self government,
aided by the light of experience could not
fail TO produce an effect, equally, salutary on
all those questions connected with the inter
nal organization. These fasorable anticipa-
tons have been realized In our whole sys-
tenn, national and state, we have Stunned all
the defects which increasingly preyed on The
vitals and destroyed the ancient republics.
la them, there were distinct orders, nobility
and people, Of the people governed IN one
assembly. Thus in the one instance, there
was perpetual conflict between the orders in
society for the sscen1ency, in which the vic
tory of either terminated in the overthrow OF
the government, and the ruin Of the state. 10
The other, in which the people governed in a
body, and whose dominons seldom exceeded
The dimensions of country in one OF our
states, tumultuous and disorderly movement,
permitted only transiory existence. In thus
great nation there is but one order, that of tn
people whose power, by a peculiarly happy
improvement of The representative principle.
y IL
The slightest degree, their sovefeignty, TO bod
les Of their own creation, and 10 persons cleo
ted by themselves, in the full extent necessary
for all the purposes of free, enlightened and
efficient government. The whole system Is
elective, the complete sovereignty being in
the people, and every officer, in every depart
ment, deriving his authority from, and being
responsible 10, them for his conduct.


Our career has eorresponded with this great
outline. Perfection in our organization could
not have been expected in the outset, either
in the national or state governments, or IN
tracing the line between their respective pow
ers. But no serious conflict has arisen, nOr
any contest but such as are managed by ar
gument, and by fair appeal 10 The good





which experience had clearly demonstrated,
in both governments, have been remedied.-
BY steadily pursuing this course, in this spirit,
there is every reason TO believe that our sys.
tenn will soon attain the highest degree OF per
fection of which human institutions are caps-
BILE, and that the movement, IN all its branch
es, will exhibit such degree OF oIder and
harmony, as to command the alHiration and
respect Of the civilized world.


Our physical attainmen;s have not been
less eminent. Twenty five years ago the
river Mississippi was shut up, and our western
brethrea had no outlet for their commerce.
What ha. been the progress since that time
The river has not only become the property Of
the United States from its source TO the ocean,
with all its tributary streams, (wiih'ihe ex-
ception Of tle upper part Of The Red rIver on-
ly,) but louisiana, with fair and liberal
boundary Oh the western side, and the Elorl-
das on The eastern, have been cedej 10 Us.
The United States now enjoy the complete
and uninterrupted sovereignty over the whole
territory from ST. Crox to the Sabine. New
states, settled from among ourselves IN this,
and IN other parts, have been admitted into





our Union, in equal participation in The nation
al sovereignty wItb the original states Our
population has augmented in an astonishing
degree, and extended III every direction. We
now, fellow citizens, comprise within our him
lis the dimensions and faculties Of great
power, under government possessing all the
energies Of any government ever known TO the
old world, with an utter incapacity 10 oppress
the people.


Entering, with these views, the Office which I
have just soennly sworn 10 execute with hdel-
ily, and TO the utmost Of my ability, derive
great satisfaction from knowledge hat shall
be assisted in The several departments by The
very enlightened and upright citizens from
whom have received so much aid in the pre-
cedng term. With full confidence in the con-
tnusnce OF that caudor and generous indu-
gence, from my fellow citizens al large, which
have heretofore experienced, and with firm
reliance on the protection Of Almighty God, !
shall forthwith commence the duties OF The
high trust TO which you have called me.


