Inaugural Address of John Quincy Adams

IncompliancewithanusagecoevalwiththeexistenceofourFederalConstitution，andsanctionedbytheexampleofmypredecessorsinthecareeruponwhichIamabouttoenter，Iappear，myfellow-citizens，inyourpresenceandinthatofHeaventobindmyselfbythesolemnitiesofreligiousobligationtothefaithfulperformanceofthedutiesallottedtomeinthestationtowhichIhavebeencalled.

InunfoldingtomycountrymentheprinciplesbywhichIshallbegovernedinthefulfillmentofthosedutiesmyfirstresortwillbetothatConstitutionwhichIshallsweartothebestofmyabilitytopreserve，protect，anddefend.ThatreveredinstrumentenumeratesthepowersandprescribesthedutiesoftheExecutiveMagistrate，andinitsfirstwordsdeclaresthepurposestowhichtheseandthewholeactionoftheGovernmentinstitutedbyitshouldbeinvariablyandsacredlydevoted——toformamoreperfectunion，establishjustice，insuredomestictranquillity，provideforthecommondefense，promotethegeneralwelfare，andsecuretheblessingsoflibertytothepeopleofthisUnionintheirsuccessivegenerations.Sincetheadoptionofthissocialcompactoneofthesegenerationshaspassedaway.Itistheworkofourforefathers.Administeredbysomeofthemosteminentmenwhocontributedtoitsformation，throughamosteventfulperiodintheannalsoftheworld，andthroughallthevicissitudesofpeaceandwarincidentaltotheconditionofassociatedman，ithasnotdisappointedthehopesandaspirationsofthoseillustriousbenefactorsoftheirageandnation.Ithaspromotedthelastingwelfareofthatcountrysodeartousall；ithastoanextentfarbeyondtheordinarylotofhumanitysecuredthefreedomandhappinessofthispeople.Wenowreceiveitasapreciousinheritancefromthosetowhomweareindebtedforitsestablishment，doublyboundbytheexampleswhichtheyhaveleftusandbytheblessingswhichwehaveenjoyedasthefruitsoftheirlaborstotransmitthesameunimpairedtothesucceedinggeneration.

Inthecompassofthirty-sixyearssincethisgreatnationalcovenantwasinstitutedabodyoflawsenactedunderitsauthorityandinconformitywithitsprovisionshasunfoldeditspowersandcarriedintopracticaloperationitseffectiveenergies.Subordinatedepartmentshavedistributedtheexecutivefunctionsintheirvariousrelationstoforeignaffairs，totherevenueandexpenditures，andtothemilitaryforceoftheUnionbylandandsea.AcoordinatedepartmentofthejudiciaryhasexpoundedtheConstitutionandthelaws，settlinginharmoniouscoincidencewiththelegislativewillnumerousweightyquestionsofconstructionwhichtheimperfectionofhumanlanguagehadrenderedunavoidable.TheyearofjubileesincethefirstformationofourUnionhasjustelapsedthatofthedeclarationofourindependenceisathand.TheconsummationofbothwaseffectedbythisConstitution.

Sincethatperiodapopulationoffourmillionshasmultipliedtotwelve.AterritoryboundedbytheMississippihasbeenextendedfromseatosea.NewStateshavebeenadmittedtotheUnioninnumbersnearlyequaltothoseofthefirstConfederation.Treatiesofpeace，amity，andcommercehavebeenconcludedwiththeprincipaldominionsoftheearth.Thepeopleofothernations，inhabitantsofregionsacquirednotbyconquest，butbycompact，havebeenunitedwithusintheparticipationofourrightsandduties，ofourburdensandblessings.Theforesthasfallenbytheaxofourwoodsmen；thesoilhasbeenmadetoteembythetillageofourfarmers；ourcommercehaswhitenedeveryocean.Thedominionofmanoverphysicalnaturehasbeenextendedbytheinventionofourartists.Libertyandlawhavemarchedhandinhand.Allthepurposesofhumanassociationhavebeenaccomplishedaseffectivelyasunderanyothergovernmentontheglobe，andatacostlittleexceedinginawholegenerationtheexpenditureofothernationsinasingleyear.

SuchistheunexaggeratedpictureofourconditionunderaConstitutionfoundedupontherepublicanprincipleofequalrights.Toadmitthatthispicturehasitsshadesisbuttosaythatitisstilltheconditionofmenuponearth.Fromevil——physical，moral，andpolitical——itisnotourclaimtobeexempt.WehavesufferedsometimesbythevisitationofHeaventhroughdisease；oftenbythewrongsandinjusticeofothernations，eventotheextremitiesofwar；and，lastly，bydissensionsamongourselves——dissensionsperhapsinseparablefromtheenjoymentoffreedom，butwhichhavemorethanonceappearedtothreatenthedissolutionoftheUnion，andwithittheoverthrowofalltheenjoymentsofourpresentlotandallourearthlyhopesofthefuture.Thecausesofthesedissensionshavebeenvarious，foundedupondifferencesofspeculationinthetheoryofrepublicangovernment；uponconflictingviewsofpolicyinourrelationswithforeignnations；uponjealousiesofpartialandsectionalinterests，aggravatedbyprejudicesandprepossessionswhichstrangerstoeachotherareeverapttoentertain.

Itisasourceofgratificationandofencouragementtometoobservethatthegreatresultofthisexperimentuponthetheoryofhumanrightshasatthecloseofthatgenerationbywhichitwasformedbeencrownedwithsuccessequaltothemostsanguineexpectationsofitsfounders.Union，justice，tranquillity，thecommondefense，thegeneralwelfare，andtheblessingsofliberty——allhavebeenpromotedbytheGovernmentunderwhichwehavelived.Standingatthispointoftime，lookingbacktothatgenerationwhichhasgonebyandforwardtothatwhichisadvancing，wemayatonceindulgeingratefulexultationandincheeringhope.Fromtheexperienceofthepastwederiveinstructivelessonsforthefuture.Ofthetwogreatpoliticalpartieswhichhavedividedtheopinionsandfeelingsofourcountry，thecandidandthejustwillnowadmitthatbothhavecontributedsplendidtalents，spotlessintegrity，ardentpatriotism，anddisinterestedsacrificestotheformationandadministrationofthisGovernment，andthatbothhaverequiredaliberalindulgenceforaportionofhumaninfirmityanderror.TherevolutionarywarsofEurope，commencingpreciselyatthemomentwhentheGovernmentoftheUnitedStatesfirstwentintooperationunderthisConstitution，excitedacollisionofsentimentsandofsympathieswhichkindledallthepassionsandimbitteredtheconflictofpartiestillthenationwasinvolvedinwarandtheUnionwasshakentoitscenter.Thistimeoftrialembracedaperiodoffiveandtwentyyears，duringwhichthepolicyoftheUnioninitsrelationswithEuropeconstitutedtheprincipalbasisofourpoliticaldivisionsandthemostarduouspartoftheactionofourFederalGovernment.WiththecatastropheinwhichthewarsoftheFrenchRevolutionterminated，andourownsubsequentpeacewithGreatBritain，thisbanefulweedofpartystrifewasuprooted.Fromthattimenodifferenceofprinciple，connectedeitherwiththetheoryofgovernmentorwithourintercoursewithforeignnations，hasexistedorbeencalledforthinforcesufficienttosustainacontinuedcombinationofpartiesortogivemorethanwholesomeanimationtopublicsentimentorlegislativedebate.Ourpoliticalcreedis，withoutadissentingvoicethatcanbeheard，thatthewillofthepeopleisthesourceandthehappinessofthepeopletheendofalllegitimategovernmentuponearth；thatthebestsecurityforthebeneficenceandthebestguarantyagainsttheabuseofpowerconsistsinthefreedom，thepurity，andthefrequencyofpopularelections；thattheGeneralGovernmentoftheUnionandtheseparategovernmentsoftheStatesareallsovereigntiesoflimitedpowers，fellow-servantsofthesamemasters，uncontrolledwithintheirrespectivespheres，uncontrollablebyencroachmentsuponeachother；thatthefirmestsecurityofpeaceisthepreparationduringpeaceofthedefensesofwar；thatarigorouseconomyandaccountabilityofpublicexpendituresshouldguardagainsttheaggravationandalleviatewhenpossibletheburdenoftaxation；thatthemilitaryshouldbekeptinstrictsubordinationtothecivilpower；thatthefreedomofthepressandofreligiousopinionshouldbeinviolate；thatthepolicyofourcountryispeaceandthearkofoursalvationunionarearticlesoffaithuponwhichweareallnowagreed.Iftherehavebeenthosewhodoubtedwhetheraconfederatedrepresentativedemocracywereagovernmentcompetenttothewiseandorderlymanagementofthecommonconcernsofamightynation，thosedoubtshavebeendispelled；iftherehavebeenprojectsofpartialconfederaciestobeerectedupontheruinsoftheUnion，theyhavebeenscatteredtothewinds；iftherehavebeendangerousattachmentstooneforeignnationandantipathiesagainstanother，theyhavebeenextinguished.Tenyearsofpeace，athomeandabroad，haveassuagedtheanimositiesofpoliticalcontentionandblendedintoharmonythemostdiscordantelementsofpublicopinionTherestillremainsoneeffortofmagnanimity，onesacrificeofprejudiceandpassion，tobemadebytheindividualsthroughoutthenationwhohaveheretoforefollowedthestandardsofpoliticalparty.Itisthatofdiscardingeveryremnantofrancoragainsteachother，ofembracingascountrymenandfriends，andofyieldingtotalentsandvirtuealonethatconfidencewhichintimesofcontentionforprinciplewasbestowedonlyuponthosewhoborethebadgeofpartycommunion.

Thecollisionsofpartyspiritwhichoriginateinspeculativeopinionsorindifferentviewsofadministrativepolicyareintheirnaturetransitory.Thosewhicharefoundedongeographicaldivisions，adverseinterestsofsoil，climate，andmodesofdomesticlifearemorepermanent，andtherefore，perhaps，moredangerous.ItisthiswhichgivesinestimablevaluetothecharacterofourGovernment，atoncefederalandnational.ItholdsouttousaperpetualadmonitiontopreservealikeandwithequalanxietytherightsofeachindividualStateinitsowngovernmentandtherightsofthewholenationinthatoftheUnion.Whatsoeverisofdomesticconcernment，unconnectedwiththeothermembersoftheUnionorwithforeignlands，belongsexclusivelytotheadministrationoftheStategovernments.WhatsoeverdirectlyinvolvestherightsandinterestsofthefederativefraternityorofforeignpowersisoftheresortofthisGeneralGovernment.Thedutiesofbothareobviousinthegeneralprinciple，thoughsometimesperplexedwithdifficultiesinthedetail.TorespecttherightsoftheStategovernmentsistheinviolabledutyofthatoftheUnion；thegovernmentofeveryStatewillfeelitsownobligationtorespectandpreservetherightsofthewhole.Theprejudiceseverywheretoocommonlyentertainedagainstdistantstrangersarewornaway，andthejealousiesofjarringinterestsareallayedbythecompositionandfunctionsofthegreatnationalcouncilsannuallyassembledfromallquartersoftheUnionatthisplace.Herethedistinguishedmenfromeverysectionofourcountry，whilemeetingtodeliberateuponthegreatinterestsofthosebywhomtheyaredeputed，learntoestimatethetalentsanddojusticetothevirtuesofeachother.TheharmonyofthenationispromotedandthewholeUnionisknittogetherbythesentimentsofmutualrespect，thehabitsofsocialintercourse，andthetiesofpersonalfriendshipformedbetweentherepresentativesofitsseveralpartsintheperformanceoftheirserviceatthismetropolis.

PassingfromthisgeneralreviewofthepurposesandinjunctionsoftheFederalConstitutionandtheirresultsasindicatingthefirsttracesofthepathofdutyinthedischargeofmypublictrust，IturntotheAdministrationofmyimmediatepredecessorasthesecond.Ithaspassedawayinaperiodofprofoundpeace，howmuchtothesatisfactionofourcountryandtothehonorofourcountry''''snameisknowntoyouall.Thegreatfeaturesofitspolicy，ingeneralconcurrencewiththewilloftheLegislature，havebeentocherishpeacewhilepreparingfordefensivewar；toyieldexactjusticetoothernationsandmaintaintherightsofourown；tocherishtheprinciplesoffreedomandofequalrightswherevertheywereproclaimed；todischargewithallpossiblepromptitudethenationaldebt；toreducewithinthenarrowestlimitsofefficiencythemilitaryforce；toimprovetheorganizationanddisciplineoftheArmy；toprovideandsustainaschoolofmilitaryscience；toextendequalprotectiontoallthegreatinterestsofthenation；topromotethecivilizationoftheIndiantribes，andtoproceedinthegreatsystemofinternalimprovementswithinthelimitsoftheconstitutionalpoweroftheUnion.Underthepledgeofthesepromises，madebythateminentcitizenatthetimeofhisfirstinductiontothisoffice，inhiscareerofeightyearstheinternaltaxeshavebeenrepealed；sixtymillionsofthepublicdebthavebeendischarged；provisionhasbeenmadeforthecomfortandreliefoftheagedandindigentamongthesurvivingwarriorsoftheRevolution；theregulararmedforcehasbeenreducedanditsconstitutionrevisedandperfected；theaccountabilityfortheexpenditureofpublicmoneyshasbeenmademoreeffective；theFloridashavebeenpeaceablyacquired，andourboundaryhasbeenextendedtothePacificOcean；theindependenceofthesouthernnationsofthishemispherehasbeenrecognized，andrecommendedbyexampleandbycounseltothepotentatesofEurope；progresshasbeenmadeinthedefenseofthecountrybyfortificationsandtheincreaseoftheNavy，towardtheeffectualsuppressionoftheAfricantrafficinslaves；inalluringtheaboriginalhuntersofourlandtothecultivationofthesoilandofthemind，inexploringtheinteriorregionsoftheUnion，andinpreparingbyscientificresearchesandsurveysforthefurtherapplicationofournationalresourcestotheinternalimprovementofourcountry.

InthisbriefoutlineofthepromiseandperformanceofmyimmediatepredecessorthelineofdutyforhissuccessorisclearlydelineatedTopursuetotheirconsummationthosepurposesofimprovementinourcommonconditioninstitutedorrecommendedbyhimwillembracethewholesphereofmyobligations.Tothetopicofinternalimprovement，emphaticallyurgedbyhimathisinauguration，Irecurwithpeculiarsatisfaction.ItisthatfromwhichIamconvincedthattheunbornmillionsofourposteritywhoareinfutureagestopeoplethiscontinentwillderivetheirmostferventgratitudetothefoundersoftheUnion；thatinwhichthebeneficentactionofitsGovernmentwillbemostdeeplyfeltandacknowledged.Themagnificenceandsplendoroftheirpublicworksareamongtheimperishablegloriesoftheancientrepublics.TheroadsandaqueductsofRomehavebeentheadmirationofallafterages，andhavesurvivedthousandsofyearsafterallherconquestshavebeenswallowedupindespotismorbecomethespoilofbarbarians.SomediversityofopinionhasprevailedwithregardtothepowersofCongressforlegislationuponobjectsofthisnature.Themostrespectfuldeferenceisduetodoubtsoriginatinginpurepatriotismandsustainedbyveneratedauthority.Butnearlytwentyyearshavepassedsincetheconstructionofthefirstnationalroadwascommenced.Theauthorityforitsconstructionwasthenunquestioned.Tohowmanythousandsofourcountrymenhasitprovedabenefit？Towhatsingleindividualhasiteverprovedaninjury？Repeated，liberal，andcandiddiscussionsintheLegislaturehaveconciliatedthesentimentsandapproximatedtheopinionsofenlightenedmindsuponthequestionofconstitutionalpower.Icannotbuthopethatbythesameprocessoffriendly，patient，andperseveringdeliberationallconstitutionalobjectionswillultimatelyberemoved.TheextentandlimitationofthepowersoftheGeneralGovernmentinrelationtothistranscendentlyimportantinterestwillbesettledandacknowledgedtothecommonsatisfactionofall，andeveryspeculativescruplewillbesolvedbyapracticalpublicblessing.

Fellow-citizens，youareacquaintedwiththepeculiarcircumstancesoftherecentelection，whichhaveresultedinaffordingmetheopportunityofaddressingyouatthistime.Youhaveheardtheexpositionoftheprincipleswhichwilldirectmeinthefulfillmentofthehighandsolemntrustimposeduponmeinthisstation.Lesspossessedofyourconfidenceinadvancethananyofmypredecessors，IamdeeplyconsciousoftheprospectthatIshallstandmoreandoftenerinneedofyourindulgence.Intentionsuprightandpure，aheartdevotedtothewelfareofourcountry，andtheunceasingapplicationofallthefacultiesallottedtometoherserviceareallthepledgesthatIcangiveforthefaithfulperformanceofthearduousdutiesIamtoundertake.Totheguidanceofthelegislativecouncils，totheassistanceoftheexecutiveandsubordinatedepartments，tothefriendlycooperationoftherespectiveStategovernments，tothecandidandliberalsupportofthepeoplesofarasitmaybedeservedbyhonestindustryandzeal，Ishalllookforwhateversuccessmayattendmypublicservice；andknowingthat“excepttheLordkeepthecitythewatchmanwakethbutinvain，”

withferventsupplicationsforHisfavor，toHisoverrulingprovidenceIcommitwithhumblebutfearlessconfidencemyownfateandthefuturedestiniesofmycountry.rvedbyhonestindustryandzeal，Ishalllookforwhateversuccessmayattendmypublicservice；andknowingthat“excepttheLordkeepthecitythewatchmanwakethbutinvain，”withferventsupplicationsforHisfavor，toHisoverrulingprovidenceIcommitwithhumblebutfearlessconfidencemyownfateandthefuturedestiniesofmycountry.