【英文演讲】名人演讲之总统演讲之波尔克的就职演讲.docx

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1、【英文演讲】名人演讲之总统演讲之波尔克的就职演讲名人演讲之总统演讲之波尔克的就职演讲Without solicitation on my part,I have been chosen by the free, and voluntary suffrages of my countrymen to the most honorable, and most responsible office on earth.I am deeply impressed with gratitude for the confidence reposed in me.Honored with his distin

2、guished consideration at an earlier period of life than any of my predecessors, I can not disguise the diffidence with which I am about to enter on the discharge of my official duties. In assuming responsibilities so vast I fervently invoke the aid of that Almighty Ruler of the Universe in whose han

3、ds are the destinies of nations, and of men to guard this Heaven_favored land against the mischiefs which without His guidance might arise from an unwise public policy. With a firm reliance upon the wisdom of Omnipotence to sustain and direct me in the path of duty which I am appointed to pursue, I

4、stand in the presence of this assembled multitude of my countrymen to take upon myself the solemn obligationto take best of my ability to preserve,protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. That the blessing of liberty which our Constitution secures may be enjoyed alike by minorities

5、 and majorities, the Executive has been wisely invested with a qualified veto upon the acts of the Legislature. It is a negative power,and is conservative in its character.It arrests for the time hasty,inconsiderate,or unconstitutional legislation,invites reconsideration, and transfers questions at

6、issue between the legislative and executive departments to the tribunal of the people. Like all other powers,it is subject to be abused. When judiciously and properly exercised, the Constitution itself may be saved from infraction and the rights of all preserved and protected. The inestimable value

7、of our Federal Union is felt and acknowledged by all.By this system of united and confederated States our people are permitted collectively and individually to seek their own happiness in their own way, and the consequences have been most auspicious. Since the Union was formed the number of the Stat

8、es has increased from thirteen to twenty-eight, two of these have taken their position as members of the Confederacy within the last week. Our population has increased from three to twenty millions. New communities and States are seeking protection under its aegis,and multitudes from the Old World a

9、re flocking to our shores to participate in its blessings, Beneath its benign sway peace and prosperity prevail. Freed from the burdens and miseries of war,our trade and intercourse have extended throughout the world. Mind,no longer tasked in devising means to accomplish or resist schemes of ambitio

10、n, usurpation,or conquest,is devoting itself to mans true interests in developing his faculties and powers and the capacity of nature to minister to his enjoyments. Genius is free to announce its inventions and discoveries, and the hand is free to accomplish whatever the head conceives not incompati

11、ble with the rights of a fellow_being. All distinctions of birth or of rank have been abolished. All are entitled to equal rights and equal protection. No union exists between church and state,and perfect freedom of opinion is guaranteed to all sects and creeds. These are some of the blessings secur

12、ed to our happy land by Federal Union. To perpetuate them it is our sacred duty to preserve it. Who shall assign limits to the achievements of free minds and free hands under the protection of this glorious Union. No treason to mankind since the organization of society would be equal in atrocity to

13、that of him who would lift his hand to destory it.He would overthrow the noblest structure of human wisdom , which protects himself and his fellow_man. He would stop the progress of free government and involve his country either in anarchy or despotism. He would extinguish the fire of liberty,which

14、warms and animates the hearts of happy millions, and invites all the nations of the earth to imitate our example. If he say that error and wrong are committed in the administration of the Government, let him remember that nothing human can be perfect, and that under no other system of government rev

15、ealed by Heaven or devised by man has reason been allowed so free and broad a scope to combat error. Has the sword of despots proved to be a safer or surer instrument of reform in government than enlightened reason? Does he expect to find among the ruins of this Union a happier abode for our swarmin

16、g millions than they now have under it? Every lover of his country must shudder at the thought of the possibility of its dissolution, and will be ready to adopt the patriotic sentiment,Our Federal Union_it must be preserved. To preserve it the compromises which alone enabled our fathers to form a co

17、mmon constitution for the government, and protection of so many States and distinct communities,of such diversified habits,interests, and domestic institutions,must be sacredly and religiously observed. Any attempt to disturb or destroy these compromises,being terms of the compact of union, can lead

18、 to none other than the most ruinous and disastrous consequences. I am happy to believe that at every period of our existence as a nation there has existed,. and continues to exist,among the great mass of our people a devotion to the Union of the States which will shield, and protect it against the

19、moral treason of any who would seriously contemplate its destruction. To secure a continuance of that devotion the compromises of the Constitution must not only be preserved, but sectional jealousies and heartburnings must be discountenanced, and all should remember that they are members of the same

20、 political family,having a common destiny. To increase the attachment of our people to the Union,our laws should be just. Any policy which shall tend to favor monopolies or the peculiar interests of sections or classes must operate to the prejudice of the interest of their fellow_citizens, and shoul

21、d be avoided.If the compromises of the Constitution be preserved, if sectional jealousies and heartburnings be discountenanced, If our laws be just and the Government be practically administered strictly within the limits of power prescribed to it, we may discard all apprehensions for the safety of the Union.