Inaugural Addresses: James K. Polk
Historian George Bancroft claimed that at around the time James K. Polk was inaugurated as President of the United States on March 4, 1849, Polk slapped his knee and proclaimed four goals of his administration: 1) acquisition of the Oregon Territory from Great Britain; 2) acquisition of California from Mexico; 3) lowering of the tariffs; and 4) creation of an independent treasury. Modern day historian Tom Chaffin, editor of the 14 volume Correspondence of James K. Polk, believes that this story, first told by Bancroft four decades after Polk's death, probably never happened, and was something that Bancroft created ex post facto. (Chaffin's book Met His Every Goal: James K. Polk and the Legends of Manifest Destiny is reviewed in another post in this community today).
This post looks at exactly what plans Polk did outline in his inaugural address, given on Tuesday, March 4, 1845. It was a rainy day with morning thunderstorms. Polk was sworn in at the East Portico of the United States Capitol by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney. This was the first inaugural ceremony to be reported by telegraph and to be shown in a newspaper illustration (in The Illustrated London News). The speech was transmitted by telegraph by the instrument's inventor, Samuel Morse. Outgoing President John Tyler rode to the Capitol with Polk.
Polk began his address by reminding his audience that the office of President had come to him "without solicitation on my part", and he called the presidency "the most honorable and most responsible office on earth." He expressed his gratitude to the voters "for the confidence reposed in me". He noted that he was, to that point, the youngest man elected to the office and said:
"If the more aged and experienced men who have filled the office of President of the United States even in the infancy of the Republic distrusted their ability to discharge the duties of that exalted station, what ought not to be the apprehensions of one so much younger and less endowed now that our domain extends from ocean to ocean, that our people have so greatly increased in numbers, and at a time when so great diversity of opinion prevails in regard to the principles and policy which should characterize the administration of our Government? Well may the boldest fear and the wisest tremble when incurring responsibilities on which may depend our country's peace and prosperity, and in some degree the hopes and happiness of the whole human family."
Polk called on "the aid of that Almighty Ruler of the Universe in whose hands 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." He said that he relied on God's guidance "to sustain and direct me in the path of duty which I am appointed to pursue", and he proceeded to give what he called "a concise enumeration of the principles which will guide me in the administrative policy of the Government".
Polk promised to follow the Constitution and said that this would be his first concern. He explained the difference between the federal government and the states, stating:
"Each State is a complete sovereignty within the sphere of its reserved powers. The Government of the Union, acting within the sphere of its delegated authority, is also a complete sovereignty. While the General Government should abstain from the exercise of authority not clearly delegated to it, the States should be equally careful that in the maintenance of their rights they do not overstep the limits of powers reserved to them."
Polk next said that the federal government would be the "common protector of each and all the States; of every man who lives upon our soil, whether of native or foreign birth; of every religious sect, in their worship of the Almighty according to the dictates of their own conscience; of every shade of opinion, and the most free inquiry; of every art, trade, and occupation consistent with the laws of the States." He said that the "most admirable and wisest system of well-regulated self-government among men ever devised by human minds has been tested by its successful operation for more than half a century", and expressed the hope that the union would "endure for ages to come and dispense the blessings of civil and religious liberty to distant generations." He said: "One great object of the Constitution was to restrain majorities from oppressing minorities or encroaching upon their just rights. Minorities have a right to appeal to the Constitution as a shield against such oppression."
Polk noted that the Union had grown from thirteen to twenty-eight states, and that the nation's population "increased from three to twenty millions." He said that freedom had brought with it equality. He said:
"Genius is free to announce its inventions and discoveries, and the hand is free to accomplish whatever the head conceives not incompatible with the rights of a fellow-being. All distinctions of birth or of rank have been abolished. All citizens, whether native or adopted, are placed upon terms of precise equality. 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 secured to our happy land by our Federal Union. To perpetuate them it is our sacred duty to preserve it."
Polk contemplated the potential for division within the country He said:
"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 common 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 to none other than the most ruinous and disastrous consequences. It is a source of deep regret that in some sections of our country misguided persons have occasionally indulged in schemes and agitations whose object is the destruction of domestic institutions existing in other sections-institutions which existed at the adoption of the Constitution and were recognized and protected by it. All must see that if it were possible for them to be successful in attaining their object the dissolution of the Union and the consequent destruction of our happy form of government must speedily follow."
Polk said that "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 political family, having a common destiny." He called for just laws and opposed "any policy which shall tend to favor monopolies or the peculiar interests of sections or classes". He said "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."
Polk next promised to conduct "a plain and frugal government" and "to enforce by all the means within my power the strictest economy in the expenditure of the public money which may be compatible with the public interests." He said that while "national debt has become almost an institution of European monarchies", running a debt was "incompatible with the ends for which our republican Government was instituted" and he promised "a wise policy" and a judicious application of the revenues" collected by government. He congratulated Americans for their low debt and expressed confidence that debt at the state level would soon be extinguished. He went on to discuss government policy for the raising of revenue and pledged "that no more money shall be collected than the necessities of an economical administration shall require". He added that "in my judgment it is the duty of the Government to extend, as far as it may be practicable to do so, by its revenue laws and all other means within its power, fair and just protection to all of the great interests of the whole Union, embracing agriculture, manufactures, the mechanic arts, commerce, and navigation." He said that he was "in favor of a tariff for revenue" and for setting tariffs at a level that "would produce the amount of revenue needed and at the same time afford reasonable incidental protection to our home industry" but that he was "opposed to a tariff for protection merely, and not for revenue." Polk described the demographics of the US economy as it then existed, noting that "the largest portion of our people are agriculturists. Others are employed in manufactures, commerce, navigation, and the mechanic arts." He went on to say:
"To tax one branch of this home industry for the benefit of another would be unjust. No one of these interests can rightfully claim an advantage over the others, or to be enriched by impoverishing the others. All are equally entitled to the fostering care and protection of the Government. In exercising a sound discretion in levying discriminating duties within the limit prescribed, care should be taken that it be done in a manner not to benefit the wealthy few at the expense of the toiling millions by taxing lowest the luxuries of life, or articles of superior quality and high price, which can only be consumed by the wealthy, and highest the necessaries of life, or articles of coarse quality and low price, which the poor and great mass of our people must consume. The burdens of government should as far as practicable be distributed justly and equally among all classes of our population."
The next subject on his mine was Texas. On the last day of the Tyler administration, a joint resolution of Congress had called for the annexation of Texas. Polk said
"Texas was once a part of our country-was unwisely ceded away to a foreign power-is now independent, and possesses an undoubted right to dispose of a part or the whole of her territory and to merge her sovereignty as a separate and independent state in ours. I congratulate my country that by an act of the late Congress of the United States the assent of this Government has been given to the reunion, and it only remains for the two countries to agree upon the terms to consummate an object so important to both. I regard the question of annexation as belonging exclusively to the United States and Texas. They are independent powers competent to contract, and foreign nations have no right to interfere with them or to take exceptions to their reunion."
Polk talked about expansionism and said that fear of growth was nothing new. He said "These objections were earnestly urged when we acquired Louisiana. Experience has shown that they were not well founded." He said that as the result of expansion, "the Union has been cemented and strengthened. As our boundaries have been enlarged and our agricultural population has been spread over a large surface, our federative system has acquired additional strength and security." Polk expressed his confident belief that as the country "extended the bonds of our Union, so far from being weakened, will become stronger." He said that it was more dangerous to the nation for Texas to remain an independent state, because it might become "an ally or dependency of some foreign nation more powerful than herself." He asked his audience:
"Is there one among our citizens who would not prefer perpetual peace with Texas to occasional wars, which so often occur between bordering independent nations? Is there one who would not prefer free intercourse with her to high duties on all our products and manufactures which enter her ports or cross her frontiers? Is there one who would not prefer an unrestricted communication with her citizens to the frontier obstructions which must occur if she remains out of the Union?... Perceiving no valid objection to the measure and many reasons for its adoption vitally affecting the peace, the safety, and the prosperity of both countries, I shall on the broad principle which formed the basis and produced the adoption of our Constitution, and not in any narrow spirit of sectional policy, endeavor by all constitutional, honorable, and appropriate means to consummate the expressed will of the people and Government of the United States by the reannexation of Texas to our Union at the earliest practicable period."
Polk also said that he considered it his "duty to assert and maintain by all constitutional means the right of the United States to that portion of our territory which lies beyond the Rocky Mountains. Our title to the country of the Oregon is clear and unquestionable."
Polk said that when it came to foreign relations, "it will be my aim to observe a careful respect for the rights of other nations." He added, "Equal and exact justice should characterize all our intercourse with foreign countries." He also called for integrity among public servants and satd that "a strict performance of duty will be exacted from all public officers" especially those "charged with the collection and disbursement of the public revenue" for whom "prompt and rigid accountability be required." He promised to fire any public servant who broke this rule.
Polk closed his address by saying:
"Although in our country the Chief Magistrate must almost of necessity be chosen by a party and stand pledged to its principles and measures, yet in his official action he should not be the President of a part only, but of the whole people of the United States. While he executes the laws with an impartial hand, shrinks from no proper responsibility, and faithfully carries out in the executive department of the Government the principles and policy of those who have chosen him, he should not be unmindful that our fellow-citizens who have differed with him in opinion are entitled to the full and free exercise of their opinions and judgments, and that the rights of all are entitled to respect and regard. Confidently relying upon the aid and assistance of the coordinate departments of the Government in conducting our public affairs, I enter upon the discharge of the high duties which have been assigned me by the people, again humbly supplicating that Divine Being who has watched over and protected our beloved country from its infancy to the present hour to continue His gracious benedictions upon us, that we may continue to be a prosperous and happy people."
At 4,801 words, this was the third longest inaugural address ever given. (First and second place go to William Henry Harrison and William Howard Taft). Polk addressed at least two of the four goals on his famous to-do list in his inaugural speech (acquisition of Oregon and a lowering of tariffs.) At least as far as that portion of the list is concerned, he did indeed meet his every goal.