Inaugural Addresses: James Monroe's First Inauguration
The first inauguration of James Monroe as the fifth President of the United States was held on Tuesday, March 4, 1817, in front of the temporary old "Brick Capitol", where the Supreme Court building now stands. The Capitol building had been destroyed during the British invasion of Washington in the War of 1812 and was under construction. The inauguration marked the commencement of the first four-year term of James Monroe as President and followed the end of the war. The Federalist Party had been eliminated as a political force after Federalists had contemplated succession in opposition to the War. It was their downfall politically.
Chief Justice, John Marshall administered the oath of office. A controversy resulted from the inaugural committee's proposals concerning the use of the House Chamber on the second floor of the brick building. Speaker Henry Clay suggested that the proceedings be held outside and Monroe spoke to the crowd from a platform adjacent to the brick building. It was the first outdoor inaugural address.
Monroe began by expressing gratitude to the electorate. He promised that he would "never shrink" from his responsibilities as president, and commented on how his predecessors would "explain the principles which would govern them in their respective Administrations." He noted that 40 years had passed since the start of the Revolution and 28 years since the establishment of this Constitution. He said that Americans could be proud of the government they had made, and said that "During a period fraught with difficulties and marked by very extraordinary events the United States have flourished beyond example."
Monroe recited many of the achievements of the nation this far:
"Our commerce has been wisely regulated with foreign nations and between the States; new States have been admitted into our Union; our territory has been enlarged by fair and honorable treaty, and with great advantage to the original States; the States, respectively protected by the National Government under a mild, parental system against foreign dangers, and enjoying within their separate spheres, by a wise partition of power, a just proportion of the sovereignty, have improved their police, extended their settlements, and attained a strength and maturity which are the best proofs of wholesome laws well administered."
Monroe referenced the war that had just ended and said that "in the course of these conflicts the United States received great injury from several of the parties." He said that "the result has shown that our Government is equal to that, the greatest of trials, under the most unfavorable circumstances." He said that the war had demonstrated the need "to cherish our Union and to cling to the Government which supports it." He described how the nation had grown and how it had been given many blessings, which included "a fertile soil, our produce has always been very abundant, leaving, even in years the least favorable, a surplus for the wants of our fellow-men in other countries." After summarizing all that the nation enjoyed, he said "Such, then, being the highly favored condition of our country, it is the interest of every citizen to maintain it."
Monroe discussed "the dangers which menace us" and said that these must be "ascertained and guarded against." He credited the people for their wisdom:
"The Government has been in the hands of the people. To the people, therefore, and to the faithful and able depositaries of their trust is the credit due. Had the people of the United States been educated in different principles, had they been less intelligent, less independent, or less virtuous, can it be believed that we should have maintained the same steady and consistent career or been blessed with the same success? While, then, the constituent body retains its present sound and healthful state everything will be safe. They will choose competent and faithful representatives for every department. It is only when the people become ignorant and corrupt, when they degenerate into a populace, that they are incapable of exercising the sovereignty. Usurpation is then an easy attainment, and an usurper soon found. The people themselves become the willing instruments of their own debasement and ruin. Let us, then, look to the great cause, and endeavor to preserve it in full force. Let us by all wise and constitutional measures promote intelligence among the people as the best means of preserving our liberties."
"Dangers from abroad" was the next subject that Monroe urged his audience to be concerned about. He said: "Experiencing the fortune of other nations, the United States may be again involved in war, and it may in that event be the object of the adverse party to overset our Government, to break our Union, and demolish us as a nation. Our distance from Europe and the just, moderate, and pacific policy of our Government may form some security against these dangers, but they ought to be anticipated and guarded against." He urged the need for military protection:
"To secure us against these dangers our coast and inland frontiers should be fortified, our Army and Navy, regulated upon just principles as to the force of each, be kept in perfect order, and our militia be placed on the best practicable footing. To put our extensive coast in such a state of defense as to secure our cities and interior from invasion will be attended with expense, but the work when finished will be permanent, and it is fair to presume that a single campaign of invasion by a naval force superior to our own, aided by a few thousand land troops, would expose us to greater expense, without taking into the estimate the loss of property and distress of our citizens, than would be sufficient for this great work. Our land and naval forces should be moderate, but adequate to the necessary purposes-the former to garrison and preserve our fortifications and to meet the first invasions of a foreign foe, and, while constituting the elements of a greater force, to preserve the science as well as all the necessary implements of war in a state to be brought into activity in the event of war; the latter, retained within the limits proper in a state of peace, might aid in maintaining the neutrality of the United States with dignity in the wars of other powers and in saving the property of their citizens from spoliation. In time of war, with the enlargement of which the great naval resources of the country render it susceptible, and which should be duly fostered in time of peace, it would contribute essentially, both as an auxiliary of defense and as a powerful engine of annoyance, to diminish the calamities of war and to bring the war to a speedy and honorable termination."
Monroe acknowledged that "the safety of these States and of everything dear to a free people must depend in an eminent degree on the militia." He said that it was important that the state militias "be so organized and trained as to be prepared for any emergency." He said that "This arrangement should be formed, too, in time of peace, to be the better prepared for war. With such an organization of such a people the United States have nothing to dread from foreign invasion."
The next topic was that of internal improvements such as roads and canals, provided that such were sanctioned inder the Constitution. He said: "By thus facilitating the intercourse between the States we shall add much to the convenience and comfort of our fellow-citizens, much to the ornament of the country, and, what is of greater importance, we shall shorten distances, and, by making each part more accessible to and dependent on the other, we shall bind the Union more closely together." While he acknowledged that nature "has done so much for us by intersecting the country with so many great rivers, bays, and lakes", he said that now was the time to do this important work. He also said that manufacturing was an important
national priority. He said:
"Possessing as we do all the raw materials, the fruit of our own soil and industry, we ought not to depend in the degree we have done on supplies from other countries. While we are thus dependent the sudden event of war, unsought and unexpected, can not fail to plunge us into the most serious difficulties. It is important, too, that the capital which nourishes our manufacturers should be domestic, as its influence in that case instead of exhausting, as it may do in foreign hands, would be felt advantageously on agriculture and every other branch of industry. Equally important is it to provide at home a market for our raw materials, as by extending the competition it will enhance the price and protect the cultivator against the casualties incident to foreign markets."
Monroe called for cordial relations with Indian tribes "and to act with kindness and liberality in all our transactions." But he said that it was equally important to "persevere in our efforts to extend to them the advantages of civilization."
Turning next to economic matters, Monroe said that the "flourishing state of the Treasury" was indicative of "the willingness of our fellow-citizens to bear the burdens which the public necessities require." He also said that "the vast amount of vacant lands, the value of which daily augments, forms an additional resource of great extent and duration." He said, "These resources, besides accomplishing every other necessary purpose, put it completely in the power of the United States to discharge the national debt at an early period. Peace is the best time for improvement and preparation of every kind; it is in peace that our commerce flourishes most, that taxes are most easily paid, and that the revenue is most productive."
Monroe stated that it was his "sincere desire to preserve" the peace that existed. In a precursor to what would become the Era of Good feelings, Monroe commented on how "gratifying is it to witness the increased harmony of opinion which pervades our Union." He continued:
"Discord does not belong to our system. Union is recommended as well by the free and benign principles of our Government, extending its blessings to every individual, as by the other eminent advantages attending it. The American people have encountered together great dangers and sustained severe trials with success. They constitute one great family with a common interest. Experience has enlightened us on some questions of essential importance to the country. The progress has been slow, dictated by a just reflection and a faithful regard to every interest connected with it. To promote this harmony in accord with the principles of our republican Government and in a manner to give them the most complete effect, and to advance in all other respects the best interests of our Union, will be the object of my constant and zealous exertions."
In closing, Monroe commented on how unique the American experience this far had been. He said, "If we look to the history of other nations, ancient or modern, we find no example of a growth so rapid, so gigantic, of a people so prosperous and happy." But he looked to the future and said:
"In contemplating what we have still to perform, the heart of every citizen must expand with joy when he reflects how near our Government has approached to perfection; that in respect to it we have no essential improvement to make; that the great object is to preserve it in the essential principles and features which characterize it, and that is to be done by preserving the virtue and enlightening the minds of the people; and as a security against foreign dangers to adopt such arrangements as are indispensable to the support of our independence, our rights and liberties. If we persevere in the career in which we have advanced so far and in the path already traced, we can not fail, under the favor of a gracious Providence, to attain the high destiny which seems to await us. In the Administrations of the illustrious men who have preceded me in this high station, with some of whom I have been connected by the closest ties from early life, examples are presented which will always be found highly instructive and useful to their successors. From these I shall endeavor to derive all the advantages which they may afford."
He closed by complimenting the outgoing President, James Madison. He said: "Of my immediate predecessor, under whom so important a portion of this great and successful experiment has been made, I shall be pardoned for expressing my earnest wishes that he may long enjoy in his retirement the affections of a grateful country, the best reward of exalted talents and the most faithful and meritorious service." He concluded his address with this promise:
"Relying on the aid to be derived from the other departments of the Government, I enter on the trust to which I have been called by the suffrages of my fellow-citizens with my fervent prayers to the Almighty that He will be graciously pleased to continue to us that protection which He has already so conspicuously displayed in our favor."