LAD #9: Jefferson's First Inaugural Address

Jefferson's First Inaugural Address Summary

Jefferson begins his speech by expressing his gratefulness in being elected the President, but states that the tasks are too great for his talents. He says that he "...shall find resources of wisdom, of virtue, and of zeal…" to help him through these difficult tasks. He says he will look toward legislature (Congress) and others for advice. He goes on to speak about how we must "...unite in common efforts for the common good…" and how we are all Republicans, and we are all Federalists. Jefferson speaks about how we must be tolerant of other groups, religious, minorities, etc. The minorities will be able to possess their equal rights, and have those rights be protected. Jefferson encourages the republic form of government by saying that it will work and that it will continue to work better for the United States than any other. He says that we are separated by an ocean from the other powers of the world, so we are left to develop our own Republican and Federalist views and develop our own attachment to our representative government and united country. Jefferson then lists what he believes to be the most important Constitutional principles to run the government at all times: equal and exact justice to all men, honest friendships with all nations, no alliances, the support of state alliances, the preservation of the Federal government, the preservation of the right to vote and elect, the preservation of the right to decide by the majority, a keeping of a well-disciplined militia, the supremacy of civil over military authority, economy in the public expense, honest repayment of debts, the preservation of the nation's faith, encouragement of agriculture and commerce, the diffusion of information for public reason, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and the preservation of the habeas corpus. Jefferson ends his inaugural address by saying that he will uphold these principles to the best of his ability, but he that he won't be a perfect president. He asks the public to forgive him when he does make unintentional mistakes.