LAD #7 - Thomas Jefferson First Inaugural Address

On March 4, 1801, Thomas Jefferson as the second President of the United States of America delivered his inaugural address. Right off the back he expresses his concern that the task was above his talents. He speaks of how the Constitution will help him "find resources of wisdom, of virtue, and of zeal on which to rely under all difficulties". That Constitution will help him lead the nation, and how the people should live their lives under the constitution. He urges the people to unite and restore harmony throughout the nation. Even though the nation is comprised of many different factions they are still under the same principles. Jefferson assures those who view the new government as weak, which in his opinion is the strongest. He continues to sum up the assets of the government, which make it one of the best. Jefferson had a strict interpretation of the Constitution, which he states: "I will compress them (the articles and amendments of the Constitution) within the narrowest compass they will bear, stating the general principle, but not all its limitations." This means that basically any law, which has not been stated in the constitution, is unconstitutional. Where as Hamilton for example, had a lose interpretation, and everything not stated in the Constitution is constitutional. He briefly mentions Washington when he states, "I have learnt to expect that it will rarely fall to the lot of imperfect man to retire from this station with the reputation and the favor which bring him into it." He concludes with that he will of his best ability do what he thinks is best for the people, and keep their best interests in mind. Retiring when the general public feels it best for him to do so.