Unidos, PRONUNCIADO EN SU TOMA DE POSESIÓN, EL 4 DE MARZO DE 1801, EN LA CIUDAD DE
Friends and Fellow-Citizens, CALLED upon to undertake the duties of the first executive office of our country^ I avail myself of the presence of that portion of my fellow -citizens, which is here assembled^ to express my grateful thanks, for the favour with which they have been pleased to look towards me; to declare a sincere con- sciousnseSy that the task is above my talents^ and that I approach it with those atixious a?id awful presentiments, which the greatness of the charge, and the weakness of my powers, so justly inspire, A rising nation, spread over a wide and fruitful land..,. traversing all the seas with the rich produc- tions of their industry., ..engaged in commerce with nations who feelpower andforget 7'ight... advancing rapidly to destinies beyond the reach of mortal eye ...when I contemplate these transcendent objects, and see the honor, the happiness, ami the hopes of this t so ] deloved cowitry^ committed to the issue and the au- spices of this day, I shrink from the contemplation^ and humble myself before the magnitude of the undertaking. Utterly^ indeedy should I despair^ did not the presence of many^ nvhom I here see, remind me, that, in the other high authorities pro* liided by our constitution, I shall find resources of wisdom, of ^virtue, and of zeal, on which to rely under all difficulties. To you, then, gentle- men, who are charged ivitb the sovereign functions of legislation, and to