Kindly separated, by tiature and a wide ocean, from the exterminating havock of one quarter of the globe,.. .too high-minded to endure the degra- dations of the others. ,.,possessing a chosen coun- tryy with room enough for our descendants to the thousandth and thousandth generation.... entertaining a due sense of our equal right to the use of our own facuities ..,. to the acquisitions of our own industry ....to honor and confidence from our fellow citi- zens; resulting not from birth, but from our actions, and their sense of them,,, .enlightened by a benign religion^ professed, indeed, and practised in various forms, yet all of them inculcating ho- nesty., truths temperance, gratitude ^ and the love of c 53 :i man,.,.ac'knov^ledging and adoring an omer-ruling Promde7ice, which, by all its dispensations, proves that it delights in the happiness of man here, and his greater happiness hereafter...,with all these blessings, what more is necessary to make us a happy and prosperous people ?,„. Still one thing more, fellow -citizens., a 'wise andfrugalgovernment, which shall restrain menfrom injuring one another; shall leave them otherwisefree to regulate their ofwn pur- suits of industry and improvement ; and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum ofgood government ; and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicities.
About to enter, fellow-citizens, on the exercise of duties., which comprehend every thing dear and valuable to you, it is proper you shoidd understand what I deem the essential principles of our government, and consequently those which ought to shape its administration. I will compress them voithin the narrowest compass they will bear, stating the general principle, but not all its limitations. Equal and exact justice to all men., of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political,. ..peace ^ commerce^ and honest friendship with all nations,... entangling