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The election of Andrew Jackson was heralded as a new page in the history of the
Republic. The first military leader elected President since George Washington, he was much
admired by the electorate, who came to Washington to celebrate "Old Hickory's"
inauguration. Outgoing President Adams did not join in the ceremony, which was held for
the first time on the East Portico of the Capitol building. Chief Justice John Marshall
administered the oath of office. After the proceedings at the Capitol, a large group of
citizens walked with the new President along Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, and
many of them visited the executive mansion that day and evening. Such large numbers of
people arrived that many of the furnishings were ruined. President Jackson left the
building by a window to avoid the crush of people.
"In administering the laws of Congress I shall keep steadily in view the limitations
as well as the extent of the Executive power trusting thereby to discharge the functions
of my office without transcending its authority....In such measures as I may be called on
to pursue in regard to the rights of the separate States I hope to be animated by a proper
respect for those sovereign members of our Union, taking care not to confound the powers
they have reserved to themselves with those they have granted to the Confederacy." -
FIRST INAUGURAL ADDRESS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1829
"In the domestic policy of this Government there are two objects which especially
deserve the attention of the people and their representatives, and which have been and
will continue to be the subjects of my increasing solicitude. They are the preservation of
the rights of the several States and the integrity of the Union. These great objects are
necessarily connected, and can only be attained by an enlightened exercise of the powers
of each within its appropriate sphere in conformity with the public will constitutionally
expressed. To this end it becomes the duty of all to yield a ready and patriotic
submission to the laws constitutionally enacted and thereby promote and strengthen a
proper confidence in those institutions of the several States and of the United States
which the people themselves have ordained for their own government. My experience in
public concerns and the observation of a life somewhat advanced confirm the opinions long
since imbibed by me, that the destruction of our State governments or the annihilation of
their control over the local concerns of the people would lead directly to revolution and
anarchy, and finally to despotism and military domination." - SECOND INAUGURAL
ADDRESS MONDAY, MARCH 4, 1833
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