【正文】 就有可能是政黨為自身目的而作出的選擇，而下是國家為全國利益而作出的選擇；如果其他國家有可能通過奉承或脅迫，欺詐或暴力，通過恐怖、陰謀或收買等伎倆控制了這次選舉，那么這個(gè)政府就可能不是美國人民作出的選擇，而是其他國家作出的選擇。那樣，就可能是外國統(tǒng)治我們，而不是我們——人民——來管理自已，那樣，公正的人士就會(huì)認(rèn)識(shí)到，選擇較之命運(yùn)或機(jī)遇就未必更有優(yōu)越性而下值得夸耀了。這就是使人感到親切和興趣的政治體制（及其可能暴露的某些弊端）。8年來，美國人民在一位公民的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)下展現(xiàn)了這種政治體制，引起了各國賢達(dá)的贊賞或掛慮。這位公民為人謹(jǐn)慎、公正、節(jié)制、堅(jiān)韌，長(zhǎng)期以來，他以一系列偉大的行動(dòng)，領(lǐng)導(dǎo)著一個(gè)為共同的美德所鼓舞、強(qiáng)烈的愛國心所激勵(lì)的和熱愛自由的民族，走向獨(dú)立、和平、富強(qiáng)和空前鱉榮。他值得同胞們感恩戴德，他博得了世界各國的最高贊揚(yáng)，他必將名垂千古。他自愿選擇了隱退，愿他在隱退后長(zhǎng)壽，愉快地回憶他供職時(shí)的情景，并享受人類對(duì)他的感激，享受他所作出的奉獻(xiàn)給他本人和全世界帶來的與日俱增的幸福果實(shí)，享受這個(gè)國家的未來命運(yùn)決定的、正在逐年展開的光明前景。他的名字仍將是一道防線，他的長(zhǎng)壽仍將是一座堡壘，抵御著一切危害國家安定的、公開的或暗藏的敵人。他的這一舉動(dòng)已得到國會(huì)兩院、各州立法機(jī)構(gòu)和全國人民的一致贊揚(yáng)，并將成為繼任者效法的榜樣。John Adams Inaugural Address In the City of Philadelphia Saturday, March 4, 1797When it was first perceived, in early times, that no middle course for America remained between unlimited submission to a foreign legislature and a total independence of its claims, men of reflection were less apprehensive of danger from the formidable power of fleets and armies they must determine to resist than from those contests and dissensions which would certainly arise concerning the forms of government to be instituted over the whole and over the parts of this extensive , however, on the purity of their intentions, the justice of their cause, and the integrity and intelligence of the people, under an overruling Providence which had so signally protected this country from the first, the representatives of this nation, then consisting of little more than half its present number, not only broke to pieces the chains which were forging and the rod of iron that was lifted up, but frankly cut asunder the ties which had bound them, and launched into an ocean of zeal and ardor of the people during the Revolutionary war, supplying the place of government, manded a degree of order sufficient at least for the temporary preservation of Confederation which was early felt to be necessary was prepared from the models of the Batavian and Helvetic confederacies, the only examples which remain with any detail and precision in history, and certainly the only ones which the people at large had ever reflecting on the striking difference in so many particulars between this country and those where a courier may go from the seat of government to the frontier in a single day, it was then certainly foreseen by some who assisted in Congress at the formation of it that it could not be of its regulations, inattention to its remendations, if not disobedience to its authority, not only in individuals but in States, soon appeared with their melancholy consequencesuniversal languor, jealousies and rivalries of States, decline of navigation and merce, discouragement of necessary manufactures, universal fall in the value of lands and their produce, contempt of public and private faith, loss of consideration and credit with foreign nations, and at length in discontents, animosities, binations, partial conventions, and insurrection, threatening some great national this dangerous crisis the people of America were not abandoned by their usual good sense, presence of mind, resolution, or were pursued to concert a plan to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the mon defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of public disquisitions, discussions, and deliberations issued in the present happy Constitution of in the service of my country abroad during the whole course of these transactions, I first saw the Constitution of the United States in a foreign by no literary altercation, animated by no public debate, heated by no party animosity, I read it with great satisfaction, as the result of good heads prompted by good hearts, as an experiment better adapted to the genius, character, situation, and relations of this nation and country than any which had ever been proposed or its general principles and great outlines it was conformable to such a system of government as I had ever most esteemed, and in some States, my own native State in particular, had contributed to a right of suffrage, in mon with my fellowcitizens, in the adoption or rejection of a constitution which was to rule me and my posterity, as well as them and theirs, I did not hesitate to express my approbation of it on all occasions, in public and in was not then, nor has been since, any objection to it in my mind that the Executive and Senate were not more have I ever entertained a thought of promoting any alteration in it but such as the people themselves, in the course of their experience, should see and feel to be necessary or expedient, and by their representatives in Congress and the State legislatures, according to the Constitution itself, adopt and to the bosom of my country after a painful separation from it for ten years, I had the honor to be elected to a station under the new order of things, and I have repeatedly laid myself under the most serious obligations to support the operation of it has equaled the most sanguine expectations of its friends, and from an habitual attention to it, satisfaction in its administration, and delight in its effects upon the peace, order, prosperity, and happiness of the nation I have acquired an habitual attachment to it and veneration for other form of government, indeed, can so well deserve our esteem and love?There may be little solidity in an ancient idea that congregations of men into cities and nations are the most pleasing objects in the sight of superior intelligences, but this is very certain, that to a benevolent human mind there can be no spectacle presented by any nation more pleasing, more noble, majestic, or august, than an assembly like that which has so often been seen in this and the other Chamber of Congress, of a Government in which the Executive authority, as well as that of all the branches of the Legislature, are exercised by citizens selected at regular periods by their neighbors to make and execute laws for the general anything essential, anything more than mere ornament and de