【正文】 路可走；那時(shí)他們并不怎么懼怕必須下決心加以抗擊的令人生畏的強(qiáng)大艦船和軍隊(duì)，他們更為擔(dān)心的是，在這個(gè)疆域遼闊的國家應(yīng)當(dāng)建立何種形式的全國和州政府之一問題，必然會(huì)引起種種斗爭(zhēng)和分歧。人民在革命戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)期間所表現(xiàn)出來的熱情和奮發(fā)賦予了政府一席之地，保持了一種至少使社會(huì)得以暫時(shí)維持的秩序。但是美國幅員廣大，而這些國家則地域狹小，郵差從政府所在地到達(dá)邊陲僅需一天，兩者之間有著無數(shù)具體的鮮明差異。果不其然，很快就出現(xiàn)了個(gè)人和各州均無視聯(lián)邦規(guī)定和不聽聯(lián)邦勸告的現(xiàn)象，這即便不算違背聯(lián)邦權(quán)威，但也帶來了令人憂郁的后果：人們普遍消沉懶散，各州之間妒忌傾軋，航運(yùn)和商業(yè)衰落不堪，必需品的生產(chǎn)萎靡不振，土地和農(nóng)產(chǎn)品的價(jià)值普遍下跌，個(gè)人和公共信念遭到蔑視，國外交往也有欠審慎以致信譽(yù)掃地，這一切終于招致人心不滿、遍生仇隙、拉幫結(jié)派、偏激集會(huì)和騷亂蜂起，預(yù)示著一場(chǎng)全國性的災(zāi)難就要來臨。人們獻(xiàn)計(jì)獻(xiàn)策，努力建立一個(gè)更為完善的聯(lián)盟，以匡扶正義，確保國內(nèi)安寧，提供共同防御，增進(jìn)公眾幸福，爭(zhēng)取自由的賜福。在這一轉(zhuǎn)折的整個(gè)過程中，我都在國外執(zhí)行公務(wù)，因而我第一次見到憲法也是在國外。我認(rèn)為，憲法出自心懷善良愿望的有志之士之手，較之人們提出或建議實(shí)行的其他任何實(shí)驗(yàn)，均更加切合美國及美國人民的智慧、特性、環(huán)境和各種關(guān)系。我當(dāng)時(shí)對(duì)憲法就毫無異議，自此以后以后也是一樣。我也從未想到要提出修改憲法，除非人民從自身經(jīng)驗(yàn)出發(fā)，認(rèn)為確有必要或者時(shí)機(jī)相宜，從而通過自己在國會(huì)和各州議會(huì)的代表，根據(jù)憲法本身的規(guī)定，采取修改憲法的行動(dòng)，并且制定有關(guān)的修正案。我時(shí)常關(guān)注憲法，對(duì)它的執(zhí)行情況感到滿意，為它在國家的和平、秩序和繁榮、幸福方面所顯示的成效感到高興，并由此對(duì)它產(chǎn)生了一種習(xí)慣性的依戀和崇敬之情。官服和鉆石除了純粹裝點(diǎn)門面之外，難道還能為此增添任何實(shí)質(zhì)性的東西嗎？那種由偶然繼承所得或出自遠(yuǎn)古時(shí)代確立的制度的權(quán)威，難道會(huì)比這種從誠實(shí)而具有遠(yuǎn)見卓識(shí)的人民的內(nèi)心和判斷中生龍活虎般產(chǎn)生的權(quán)威更為可親可敬嗎？后一種權(quán)威所唯一代表的乃是人民，它的每一合法機(jī)構(gòu)，無論以什么形式出現(xiàn)，都是人民力量和尊嚴(yán)的反映，都只是為了人民的利益。在人類的心靈中，難道還存在比這個(gè)令人更為欣喜的目標(biāo)和想法嗎？如果民族自豪感乃是合情合理的，那么只有當(dāng)它源于對(duì)國民的純真、知識(shí)和仁慈所抱的信心時(shí)才能如此，倘若源于詮釋或財(cái)富、奢華或榮耀則不然。一次選舉如果竟以一票只差決定勝負(fù)，而一個(gè)政黨又可能借助陰謀詭計(jì)和腐敗行徑來弄到這一張選票，因之這個(gè)政府就可能時(shí)某一政黨為了一己之私，而不是全國人民為了全國的利益而作出的選擇。那樣就有可能導(dǎo)致外國人統(tǒng)治我們，而不是我們?nèi)嗣褡约航y(tǒng)治自己。這就是我們那親切可愛而饒有趣味的政府體制，以及它可能遇到的一些流弊。這位公民在一系列偉大行動(dòng)的過程中，表現(xiàn)出謹(jǐn)慎、公正、克制和堅(jiān)定的品德，指引著一個(gè)為同樣的美德所鼓舞、為同樣的愛國熱情和熱愛自由的精神所激勵(lì)的民族走向獨(dú)立與和平，踏上增進(jìn)財(cái)富與空前繁榮之路。祝愿他頤養(yǎng)天年，從對(duì)自己供職生涯的甜美追憶和人類對(duì)他的感激之中獲得快樂，享受他來給全人類、也帶給他自己的日漸增多的幸福之果，欣慰地展望這個(gè)國家逐年明朗的未來命運(yùn)的光輝前景。他自愿引退的范例得到國會(huì)參眾兩院、各州立法機(jī)構(gòu)以及全國人民的一致推崇，將為他的繼任者所效法。但人總是抱有某種希望的，因而我希望在這個(gè)場(chǎng)合大膽發(fā)表我見解，而不致于冒天下之大不韙。如果上述條件均能達(dá)到，我當(dāng)奮發(fā)努力，俾使國會(huì)兩院做出的這一深謀遠(yuǎn)慮的決斷，不至于毫無效果。上帝乃是至高無上的主宰，秩序的守護(hù)神，正義的源泉和所有時(shí)代里美好的自由世界的保護(hù)者，愿他繼續(xù)賜福我國人民和他們的政府，按照它的神圣意旨，保佑這個(gè)政府諸事順?biāo)欤朗篱L存！第二篇：1797年約翰and candid men will acknowledge that in such cases choice would have little advantage to boast of over lot or is the amiable and interesting system of government(and such are some of the abuses to which it may be exposed)which the people of America have exhibited to the admiration and anxiety of the wise and virtuous of all nations for eight years under the administration of a citizen who, by a long course of great actions, regulated by prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude,conducting a people inspired with the same virtues and animated with the same ardent patriotism and love of liberty to independence and peace, to increasing wealth and unexampled prosperity, has merited the gratitude of his fellowcitizens, manded the highest praises of foreign nations, and secured immortal glory with that retirement which is his voluntary choice may he long live to enjoy the delicious recollection of his services, the gratitude of mankind, the happy fruits of them to himself and the world, which are daily increasing, and that splendid prospect of the future fortunes of this country which is opening from year to name may be still a rampart, and the knowledge that he lives a bulwark, against all open or secret enemies of his country39。but as something may be expected, the occasion, I hope, will be admitted as an apology if I venture to say that if a preference, upon principle, of a free republican government, formed upon long and serious reflection, after a diligent and impartial inquiry after truth。if a respectful attention to the constitutions of the individual States and a constant caution and delicacy toward the State governments。if a love of virtuous men of all parties and denominations。if a love of equal laws, of justice, and humanity in the interior administration。if a spirit of equity and humanity toward the aboriginal nations of America, and a disposition to meliorate their condition by inclining them to be more friendly to us, and our citizens to be more friendly to them。if a personal esteem for the French nation, formed in a residence of seven years chiefly among them, and a sincere desire to preserve the friendship which has been so much for the honor and interest of both nations。if an intention to pursue by amicable negotiation a reparation for the injuries that have been mitted on the merce of our fellowcitizens by whatever nation, and if success can not be obtained, to lay the facts before theLegislature, that they may consider what further measures the honor and interest of the Government and its constituents demand。if an unshaken confidence in the honor, spirit, and resources of the American people, on which I have so often hazarded my all and never been deceived。and, with humble reverence, I feel it to be my duty to add, if a veneration for the religion of a people who profess and call themselves Christians, and a fixed resolution to consider a decent respect for Christianity among the best remendations for the public service, can enable me in any degree to ply with your wishes, it shall be my strenuous endeavor that this sagacious injunction of the two Houses shall not be without this great example before me, with the sense and spirit, the faith and honor, the duty and interest, of the same American people pledged to support the Constitution of the United States, I entertain no doubt of its continuance in all its energy, and my mind is prepared without hesitation to lay myself under the most solemn obligations to support it to the utmost of my may that Being who is supreme over all, the Patron of Order, the Fountain of Justice, and the Protector in all ages of the world of virtuous liberty, continue His blessing upon this nation and its Government and give it all possible success and duration consistent with the ends of His Adams約翰?亞當(dāng)斯就職演講費(fèi)城星期六,1797年3月4日美國的政體與喬治?華盛頓確實(shí)，還有其他什么形式的政體，值得我們?nèi)绱俗鹁春蜔釔勰?？古代有一種很不嚴(yán)密的觀念認(rèn)為，人類聚集而形成城市和國家，是最令具有卓越見識(shí)的人感到愉悅的目標(biāo)，但無可置疑的是，在善良的人們看來，任何國家所顯示的情景，都比不上這里和另一議院所經(jīng)常見到的集會(huì)更令人喜悅，更高尚莊嚴(yán)，或者說更令人敬畏；政府的行政權(quán)和國會(huì)各個(gè)機(jī)構(gòu)的立法權(quán)，是由同胞們定期選出的公民來行使的，其目的是為公眾利益而制定和執(zhí)行法律。它的各個(gè)合法機(jī)構(gòu)，無論表現(xiàn)為何種形式，反映的都是人民的權(quán)利和尊嚴(yán)，并且只為人民謀利益。難道還有比這更令人喜悅的目標(biāo)或構(gòu)想能奉獻(xiàn)給人類觀念嗎？如果說民族自豪感歷來無可非議和情有可原，那么，這種自豪感必定不是來自權(quán)勢(shì)和財(cái)富，不是來自豪華和榮耀，而是來自堅(jiān)信民族的純真、識(shí)見和仁愛。如果選舉需由一人一票的多數(shù)票來決定勝負(fù)，而一個(gè)政黨可以通過欺騙和腐蝕來達(dá)到目的，那么這個(gè)政府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。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）。這位公民為人謹(jǐn)慎、公正、節(jié)制、堅(jiān)韌，長期以來，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