PREFACE. I submit this Political Text Book to my fellow-citizens, with no ordinary feelings of diffidence. The subjects it embraces, and the objects it has in view, are of inexpressible magnitude. No one can be ignorant of the vast importance of instilling into the minds of the rising generation, the sentiments and principles contained in a book like this. Perhaps it may be needless to say, the work is not intended to serve the unhallowed purposes of party triumph, but for the service of Truth. If I cherished the thought that the tendency of this compilation would be to keep alive the present strife of the contending parties of our beloved country, I should unhesitatingly consign it to the flames. But how can peace, or harmony, or conciliation, be hoped for, while both parties clothe themselves in the deceptious mantle of self-righteousness-while they not only believe themselves immaculate, but their opponents "monsters unredeemed by any virtue." Nothing but a serious, solemn and deep-rooted conviction on both sides, of egregious misconduct, can lead to that temper of mind which is necessary to produce a mild conciliating spirit. While both parties act the part of the self approving Pha risee, we might with equal chance of success attempt to unite fire and water-light and darkness-virtue and vice, as to unite them. But when both regard themselves in their true light, as offenders against their duties to their country, they will be disposed to forgive that they . may be forgiven. If unremitting labor and an earnest desire to produce a truly useful book, could bespeak for me the unqualified favor of the public, I might feel some degree of confi dence that a fair portion of that favor would be awarded to me. As however the labor of an author, or a compiler, and his good intentions, are seldom much appreciated, I must rely wholly upon the merits of the work for the approbation of those whose favor I solicit. page Constitution of the United States Amendments to the Constitution Washington's Inaugural Address . Washington's First Annual Address Jefferson's First Annual Message Madison's First Annual Message J. Q. Adams' Inaugural Address J. Q. Adams' First Annual Message Electoral Vote for President and Vice President Expenditures of the United States Loss to the Government by Defalcations THE POLITICAL TEXT BOOK. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. WHEN, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands. which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; and that, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundations on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments, long established, should not be changed for light and transient causes; and, accordingly, all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to |