华盛顿
1801年3月4日，星期三
Friends and Fellow－Citizens：
朋友们、同胞们：
Called upon to undertake the duties of the first execu tive office of our country，I avail myself of the presence of that portion of my fellow－citizens which is here assembled to express my grateful thanks for the favor with which they have been pleased to look toward me，to declare a sincere consciousness that the task is above my talents，and that I approach it with those anxious and awful presentiments which the greatness of the charge and the weakness of my powers so justly inspire．A rising nation，spread over a wide and fruitful land，traversing all the seas with the rich productions of their industry，engaged in commerce with nations who feel power and forget right，advancing rapidly to destinies beyond the reach of mortal eye when I contemplate these transcendent objects，and see the honor，the happiness，and the hopes of this beloved country committed to the issue，and the auspices of this day，I shrink from the contemplation，and humble myself before the magnitude of the undertaking．
我应召担任国家的最高行政长官，值此诸位同胞集会之时，我衷心感谢大家寄予我的厚爱，诚挚地说，我意识到这项任务非我能力所及，其责任之重大，本人能力之浅簿，自然使我就任时忧惧交加。一个沃野千里的新兴国家，带着丰富的工业产品跨海渡洋，同那些自恃强权、不顾公理的国家进行贸易，向着世人无法预见的天命疾奔——当我思考这些重大的目标，当我想到这个可爱的国家，其荣誉、幸福和希望都系于这个问题和今天的盛典，我就不敢再想下去，并面对这宏图大业自惭德薄能鲜。
Utterly，indeed，should I despair did not the presence of many whom I here see remind me that in the other high authorities provided by our Constitution I shall find resources of wisdom，of virtue，and of zeal on which to rely under all difficulties．To you，then，gentlemen，who are charged with the sovereign functions of legislation，and to those associated with you，I look with encouragement for that guidance and support which may enable us to steer with safety the vessel in which we are all embarked amidst the conflicting elements of a troubled world．
确实，若不是在这里见到许多先生们在场，使我想起无论遇到什么困难，都可以向宪法规定的另一高级机构寻找智慧、美德和热忱的源泉，我一定会完全心灰意懒。因此，负有神圣的立法职责的先生们和各位有关人士，我鼓起勇气期望你们给予指引和支持，使我们能够在乱世纷争中同舟共济，安然航行。
During the contest of opinion through which we have passed the animation of discussions and of exertions has sometimes worn an aspect which might impose on strangers unused to think freely and to speak and to write what they think；but this being now decided by the voice of the nation，announced according to the rules of the Constitution，all will，of course，arrange themselves under the will of the law，and unite in common efforts for the common good．All，too，will bear in mind this sacred principle，that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail，that will to be rightful must be reasonable；that the minority possess their equal rights，which equal law must protect，and to violate would be oppression．
在我们过去的意见交锋中，大家热烈讨论，各展所长，这种紧张气氛，有时会使不习惯于自由思想、不习惯于说出或写下自己想法的人感到不安；但如今，这场争论既已由全国的民意作出决定，而且根据宪法的规定予以公布，大家当然会服从法律的意志，妥为安排，为共同的利益齐心协力，大家也会铭记这条神圣的原则；尽管在任何情况下，多数人的意志是起决定作用的，但这种意志必须合理才属公正；少数人享有同等权利，这种权利必须同样受到法律保护，如果侵犯，便是压迫。
Let us，then，fellow－citizens，unite with one heart and one mind．Let us restore to social intercourse that harmony and affection without which liberty and even life itself are but dreary things．And let us reflect that，having banished from our land that religious intolerance under which mankind so long bled and suffered，we have yet gained little if we countenance a political intolerance as despotic，as wicked，and capable of as bitter and bloody persecutions．
因此，公民们，让我们同心同德地团结起来。让我们在社会交往中和睦如初、恢复友爱，如果没有这些，自由，甚至生活本身都会索然寡味。让我们再想一想，我们已经将长期以来造成人类流血、受苦的宗教信仰上的不宽容现象逐出国土，如果我们鼓励某种政治上的不宽容，其专制、邪恶和可能造成的残酷、血腥迫害均与此相仿，那么我们必将无所收获。
During the throes and convulsions of the ancient world，during the agonizing spasms of infuriated man，seeking through blood and slaughter his long－lost liberty，it was not wonderful that the agitation of the billows should reach even this distant and peaceful shore；that this should be more felt and feared by some and less by others，and should divide opinions as to measures of safety．But every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle．We have called by different names brethren of the same principle．We are all Republicans，we are all Federalists．If there be any among us who would wish to dissolve this Union or to change its republican form，let them stand undisturbed as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it．
当旧世界经历阵痛和骚动，当愤怒的人挣扎着想通过流血、杀戮来寻求失去已久的自由，那波涛般的激情甚至也会冲击这片遥远而宁静的海岸；对此，人们的感触和忧患不会一样，因而对安全措施的意见就出现了分歧，这些都不足为奇。但是，各种意见分歧并不都是原则分歧。我们以不同的名字呼唤同一原则的兄弟。我们都是共和党人，我们都是联邦党人，如果我们当中有人想解散这个联邦，或者想改变它的共和体制，那就让他们不受干扰而作为对平安的纪念碑吧，因为有了平安，错误的意见就可得到宽容，理性就得以自由地与之抗争。
I know，indeed，that some honest men fear that a republican government can not be strong，that this Government is not strong enough；but would the honest patriot，in the full tide of successful experiment，abandon a government which has so far kept us free and firm on the theoretic and visionary fear that this Government，the worlds best hope，may by possibility want energy to preserve itself？I trust not．
诚然，我知道，有些正直人士担心共和制政府无法成为强有力的政府，担心我们这个政府不够坚强；但是，在实验取得成功的高潮中，一个诚实的爱国者，难道会因为一种假设的和幻想的疑惧，就以为这个被世界寄予最大希望的政府可能需要力量才得以自存，因而就放弃这个迄今带给我们自由和坚定的政府吗？我相信不会。
I believe this，on the contrary，the strongest Government on earth．I believe it the only one where every man，at the call of the law，would fly to the standard of the law，and would meet invasions of the public order as his own personal concern．Sometimes it is said that man can not be trusted with the government of himself．Can he，then，be trusted with the government of others？Or have we found angels in the forms of kings to govern him？Let history answer this question．
相反，我相信这是世界上最坚强的政府。我相信惟有在这种政府的治理下，每个人才会响应法律的号召，奔向法律的旗帜下，像对待切身利益那样，迎击侵犯公共秩序的举动：有时我们听到一种说法：不能让人们自己管理自己。那么，能让他去管理别人吗？或者，我们在统治人民的君王名单中发现了天使吗？这个问题让历史来回答吧。
Let us，then，with courage and confidence pursue our own Federal and Republican principles，our attachment to union and representative government．
因此，让我们以勇气和信心，迫求我们自己的联邦与共和原则，拥戴联邦与代议制政府。