Thursday, February 5, 2009

James Buchanan Inaugural - Humbly Invoking God

James Buchanan was the 15th President of the United States. In his Inaugural Address (1857) he said:

"In entering upon this great office I must humbly invoke the God of our fathers for wisdom and firmness to execute its high and responsible duties in such a manner as to restore harmony and ancient friendship among the people of the several States and to preserve our free institutions throughout many generations."
...

"We ought to cultivate peace, commerce, and friendship with all nations, and this not merely as the best means of promoting our own material interests, but in a spirit of Christian benevolence toward our fellow-men, wherever their lot may be cast."
(Christian benevolence was probably a convenient figure of speech at that time, but it is worthy of note that is WAS a common figure of speech.)

Read President Buchanan's entire Inaugural Address

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