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美國第七任總統傑克遜第二次就職演講

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“我對傑克遜將軍任總統職之前景感到驚恐。就我所知,他是最不適合擔當此職者之一。他對法條與制度少有重視,而實際上他是個稱職的軍事首長。他火氣沖天。在我任議長時,他是個參議員,因脾氣急躁,他就是不能條理分明地說話。有太多次,我看他是想好好的講,卻因爲狂怒而嗆咳。他的火氣現在無疑是小多了;自我認識他起,他就一直試著控制自己的脾氣,但他實在是個危險的人物。”

——托馬斯·傑斐遜

美國第七任總統傑克遜第二次就職演講

Fellow Citizens:
公民們:

The will of the American people, expressed through their unsolicited suffrages, calls me before you to pass through the solemnities preparatory to taking upon myself the duties of President of the United States for another term. For their approbation of my public conduct through a period which has not been without its difficulties, and for this renewed expression of their confidence in my good intentions, I am at a loss for terms adequate to the expression of my gratitude.

美國人民通過自願選舉所表達的意志,要求我站在你們面前通過這一莊重的儀式,作爲我連任合衆國總統職務的準備。你們對我在一個不無困難的時期執政的情況表示認可,對我良好的願望再次表示信賴,對此我實在找不出適當的言詞來表達我的感激。

It shall be displayed to the extent of my humble abilities in continued efforts so to administer the Government as to preserve their liberty and promote their happiness. My experience in public concerns and the observation of a life somewhat advanced confirm the opinions long since imbibed by me, that the destruction of our State governments or the annihilation of their control over the local concerns of the people would lead directly to revolution and anarchy, and finally to despotism and military domination.

我將繼續盡我微薄之力管理政府,維護你們的自由,促進你們的幸福,以此來表達我的感激之情。我任公職的經驗和對生活的略微高超的觀察證實了我長久以來所形成的觀點,廢除我們的州政府或者取消它們對地方事務的控制,必然會直接導致革命或無政府狀態,最終則導致專制和軍事控制。

In proportion, therefore, as the General Government encroaches upon the rights of the States, in the same proportion does it impair its own power and detract from its ability to fulfill the purposes of its mnly impressed with these considerations, my countrymen will ever find me ready to exercise my constitutional powers in arresting measures, which may directly or indirectly encroach upon the rights of the States or tend to consolidate all political power in the General Government.

因此,如果中央政府侵害了各州的部分權利,也就損害了自身的部分權力,並減弱了部分的創造能力。如果同胞們切實銘記這些考慮,便會發現我準備行使我的憲法權力,以阻止那直接或間接侵犯州權、或企圖加強中央政府政治權力的各種措施。

But of equal, and, indeed, of incalculable, importance is the union of these States, and the sacred duty of all to contribute to its preservation by a liberal support of the General Government in the exercise of its just powers. You have been wisely admonished to "accustom yourselves to think and speak of the Union as of the palladium of your political safety and prosperity, watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety, discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can in any event be abandoned, and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of any attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts."

但是,具有同等而且確實是無可估量重要性的是這些州的聯合,以及所有各州都大力支持中央政府行使其公正的權力,以此來維護其聯合的神聖職責。你們曾被理智地告誡過:“你們要習慣於像對待護佑你們政治上的安全與繁榮的守護神那樣想到它或談論它;要小心翼翼、無微不至地保護它:要駁斥一切拋棄它的想法,即使對它抱有絲毫懷疑亦不允許;要義正詞嚴地反對剛冒頭的、一切可能使我國的任何部分與其他部分疏遠並削弱連接全國各地的神聖紐帶的種種企圖。”

Without union, our independence and liberty would never have been achieved; without union, they never can be maintained. Divided into twenty four, or even a smaller number, of separate communities, we shall see our internal trade burdened with numberless restraints and exactions; communication between distant points and sections obstructed or cut off; our sons made soldiers to deluge with blood the fields they now till in peace; the mass of our people borne down and impoverished by taxes to support armies and navies, and military leaders at the head of their victorious legions becoming our lawgivers and judges.

沒有聯合,我們的獨立和自由就永遠不會取得;沒有聯合,獨立和自由也決得不到維護。如果我國分裂爲24個獨立的地區,或者即使數量上少一些,我們的國內貿易將爲無數的限制和苛稅所累;遙遠的市鎮與地區之間的通訊聯繫將受阻或被切斷;我們的孩子將被迫當兵,使他們現在還在和平耕種的土地血流成河;人民爲負擔陸海軍的賦稅而陷入貧困,率領着得勝軍團的軍事領袖們將成爲我們的立法者和審判官。

The loss of liberty, of all good government, of peace, plenty, and happiness, must inevitably follow a dissolution of the Union. In supporting it, therefore, we support all that is dear to the freeman and the philanthropist. The time at which stand before you is full of interest. The eyes of all nations are fixed on our Republic.

隨着聯邦的解體,我們將不可避免地失去自由,失去這絕好的政體,失去和平、富裕和幸福。因此,支持聯邦,我們就支持了自由人和博愛主義者所珍視的一切。我站在你們面前的這一時刻充分地引起了人們的注意。世界各國的目光都在注視着我們的共和政體。

The event of the existing crisis will be decisive in the opinion of mankind of the practicability of our federal system of government. Great is the stake placed in our hands; great is the responsibility which must rest upon the people of the United States. Let us realize the importance of the attitude in which we stand before the world. Let us exercise forbearance and firmness. Let us extricate our country from the dangers which surround it and learn wisdom from the lessons they inculcate.

目前這個危機的結果將決定全人類對我們聯邦制政府的可行性的看法。置於我們手中的賭注是巨大的;置於美國人民肩上的責任是重大的。讓我們意識到我們對全世界表明的這種態度的重要性。讓我們運用我們的剋制態度和堅定信念。讓我們將我們的國家所從處的危險中解脫出來,從這些危險所反覆說明的教訓中汲取智慧。

Deeply impressed with the truth of these observations, and under the obligation of that solemn oath which I am about to take. I shall continue to exert all my faculties to maintain the just powers of the Constitution and to transmit unimpaired to posterity the blessings of our Federal Union.

這些觀察所得出的道理給我留下深刻的印象。既然我必須對我即將作的莊嚴誓詞負責,我將繼續竭盡全力維護憲法所規定的正當權力,將我們合衆國的福扯無損地傳至後代。

At the same time, it will be my aim to inculcate by my official acts the necessity of exercising by the General Government those powers only that are clearly delegated; to encourage simplicity and economy in the expenditures of the Government; to raise no more money from the people than may be requisite for these objects, and in a manner that will best promote the interests of all classes of the community and of all portions of the Union.

同時,我的目標是,以我的官方行動,反覆灌輸中央政府只行使明確地授予它的權力的必要性;鼓勵政府節儉開支;不向人民徵收超過達到這些目標所需要的款項,最大限度地提高社會各階級和聯邦各州的利益。

Constantly bearing in mind that in entering into society "individuals must give up a share of liberty to preserve the rest," it will be my desire so to discharge my duties as to foster with our brethren in all parts of the country a spirit of liberal concession and compromise, and, by reconciling our fellow citizens to those partial sacrifices which they must unavoidably make for the preservation of a greater good, to recommend our invaluable Government and Union to the confidence and affections of the American people.

我們要時刻牢記,在進入社會“個人必須放棄一份自由以維護其他人的自由,”我的願望將是履行我的職責,並和全國各地的同胞們一起,培養一種寬容謙讓的精神。使我們的公民安心於爲維護更大的利益而必須做出部分的犧牲。從而使我們寶貴的政府和聯邦能博得美國人民的信任和愛戴。

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