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. 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.
so many events have occurred within the last four years which have necessarily called forth——sometimes under circumstances the most delicate and painful——my views of the principles and policy which ought to be pursued by the general government that i need on this occasion but allude to a few leading considerations connected with some of them.
the foreign policy adopted by our government soon after the formation of our present constitution， and very generally pursued by successive administrations， has been crowned with almost complete success， and has elevated our character among the nations of the earth. to do justice to all and to submit to wrong from none has been during my administration its governing maxim， and so happy have been its results that we are not only at peace with all the world， but have few causes of