time.

Fellow-citizens, being fully invested with that high office to which the
partiality of my countrymen has called me, I now take an affectionate
leave of you. You will bear with you to your homes the remembrance of
the pledge I have this day given to discharge all the high duties of my
exalted station according to the best of my ability, and I shall enter
upon their performance with entire confidence in the support of a just
and generous people.

* * * * *

JAMES KNOX POLK, INAUGURAL ADDRESS

TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1845

[Transcriber's note: The inaugural ceremonies of former Tennessee
Governor and Speaker of the House James Knox Polk were conducted before
a large crowd that stood in the pouring rain. The popular politician had
been nominated on the ninth ballot as his party's candidate. His name
had not been in nomination until the third polling of the delegates at
the national convention. The outgoing President Tyler, who had taken
office upon the death of William Henry Harrison, rode to the Capitol
with Mr. Polk. The oath of office was administered on the East Portico
by Chief Justice Roger Taney. The events of the ceremony were
telegraphed to Baltimore by Samuel Morse on his year-old invention.]

Fellow-Citizens:

Without solicitation on my part, I have been chosen by the free and
voluntary suffrages of my countrymen to the most honorable and most
responsible office on earth. I am deeply impressed with gratitude for
the confidence reposed in me. Honored with this distinguished
consideration at an earlier period of life than any of my predecessors,
I can not disguise the diffidence with which I am about to enter on the
discharge of my official duties.

If the more aged and experienced men who have filled the office of
President of the United States even in the infancy of the Republic
distrusted their ability to discharge the duties of that exalted
station, what ought not to be the apprehensions of one so much younger
and less endowed now that our domain extends from ocean to ocean, that
our people have so greatly increased in numbers, and at a time when so
great diversity of opinion prevails in regard to the principles and
policy which should characterize the administration of our Government?
Well may the boldest fear and the wisest tremble when incurring
responsibilities on which may depend our country's peace and prosperity,
and in some degree the hopes and happiness of the whole human f