Abouttoenter,fellow-citizens,ontheexerciseofdutieswhichcomprehendeverythingdearandvaluabletoyou,itisproperyoushouldunderstandwhatIdeemtheessentialprinciplesofourGovernment,andconsequentlythosewhichoughttoshapeitsadministration.Iwillcompressthemwithinthenarrowestcompasstheywillbear,statingthegeneralprinciple,butnotallitslimitations.Equalandexactjusticetoallmen,ofwhateverstateorpersuasion,religiousorpolitical;peace,commerceandhonestfriendshipwithallnations,entanglingallianceswithnone;thesupportoftheStategovernmentsinalltheirrights,asthemostcompetentadministrationsforourdomesticconcernsandthesurestbulwarksagainstantirepublicantendencies;thepreservationoftheGeneralGovernmentinitswholeconstitutionalvigor,asthesheetanchorofourpeaceathomeandsafetyabroad;ajealouscareoftherightofelectionbythepeople—amildandsafecorrectiveofabuseswhichareloppedbytheswordofrevolutionwherepeaceableremediesareunprovided;absoluteacquiescenceinthedecisionsofthemajority,thevitalprincipleofrepublics,fromwhichisnoappealbuttoforce,thevitalprincipleandimmediateparentofdespotism;awell-disciplinedmilitia,ourbestrelianceinpeaceandforthefirstmomentsofwartillregularsmayrelievethem;thesupremacyoftheciviloverthemilitaryauthority;economyinthepublicexpense,thatlabormaybelightlyburthened;thehonestpaymentofourdebtsandsacredpreservationofthepublicfaith;encouragementofagriculture,andofcommerceasitshandmaid;thediffusionofinformationandarraignmentofallabusesatthebarofthepublicreason;freedomofreligion;freedomofthepress,andfreedomofpersonundertheprotectionofthehabeascorpus,andtrialbyjuriesimpartiallyselected.Theseprinciplesformthebrightconstellationwhichhasgonebeforeusandguidedourstepsthroughanageofrevolutionandreformation.Thewisdomofoursagesandbloodofourheroeshavebeendevotedtotheirattaimnent.Theyshouldbethecreedofourpoliticalfaith,thetextofcivicinstruction,thetouchstonebywhichtotrytheservicesofthosewetrust;andshouldwewanderfromtheminmomentsoferrororofalarm,letushastentoretraceourstepsandtoregaintheroadwhichaloneleadstopeace,libertyandsafety…
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我們經歷了一段時期的辯論，當時，大家討論得很熱烈，競相奔走。初識的人，對自由思考不習慣，不習慣把心中的想法自由地說出來或寫出來，剛見這種情形時，可能面面相覷。而現在經全國的民眾一致決定了，並根據憲法的規定加以公佈，大家當然會在法律的意旨之下，妥善安排，並且團結一致，為共同利益而努力。大家也會記住一項神聖的原則，即大多數人的意志，雖然在任何情形下都應採用，但這種意志必須合理，才能切實可行；而且少數人也同樣享有這些權利，必須受到法律的平等保護，如果加以侵犯，便是壓迫。因此，我們應當團結起來，齊心協力，在相處中應恢復和睦與友愛。因為如果沒有它們，自由，甚至生活本身，都將成為死氣沉沉的事物。我們還應想到，我們已經把宗教上的偏執性摒棄於國度之外，這種偏執性已經使人類流血甚多、受苦良久。如果我們又鼓勵政治上的偏執性，而且其專橫與邪惡以及所造成的酷烈而血腥的迫害，與宗教裁判所導致的後果不相上下，那麼，我們的進步微乎其微。當舊世界經歷痛苦和激變時，當盛怒的人備受痛苦，想經由血腥與屠殺尋找他們喪失已久的自由時，那如滾滾浪濤般的震撼將會波及遙遠而和平的彼岸。