就职演讲

In our whole system,national and State,
在我们的整个体系中，无论是国家的还是州立的，
we have shunned all the defects which unceasingly preyed on the vitals and destroyed the ancient Republics.
我们已避免了所有那些不停地危及利害，颠覆古代共和国的缺陷。
In them there were distinct orders,a nobility and a people,
它们中有明显的不同制度：或是一个贵族和一个民众，
or the people governed in one assembly.
或是由一个议会来管理民众。
Thus,in the one instance there was a perpetual conflict between the orders in society for the ascendency,
这样，在一个情况下社会的各阶级之间存在着无休止的冲突，
in which the victory of either terminated in the overthrow of the government and the ruin of the state;
其中任何一方的胜利都会造成推翻政府和国家覆亡；
in the other,in which the people governed in a body,
而在另一个情况下，人民由一个政体来统治，
and whose dominions seldom exceeded the dimensions of a county in one of our States,
而且其领土极少超过我们某个州的一个县的大小，
a tumultuous and disorderly movement permitted only a transitory existence.
喧闹而混乱的运动只允许一个短暂的生存。
In this great nation there is but one order,that of the people,whose power,
在我们这一伟大的国家只有一个制度，人民的制度；
by a peculiarly happy improvement of the representative principle,is transferred from them,
通过一个对代表制度非常完善的改进，按自由，开明，高效的政府的需要。
without impairing in the slightest degree their sovereignty,to bodies of their own creation,
他们的权利完全地被转移到他们自己所创立的多个政体，
and to persons elected by themselves,in the full extent necessary for all the purposes of free,enlightened and efficient government.
和他们选出的人员中，而没有丝毫损害他们的主权。
The whole system is elective,the complete sovereignty being in the people,
整个体制以选举为基础，主权彻底属于人民，
and every officer in every department deriving his authority from and being responsible to them for his conduct.
而且每个部门的每个官员的权力都来自于他们，并要对他们负责其行为举止。
Our career has correspond with this great outline.
我们的事业和这一宏伟的大纲相一致。
Perfection in our organization could not have been expected in the outset either in the National or State Governments or in tracing the line between their respective powers.
不能期望一开始在国家或州立的政府中，或是在它们各自权力之间的界线追溯中就完善我们的组织。
But no serious conflict has arisen,nor any contest but such as are managed by argument and by a fair appeal to the good sense of the people,
但是，我们没有严重的冲突，也没有任何纷争；而且这些可通过辨论处理，也通过公正地求助于民众的理智来解决。
and many of the defects which experience had clearly demonstrated in both Governments have been remedied,
并且我们也医治了许多以往经历中以上两种政府所显示出的缺点。
By steadily pursuing this course in this spirit there is every reason to believe that our system will soon attain the highest degree of perfection of which human institutions are capable,
通过坚定地以此精神实行此路线，我们完全有理由相信，我们的体制将很快达到人类机构所可能达到的最高程度的完善，
and that the movement in all its branches will exhibit such a degree of order and harmony as to command the admiration and respect of the civilized world.
并且，其所有分部的发展将展示一定程度的条理和谐调，以致引来文明世界的羡慕和尊敬。
Entering with these views the office which I have just solemnly sworn to execute with fidelity and to the utmost of my ability,
带着这些想法，即将进入我刚庄严宣誓要以忠心并尽我所能来履行的职责，
I derive great satisfaction from a knowledge that I shall be assisted in the several Departments by the very enlightened and upright citizens from whom I have received so much aid in the preceding term.
我因确信我将在多个部门中得到一组非常开明和正直的公民的辅助而感到非常满意。我的前任已给了我很多帮助。
With full confidence in the continuance of that candor and generous indulgence from my fellow citizens at large which I have heretofore experienced,
完全相信我至今为止所受到的同胞们普遍的坦诚和慷慨宽容会延续下去，
and with a firm reliance on the protection of Almighty God.
并坚定地依靠全能上帝的保护，
I shall forthwith commence the duties of the high trust to which you have called me.
现在我就将开始你们召唤我上任的被赋予如此高度信任的职务。
总统介绍

门罗在政治上坚持推行折衷调和的方针。在第二次独立战争中，联邦党由于反战投降，不得人心。但少数联邦党人并不甘心自己的失败，煽动新英格兰各州的一部分联邦分子要求脱离联邦。门罗为了维护国家统一、团结联邦派，曾周游南北，同各派政治头目交换意见，陈述联合之利，分裂之害。经他奔波游说，两派没有公开决裂，并在一定范围内趋于合作，开创了美国历史上的“和睦时期”。

尔后，门罗又以同样的方针处理了美国南部和北部各州的矛盾。1819年，南部和北部各州为增加参议员的代表名额，在密苏里州加入联邦问题上发生争吵。南部各州主张密苏里州以蓄奴州加入联邦，北部各州主张密苏里州以自由州加入联邦。在门罗的敦促下，南北两方在1820年达成了“密苏里妥协案”，即规定密苏里作为蓄奴州加入联邦，同时让马萨诸塞州划出缅因州作为自由州加入联邦。以此为例，规定今后凡有一个自由州加入联邦，必须同时有一个蓄奴州加入联邦。法案还进一步规定，今后西部土地在北纬36度30分以南为蓄奴州；该线以北则为自由州。这是一次南北两种社会制度冲突明朗化的表现，同时，它也使北方资产阶级和南部种植园奴隶主达到了暂时的妥协和休战。