就职演讲
[00:00.00]The collisions of party spirit which originate in speculative opinions or in different views of administrative policy are in their nature transitory.
[00:-0.50]由投机观点和关于政府政策的不同意见而产生的党派精神的冲突自然只是暂时的。
[00:-1.00]Those which are founded on geographical divisions,adverse interests of soil,climate,
[00:-1.50]那些建立于地理分区，对土地和气候的不健康的兴趣，
[00:-2.00]and modes of domestic life are more permanent,and therefore,perhaps,more dangerous.
[00:-2.50]以及国内生活方式之上的东西较为持久，因而也可能较为危险，
[00:-3.00]It is this which gives inestimable value to the character of our Government,at once federal and national.
[00:-3.50]正是这同时在联邦和国家方面赋予我们政府特性以不可估量的价值。
[00:-4.00]It holds out to us a perpetual admonition to preserve alike and with equal anxiety the rights of each individual State in its own government and the rights of the whole nation in that of the Union.
[00:-4.50]这为我们提出一个劝戒，要同样地以相等渴望来保留每一个州在其自己政府中的权利和保留整个民族在联邦中的权利。
[00:-5.00]Whatsoever is of domestic concernment,unconnected with the other members of the Union or with foreign lands,
[00:-5.50]一切有关其内部事务而与联邦中的其它成员以及外国无关的则，
[00:-6.00]belongs exclusively to the administration of the State governments.
[00:-6.50]完全属于州政府的管理范围。
[00:-7.00]Whatsoever directly involves the rights and interests of the federative fraternity or of foreign powers is of the resort of this General Government.
[00:-7.50]一切直接关系到联邦的手足之情和外国势力则是联邦政府的范围。
[00:-8.00]The duties of both are obvious in the general principle,though sometimes perplexed with diffculties in the detail.
[00:-8.50]尽管有时在细节上有所困扰，两者的原则都明显表现于总的原则之中，
[00:-9.00]To respect the rights of the State governments is the inviolable duty of that of the Union;
[00:-9.50]尊重州立政府的权利是联邦不可违犯的责任，
[00:10.00]the government of every State will feel its own obligation to respect and preserve the rights of the whole.
[00:10.50]而各州政府则将感到自己应该尊重和保护整体的权利。
[00:11.00]The prejudices everywhere too commonly entertained against distant strangers are worn away,
[00:11.50]那些到处常常针对远方生人的偏见被消除，
[00:12.00]and the jealousies of jarring interests are allayed by the composition and functions of the great national councils annually assembled from all quarters of the Union at this place.
[00:12.50]不和利益之间的嫉妒也为每年在此处举行的集合自联邦各地的伟大国家议会的组成和功用所缓和。
[00:13.00]Here the distinguished men from every section of our country,
[00:13.50]在这里，来自我们国家每一个角落的杰出人士，
[00:14.00]while meeting to deliberate upon the great interests of those by whom they are deputed,
[00:14.50]集会在一起研讨关于选出他们的人民的重要利益。
[00:15.00]learn to estimate the talents and do justice to the virtues of each other.
[00:15.50]也学着对相互的天资和品德做出评价和公道。
[00:16.00]The harmony of the nation is promoted and the whole Union is knit together by the sentiments of mutual respect,
[00:16.50]国家的和谐得以提高而整个联邦也被相互尊重的情感，
[00:17.00]the habits of social intercourse,
[00:17.50]社会交往的习惯，
[00:18.00]and the ties of personal friendship formed between the representatives of its several parts in the performance of their service at this metropolis.
[00:18.50]以及在此都市里履行职务时其不同部门的代表之间形成的个人友谊的联系编织成一体。
[00:19.00]In this brief outline of the promise and performance of my immediate predecessor the line of duty for his successor is clearly delineated.
[00:19.50]在此简短的关于我的前任的允诺和功绩的略述中清楚归纳出他的接班人的职责范围。
[00:20.00]To pursue to their consummation those purposes of improvement in our common condition instituted,
[00:20.50]继续从事由他着手和建议的对我们共同条件的改进的意图，
[00:21.00]or recommended by him will embrace the whole sphere of my obligations.
[00:21.50]以至达到完善，将包含在我的整个责任范围
[00:22.00]To the topic of internal improvement,emphatically urged by him at this inauguration,
[00:22.50]我以特别的满意来重提他在他的就职演讲中，
[00:23.00]I recur with peculiar satisfaction,
[00:23.50]重点提出的关于内部发展方面的问题。
[00:24.00]It is that from which I am convinced that the unborn millions of our posterity who are in future ages to people this continent will derive their most fervent gratitude to the founders of the Union;
[00:24.50]正是从这里我得以坚信那些将在未来生存于这片大陆而尚未出生的我们后代将会最热烈地感激这些联邦的奠基者；
[00:25.00]that in which the beneficent action of its Government will be most deeply felt and acknowledged.
[00:25.50]在其中其政府的善意行为将被深深体验并认可。
[00:26.00]The magnificence and splendor of their public works are among the imperishable glories of the ancient republics.
[00:26.50]在那些古老共和国的不朽荣耀之中有它们那宏大而辉煌的公共设施。
[00:27.00]The roads and aqueducts of Rome have been the admiration of all after ages,
[00:27.50]古罗马的大道和高架渠在其后的年代一直受到羡慕，
[00:28.00]and have survived thousands of years after all her conquests have been swallowed up in despotism or become the spoil of barbarians.
[00:28.50]或成为蛮人战利品之后得以幸存。
[00:29.00]Some diversity of opinion has prevailed with regard to the powers of Congress for legislation upon objects of this nature.
[00:29.50]关于国会在这类性质的问题上的立法权力有一些不同的观点存在。
[00:30.00]The most respectful deference is due to doubts originating in pure patriotism and sustained by venerated authority.
[00:30.50]最为谦恭的敬从是因为那些源自纯粹爱国精神的，并由受敬重的政府所保持的质疑。
[00:31.00]But nearly twenty years have passed since the construction of the first national road was commenced.
[00:31.50]但是，自从第一条国道的建设开始以来将近二十年已过去。
[00:32.00]The authority for its construction was then unquestioned.
[00:32.50]那时，其建议的权力没有受到质疑。
[00:33.00]To how many thousands of our countrymen has it proved benefit?
[00:33.50]证实受益于它的我们同胞有多少千万？
[00:34.00]To what single individual has it ever proved an injury?
[00:34.50]证实受它所害的又有哪一个？
[00:35.00]Repeated,liberal,and candid discussions in the Legislature have conciliated the sentiments,
[00:35.50]立法会里反复的，自由的和坦率的讨论调和了这些不同意见，
[00:36.00]and approzimated the opinions of enlightened minds upon the question of constitutional power.
[00:36.50]并在宪法权力问题上使开明人士的观点接近共识。
[00:37.00]I can not but hope that by the same process of friendly,patient,
[00:37.50]我只能希望通过同样友好，耐心，
[00:38.00]and persevering deliberation all constitutional important interest will be settled and acknowledged to the common satisfaction of all,
[00:38.50]和坚定的研讨过程，所有宪法上的反驳最终被清除。关系到这一超凡重要的利益，联邦政府权力的范围和局限将被决定和认可，以达到全民的共同满意，
[00:39.00]and every speculative scruple will be solved by practical public blessing.
[00:39.50]并且每一个推测性的踌躇都将为符合实际的公共祝福所解决。
总统介绍
约翰·昆西·亚当斯是美国第六任总统。他是第二任总统约翰·亚当斯及第一夫人爱比盖尔·亚当斯的长子。他是美国历史上第一位继其父亲之后成为总统的总统。
　　他二十岁就成了有名的外交官，曾出使欧洲多年，熟悉欧洲事务。1 8 1 7 年门罗总统上台以后，亚当斯被任命为国务卿，任职八年，曾协助起草《门罗宣言》，解决与英国的许多纠纷，从西班牙手中取得佛罗里达，因此，被认为是美国历史上“最有成就的国务卿之一”。1 8 2 5 年亚当斯当选总统。1 8 2 9 年卸任后被选为国会众议员，直至逝世。
　　1788年毕业于哈佛大学。21岁前，他就曾四渡大西洋，其中三次是在独立战争期间。十几岁时，他就任拜访俄国女皇凯瑟琳的美国使团秘书和翻译。他随父亲驻外时，在巴黎和荷兰来登上学，因此外语很好。虽然他后来从事法律业，但在哈佛主修的却是文学和古典研究。
　　他样样出众，一位哈佛教授称他是哈佛有史以来最有才华的学生。他一生力求成功，正是他父亲对子女严格要求的写照。老亚当斯不断鼓励儿子在学业上出类拔萃。他们父子在社交和感情方面都不太敏感。追随父亲步入政界后，他以父亲的座右铭为自己的人生准则。老亚当斯让儿子按照17世纪清教徒式的道德准则行事，告诫他：“我的孩子，你的人生目标应是追求道德，因为它们是永存的。”正是这类忠告才塑造了这个才华出众的年轻人像他父亲一样桀骜不驯的性格。
　　完成哈佛学业后，约翰在波士顿做了一阵律师。1794年，他被乔治·华盛顿总统任命为驻荷兰公使。1798年，又从荷兰被派到瑞典，代表美国进行贸易条约谈判。
　　在伦敦的一次短暂停留期间，约翰·昆西遇到了美国驻英公使的女儿露易莎·凯瑟琳·约翰逊，并与她结了婚。露易莎生性暴躁，又常年疾病缠身，婚后的25年里一直未能真正了解丈夫。
　　1802年昆西夫妇和孩子回到美国。他立即投身政治舞台，当选马萨诸塞州参议员，进而进入美国参议院。任马萨诸塞州参议员时，由于他富有外交经验，被聘为哈佛学院修辞学和辩论学教授。（因为有他父亲的经验，昆西早在1789年美国宪法颁布之前就为维护国家利益做出了贡献。）
　　后来他被任命为驻俄国公使，直到1812年英美战争结束，他被派去参加根特条约谈判。回到美国后，昆西出任门罗总统的国务卿。许多历史学家认为是他一人制订和实施了1823年的门罗主义，向全世界宣布美国准备同其他大国竞争，以阻止欧洲在西半球扩张殖民地和侵略原有殖民地。
　　1825年约翰·昆西·亚当斯成为美国唯—一位继承父业的总统。同他父亲一样，昆西在民众中威望不高。选举团的投票结果为99：84，安德鲁·杰克逊将军获胜。但由于众议院有决定权，而他们支持前总统的儿子，约翰·昆西·亚当斯才当选总统。
　　1828年他的任期结束，公民选举他当年的对手杰克逊为下届总统。亚当斯的连任竞选是美国总统政治中第一次真正的谩骂大选。杰克逊称昆西为奢侈腐败的贵族，亚当斯用道学的口吻指责杰克逊无知、粗俗，是谋杀犯和通奸者。公众以压倒性的表决反对昆西连任总统。他只好回马萨诸塞州呆了一段时间，后又作为众议员返回华盛顿，一直到1848年。
　　在众议院里，人们称他为狂热的道德家。在讨论亚当斯强烈反对的奴隶制问题时，一位评论家这样写道：
　　我记得亚当斯先生每天都坐在那里，寻找机会宣读他那关于奴隶制问题的冗长请愿书。他的头秃得很厉害。当他终于坐在众议院中心，宣读他面前厚厚的一卷讲稿时，他的秃顶因情绪激动而泛着红光，在听众眼中就像一只记时器。
　　他念的或许真是几位马萨诸塞州公民递交的请愿书，挑衅性地要求美国就奴隶制问题进行分裂。
　　无论在婚前或婚后，亚当斯都是独自行事，对别人一直是个谜。在公众眼里，他是个冷漠、刻薄、脾气暴躁的老人。但是，对于与他同时代的政治家来说，约翰·昆西·亚当斯以才华横溢、历经磨难而著称。