Fellow Citizens: I appear before you this day to take the solemn oath"that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability preserve,protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."
同胞們:我今天在你們面前莊嚴宣誓:“我將忠誠地執行美國總統的職務,并將盡我所能來維持,捍衛和守護美國的憲法。”
In entering upon this great office I must humbly invoke the God of our fathers for wisdom, and firmness to execute its high and responsible duties in such a manner as to restore harmony, and ancient friendship among the people of the several States and to preserve our free institution throughout many generations.
在擔任這一偉大職務時我謙恭地祈求我們先驅上帝給予我智慧,支持以助我執行這高尚的責任,在各州的人民中重建和諧,和古老的友誼并千秋萬代維護我們的自由組織。
Convinced that I owe my election to the inherent love for the Constitution and the Union which still animates the hearts of the American people, let me earnestly ask their powerful support in sustaining all just measures calculated to perpetuate these,the richest political blessings which Heaven has ever bestowed upon any nation.
深信我的當選應歸功于熱愛憲法和仍扣動美國人民心弦的聯邦。讓我誠懇地請求他們強有力的支持來維護所有正當的旨在使上天給予我們祖國的豐富政治祝福得以永遠的措施。
Having determined not to become a candidate for reelection, I shall have no motive to influence my conduct in administering the Government except the desire ably, and faithfully to serve my country and to live in grateful memory of my countrymen.
我已決定不再競選連任,我在除了要有效和無任何能影響我執行的動機。忠心地服務我的祖國并在同胞中留下美好記憶。
The whole Territorial question being thus settled upon the principle of popular sovereignty, a principle as ancient as free government itself everything of a practical nature has been decided.
整個領土問題在公眾主權的原則下得以解決——一個和政府一樣古老的原則——任何實際意義的事件都被解決了。
No other question remains for adjustment,because all agree that under the Constitution slavery in the States in beyond the reach of any human power, except that of the respective States themselves where in it exists.
沒有其它問題等待修正,因為人們都認同在憲法下各州的奴隸制問題非任何人民力量所可及,除非由各州自身解決。
May we not,then,hope that the long agitation on this subject is approaching its end, and that the geographical parties to which it has given birth, so much dreaded by the Father of his Country,will speedily become extinct?
于是我們不可希望這長期騷動的問題正在終結,地理上的分裂會很快消除。也不可希望由它所造成的,會使我們的先父很痛恨的。
Most happy will it be for the country when the public mind shall be diverted from this question to other of more pressing and practical importance.
最可幸的是公眾意識會從這一問題轉向其它更緊要更現實的問題上。
Throughout the whole progress of this agitation, which has scarcely know any intermission for more than twenty years.
在整個過程中,這場二十多年內罕有間斷的騷動的,
whilst it has been productive of no positive good to any human being it has been the prolific source of great evils to the master, to the slave,and to the whole country.
它對任何人沒有產生任何善果,它卻成了對主人、奴仆和整個國家造成萬惡的源泉。
It has alienated and estranged the people of the sister States from each other, and has even seriously endangered the very existence of the Union.
它把兄弟州相互分離隔開,甚至嚴重危及聯邦的生存。
Nor has the danger yet entirely ceased.
這危險至今尚未完全停止。
Under our system there is a remedy for all mere political evils in the sound sense and sober judgment of the people.
在我們的體制下,人民的堅實理智和清醒判斷會造成對所有政治邪惡的拯救。
Time is a great corrective.
時間是最好的糾正。
Political subjects which but a few years ago excited and exasperated the public mind have passed away and are now nearly forgotten.
幾年前還激動并惱怒公眾意識的政治問題已經逝去,并被忘記。
But this question of domestic slavery is of far graver importance than any mere political question, because should the agitation continue it may eventually endanger the personal safety of a large portion of our countrymen where the institution exists.
但這一國內奴隸制的問題比一個僅僅政治上的問題更為重要。因為如果這場騷動繼續下去,它可能會最終危及此體制所存在之處的我們同胞中一大部分的人身安全。
In that event no form of government,however admirable in itself and however productive of material benefits, can compensate for the loss of peace and domestic security around the family altar.
如果那樣,不管是如何值得贊賞,如何生產出巨大物質財富的政府形式都,無法補償和平和家庭安全的喪失。