总统就职演说:美国11任总统詹姆斯·诺克斯·波尔克就职演讲(1)
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.
我没有乞求选票，但自由的同胞们却选举我，来担任这世界上最具荣誉，且责任最重大的职位。
I am deeply impressed with gratitude for the confidence reposed in me.
于人民对我的信心，我深感谢意。
Honored with his distinguished consideration at an earlier period of life than any of my predecessors,
与任一被赐予这一荣誉的前任相比我都更年轻，
I can not disguise the diffidence with which I am about to enter on the discharge of my official duties.
我不能掩饰我将要进入执行我的职责时信心的缺乏。
In assuming responsibilities so vast I fervently invoke the aid of that Almighty Ruler of the Universe in whose hands are the destinies of nations,and of men
在承担如此巨大的责任时，我热情地祈求宇宙全能之主的帮助。国家和人民的命运在他的手中，
to guard this Heaven_favored land against the mischiefs which without His guidance might arise from an unwise public policy.
守卫着这天主恩惠的土地而不受由错误公共政策引起的危害。
With a firm reliance upon the wisdom of Omnipotence to sustain and direct me in the path of duty which I am appointed to pursue,
因凭那支持并指引我走上这条行使我应尽之责道路的全能上帝赐予的坚定信心，
I stand in the presence of this assembled multitude of my countrymen to take upon myself the solemn obligation"to take best of my ability to preserve,protect,
我站在我的同胞们的宏大集会前，来自己担起这庄严的责任：“愿倾尽全力来维持，
and defend the Constitution of the United States."
保护和捍卫美国的宪法。”
That the blessing of liberty which our Constitution secures may be enjoyed alike by minorities and majorities,
我们宪法所保证的自由同样为少数人和多数人享有，
the Executive has been wisely invested with a qualified veto upon the acts of the Legislature.
执政者被明智地赋予有资格对某些立法作出否决。
It is a negative power,and is conservative in its character.
这是一个否定的权力，并带有保守的特点。
It arrests for the time hasty,inconsiderate,or unconstitutional legislation,invites reconsideration,
它为时代阻止那些草率，无谋和违反宪法的立法，征求重新考虑，
and transfers questions at issue between the legislative and executive departments to the tribunal of the people.
并把立法与行政部门之间的问题转给人民裁定。
Like all other powers,it is subject to be abused.
如同其它权力，它可能会被滥用。
When judiciously and properly exercised,
当明智而又正当地行使时，
the Constitution itself may be saved from infraction and the rights of all preserved and protected.
宪法本身会免受侵犯，而全民权利会得到维护。
The inestimable value of our Federal Union is felt and acknowledged by all.
我们联邦联盟的不可估量的价值为众人所感受和认可。
By this system of united and confederated States our people are permitted collectively and individually to seek their own happiness in their own way,
通过联合结盟的众洲体制，我们人民可以集体或单独地以自己的方式追求自己的幸福，
and the consequences have been most auspicious.
并且有很乐观的结果。
Since the Union was formed the number of the States has increased from thirteen to twenty-eight,
自从联邦创立，众洲的数目由十三个发展到三十八个；
two of these have taken their position as members of the Confederacy within the last week.
其中两个上周才取得联邦的席位。
Our population has increased from three to twenty millions.
我们的人口也已由三百万发展到两千八百万。
New communities and States are seeking protection under its aegis,and multitudes from the Old World are flocking to our shores to participate in its blessings,
新的社区和州正在它的支持下寻求保护，而来自旧大陆的人群正蜂拥至我们的海岸来分享它的祝福。
Beneath its benign sway peace and prosperity prevail.
在它的善良统治下和平和繁荣盛行。
Freed from the burdens and miseries of war,our trade and intercourse have extended throughout the world.
从战争的重负和苦难中得以解放，我们的贸易和交往遍布整个世界。
Mind,no longer tasked in devising means to accomplish or resist schemes of ambition,
人的思想不再从事设法达到或抵抗野心，
usurpation,or conquest,is devoting itself to man's true interests in developing his faculties and powers and the capacity of nature to minister to his enjoyments.
掠夺或征服，而投入到人类真正的利益中，发展人的能力和力量，以及自然的能力来服务于人的享乐。
Genius is free to announce its inventions and discoveries,
天才可以自由公布他的发明和发现，
詹姆斯·波尔克是安德鲁·杰克逊的忠实门徒，有小山核桃之称，他在1844年大选成僵局时，异军突起，成为第一个黑马总统。在短短的四年任期内，完成了对选民的四大承诺：降低关税；恢复独立国库制；解决俄勒冈边界问题；取得加利福尼亚地区。把美国领土向北扩张到北纬49°线，向西扩张到太平洋，向南几乎兼并了墨西哥一半领土，今天美国领土的1/4是他取得的，他每天工作18小时以上，而且没有休闲活动，以至于未老先衰，离开白宫三个月就病逝了，他被历史学家评为美国最勤奋最有效率的总统。1844 年大选时，民主党内最初提名马丁·范布伦的呼声最大。但当时以罗伯特·沃尔克为首的一批南方代表和民主党人，要范布伦事先明确表示当选后同意得克萨斯与美国合并。范布伦公开宣布反对合并，于是失去了南部和西部代表的支持。
南部代表所以提出这个问题，是因为当时得克萨斯实行奴隶制度，而它的土壤又适宜于种植棉花，因而，并吞得克萨斯一直是南部奴隶主梦寐以求的事。南部奴隶主还想把奴隶制移植或扩展到美国当时新开辟的西部领土，以便使用更多奴隶来开辟新种植园，扩大种植那些使南部地力消耗很快的棉花、烟草、甘蔗等农作物。正如马克思所指出的：“不断扩张领土，不断扩展奴隶制到旧有界限之外，却是联邦蓄奴州的生存规律。”北部工业资本家则希望开辟广大西部地区使之成为非蓄奴制地区，以作为工业资本的“农业后方”。经济基础不同的南北两种势力，在争夺西部领土的控制权上，不断发生冲突和斗争，得克萨斯的合并问题是当时的焦点之一。
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