A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents | Page 4

commerce as its handmaid; the
diffusion of information and arraignment of all abuses at the bar of the
public reason; freedom of religion; freedom of the press, and freedom
of person under the protection of the habeas corpus, and trial by juries
impartially selected. These principles form the bright constellation
which has gone before us and guided our steps through an age of
revolution and reformation. The wisdom of our sages and blood of our
heroes have been devoted to their attainment. They should be the creed
of our political faith, the text of civic instruction, the touchstone by
which to try the services of those we trust; and should we wander from
them in moments of error or of alarm, let us hasten to retrace our steps
and to regain the road which alone leads to peace, liberty, and safety.
I repair, then, fellow-citizens, to the post you have assigned me. With
experience enough in subordinate offices to have seen the difficulties of
this the greatest of all, I have learnt to expect that it will rarely fall to

the lot of imperfect man to retire from this station with the reputation
and the favor which bring him into it. Without pretensions to that high
confidence you reposed in our first and greatest revolutionary character,
whose preeminent services had entitled him to the first place in his
country's love and destined for him the fairest page in the volume of
faithful history, I ask so much confidence only as may give firmness
and effect to the legal administration of your affairs. I shall often go
wrong through defect of judgment. When right, I shall often be thought
wrong by those whose positions will not command a view of the whole
ground. I ask your indulgence for my own errors, which will never be
intentional, and your support against the errors of others, who may
condemn what they would not if seen in all its parts. The approbation
implied by your suffrage is a great consolation to me for the past, and
my future solicitude will be to retain the good opinion of those who
have bestowed it in advance, to conciliate that of others by doing them
all the good in my power, and to be instrumental to the happiness and
freedom of all.
Relying, then, on the patronage of your good will, I advance with
obedience to the work, ready to retire from it whenever you become
sensible how much better choice it is in your power to make. And may
that Infinite Power which rules the destinies of the universe lead our
councils to what is best, and give them a favorable issue for your peace
and prosperity.
MARCH 4, 1801.

PROCLAMATION.
[From the National Intelligencer, March 13, 1801.]
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
Whereas by the first article of the terms and conditions declared by the
President of the United States on the iyth day of October, 1791, for
regulating the materials and manner of buildings and improvements on

the lots in the city of Washington, it is provided "that the outer and
party walls of all houses in the said city shall be built of brick or stone;"
and by the third article of the same terms and conditions it is declared
"that the wall of no house shall be higher than 40 feet to the roof in any
part of the city, nor shall any be lower than 35 feet in any of the
avenues;" and
Whereas the above-recited articles were found to impede the settlement
in the city of mechanics and others whose circumstances did not admit
of erecting houses authorized by the said regulations, for which cause
the President of the United States, by a writing under his hand, bearing
date the 25th day of June, 1796, suspended the operation of the said
articles until the first Monday of December, 1800, and the beneficial
effects arising from such suspension having been experienced, it is
deemed proper to revive the same:
Wherefore I, Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States, do
declare that the operation of the first and third articles above recited
shall be, and the same is hereby, suspended until the ist day of January,
1802, and that all the houses which shall be erected in the said city of
Washington previous to the said 1st day of January, 1802, conformable
in other respects to the regulations aforesaid, shall be considered as
lawfully erected, except that no wooden house shall be erected within
24 feet of any brick or stone house.
Given under my hand this 11th day of March, 1801.
TH. JEFFERSON.

In communicating his first message to Congress, President Jefferson
addressed the following letter to the presiding officer of each branch of
the National Legislature:
DECEMBER 8,