Gentlemen, a patriot President of the United States is the guardian, the
protector, the friend of every citizen in them. He should be, and he is, no
man s persecutor, no man s enemy, but the supporter and protector of all and
every citizen, so far as his support and protection depend on his faithful exe
cution of the laws. But there is especially one great idea which Washing
ton presents, and which governed him, and which should govern every man
in high office, who means to resemble Washington : that is the duty of pre
serving the government itself, of suffering, so far as depends on him, no one
branch to interfere with another, and no power to be assumed not belonging
to each, and none abandoned which pertains to each ; but to preserve it and
carry it on for the benefit of the present and future generations.
