美国第七任总统杰克逊第一次就职演讲

安德鲁·杰克逊是美国第七任总统。首任佛罗里达州州长、新奥尔良之役战争英雄、民主党创建者之一，杰克逊式民主因他而得名。第二次美英战争中，他坚韧不拔，肯与士兵共甘苦，被誉为“老胡桃木”。在新奥尔良战役中，他率兵大败英军，振奋全国，成为举国闻名的英雄。他第一次竞选总统时失败，第二次才获胜，是美国第一位民主党总统。任内大力加强总统职权，维护联邦统一，颇有政绩，史称“民主政治”，几与第三届总统杰斐逊齐名。

Fellow Citizens:

同胞们：

About to undertake the arduous duties that I have been appionted to perform by the chooice of a free people, I avail myself of this customary and solemn occasion to express the gratitude which their confidence inspires solemn occasion to express the gratitude which their confidence inspires and to acknowledge the accountability which my situation enjoins.

即将承担通过自由民众的选择而指定我来执行这艰巨责任，我借此惯常而庄严的机会来表达自己由他们对我之信心的感激，并确认我所处位置所要求的责任。

While the magnitude of their interests convinces me that no thanks can be adequate to the honor they have conferred, it admonishes me that the best return I can make is the zealous dedication of my humble abilities to their service and their good.

他们爱我之巨大使我深信没有任何足以感激他们授予我的荣耀，同时我被告戒我所能做的最好回报就是把我那微薄的能力热情地贡献于他们，造福他们。

As the instrument of the Federal Constitution it well devolve on me for a stated period to execute the laws of the United States, to superintend their foreign and their confederate relations, to manage their revenue, to command their forces, and, by communications to the Legislature, to watch over and to promote their interests generally.

作为联邦宪法执行者，在指定期间里我被委托来执行美国的法律，来监督其外交和联盟内的关系，来管理其税收，来指挥其军队，并通过同立法机构的沟通来守卫和促进其总体利益。

And the principles of action by which I shall endeavor to accomplish this circle of duties it is now proper for me briefly to explain.

现在我应该简短阐明我将努力完成此期责任所依赖的行动原则。

Considering standing armies as dangerous to free governments in time of peace, I shall not seek to enlarge our present establishment, nor disregard that salutary lesson of political experience which teaches that the miliary should be held subordinate to the civil power.

考虑到常备军在和平时代对一个自由的国家有危险，我将不寻求扩大现有的编制，也不忽略以往政治经验告诉我们军队必须服从于平民政权的有益教训。

The gradual increase of our Navy, whose flag has displayed in distant climes our skill in navigation and our fame in arms; the preservation of our forts, arsenals, and dockyards, and the introduction of progressive improvements in the discipline, and science of both branches of our military service are so plainly prescribed by prudence that I should be excused for omitting their mention sooner than for enlarging on their importance.

我们海军的逐渐增强，其旗帜在遥远的异地展示我们航海技术和武力声名：保留我们的堡垒，军库和海军工厂，以及在我们军事机构的两军中引进纪律和科学上的积极改良，这些已被审慎明白地指出而我在此可借口略去提出它们，而非不增大其重要性。

But the bulwark of our defense is the national militia, which in the present state of our intelligence and population must render us invincible.

但是，我们国防的中流砥柱是武装的全国人民，以我们现在的智慧和人口情况，这一定使我们战无不胜。

As long as our Government is administered for the good of the people, and is regulated by their will; as long as it secures to us the rights of person and of property, liberty of conscience and of the press, it will be worth defending; and so long as it is worth defending a patriotic militia will cover it with an impenetrable aegis.

只要我们的政府管理是为人民的利益，并受到他们意愿的调控；只要向我们保证个人和财产的权利，良知和媒体的自由，它就值得被保护；而只要它值得被保护，一个爱国的武装人民将护之以坚不可摧的盾牌。

Partial injuries and occasional mortifications we may be subjected to, but a million of armed freemen, possessed of the means of war, can never be conquered by a foreign foe.

我们也许会遭到局部的伤害和偶尔的损坏，但是一百万掌握战争手段的武装自由人永不可能被一个外来敌人所征服。

To any just system, therefore, calculated to strengthen this natural safeguard of the country I shall cheerfully lend all the aid in my power.

对于旨在加强这一国的自然护卫的任何公正体制，我将高兴地尽我的权力提供所有帮助。

It will be my sincere and constant desire to observe toward the Indian tribes within our limits a just and liberal policy, and to give that humane and considerate attention to their rights, and their wants which is consistent with the habits of our Government and the feelings of our people.

我真诚和长久地希望对在我们的限制之内的印第安部落奉行一个公正和宽容的政策。并给予他们的权利和需要以人道和细致的关心。他们的需要是和我们政府的惯例和人民的感情相一致的。

The recent demonstration of public sentiment inscribes on the list of Executive duties, in characters too legible to be overlooked, the task of reform, which will require particularly the correction of those abuses that have brought thepatronage of the Federal Government into conflict with the freedom of elections, and the counteraction of those causes which have disturbed the rightful course of appointment, and have placed or continued power in unfaithful or incompetent hands.

最近的公众意愿显示在执政者的职责之中，以清晰且不可忽略的字眼加上了改革的任务。此任务特别要求纠正那些给联邦政府赞助与选举自由之间带来矛盾的恶习，以及抵消那些扰乱正当的任命程序和，把权力给予或保留在不忠之力之手中的因素。

In the performance of a task thus generally delineated I shall endeavor to select men whose diligence, and talents will insure in their respective stations able and faithful cooperation, depending for the advancement of the public service more on the integrity and zeal of the public officers than on their numbers.

在执行如此总体确定的任务时，我应该努力选择那些其勤奋，和天资将保证在各自岗位上的得力和忠诚的合作的人们。为了改进公众服务，我们要更多依靠公务员的正直和热情而非他们的人数。

A diffidence, perhaps too just, in my own qualifications will teach me to look with reverence to the examples of public virtue left by my illustrious predecessors, and with veneration to the lights that flow from the mind that founded and the mind that reformed our system.

一种也许过于正当的，关于我自己的任职资格的信心不足将教我以崇敬之心看齐我显赫的前任们留下的公共美德的楷模。以尊重之意面对那源自创立和改革我们体制的思想的光辉。

The same diffidence induces me to hope for instruction and aid from the coordinate branches of the Government, and for the indulgence and support of my fellow_citizens generally.

同样的信心不足使我期望政府协调部门的指导和辅助，以及同胞们总体的宽容和支持。

And a firm reliance on the goodness of that Power whose providence mercifully protected our national infancy, and has since upheld our liberties in various vicissitudes, encourages me to offer up my ardent supplications that He will continue to make our beloved country the object of His divine care and gracious benediction.

并且坚定地依赖那神圣力量的恩赐，他的眷顾保护过我们国家的幼年时代，并从此在多次兴衰中保护我们的自由，这鼓励我热情地请求他将继续把我们可爱的国家作为他神圣关切及和蔼祝福的对象。