"We are all Republicans: we are all Federalists."
미국 헌법을 기초한 토머스 제퍼슨(Thomas Jefferson · 1743~1826년)은 실사구시를 지향한 정열적 지도자로 평가받고 있다.
이상과 현실적 제약의 접점을 찾아 영도력을 발휘한 그는 제퍼슨 민주주의 전통을 세워 미국이 민주주의 종주국의 하나로 발전하는 데 공로를 세웠다.
이 연설문은 그가 1801년 3월4일 대통령 취임식에서 행한 연설문이다.
강력한 중앙정부에 반대했던 그가 자기의 생각을 수정해 연방정부를 강화시키기로 한 대목이 눈길을 끈다.
Friends and Fellow Citizens，
Called upon to undertake the duties of the first executive office of our country，I avail myself of the presence of that portion of my fellow citizens which is here assembled，to express my grateful thanks for the favor with which they have been pleased to look toward me，to declare a sincere consciousness，that the task is above my talents，and that I approach it with those anxious and awful presentments which the greatness of the charge，and the weakness of my power，so justly inspire.
A rising nation，spread over a wide and fruitful land，traversing all the seas with the rich productions of their industry，engaged in commerce with nations who feel power and forget right，advancing rapidly to destinies beyond the reach of mortal eye？
when I contemplate these transcendent objects，and see the honor，the happiness，and the hope of this beloved country committed to the issue and the auspices of this day，I shrink from the contemplation，and humble myself before the magnitude of the undertaking.
Utterly，indeed，should I despair，did not the presence of many whom I see here remind me that，in the other high authorities provided by our Constitution，I shall find resources of wisdom，of virtue，and of zeal，on which to rely under all difficulties.
To you，then，gentlemen，who are charged with the sovereign functions of legislation，and to those associated with you，I look with encouragement for that guidance and support which may enable us to steer with safety the vessel in which we are all embarked，amidst the conflicting elements of a troubled world.
During the contest of opinion through which we have passed，the animation of discussions and of exertions has sometimes worn an aspect which impose on strangers unused to think freely，and to speak and to write what they think: but this being now decided by the voice of the nation，announce according to the rules of the Constitution，all will，of course，arrange themselves under the will and unite in common efforts for the common good.
