The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-03-13
GRANTS INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Citizens Of the United States:

oath of Office presented therein. | have
taken this oath without mental rcserya-
ton, and with the determination to do,
to the best Of my ability, oil that it re.
quircs of me. The responsibilities Of
the position feel, but accept them with
out fear The Office has come to mo un-
sought. / commence its duties untram-
mcllcd. bring to it conscientious de-
sire and determination to fill il to the
best of my ability and to tho satisfaction
Of tho people. In all leading questions
agitating the public mind will express
my views TO Congress and urge them, ac-
cording to my judgment and when think
it advisable. | will always exercise the
Constitutional privilege of interposing
veto to defeat measures which | oppose !;
but all laws will be faithfully executed,
whether they meet my approval or not.
| shall on all subjects have policy to
recommend, none to be enforced against
the will of the people. The laws arc 10
govern all alike-thosc opposed to them
as we'll rs those who favor them. know
no method to secure the repeal Of bad or
obnoxious laws so effective as their strin.
gent execution. The country having
Just emerged from great rebellion, many
Iqucstious will come before it for settle
mcnt, in the next four years, with which
the preceding administrations have never
had to deal. In meeting them it is desir-
able that they should be approached
calmly, without prejudice, State or ma
tional pride, remembering that the great.
IL = ta he - H..
object to be attained. This requires the
security Of person, property aud OF relig.
ious aud political opinions in every part
Of our common country, without regard
10 locality or prejudice. Laws to secure
these will receive my best efforts for en-
foreemeut. 4 general debt has been
contractcd in securing for us aud our
postcrity the Union, the payment Of
which, principal aud interest, IN we'll as
4 return to a specie basis, as soon rs that
can be accomplished without material
dctriment to the debtor class or tho coun-
try at large, mus. be provided for To
> protect the national honor, every dollar
Of the Government Indebtedness should
be paid in gold, unless otherwise under
stood or stipulated in tho contracts. Let
it be understood that no repud:ator Of a
iarthing Of our public debt will be trusted
in public place, and it will go far towards
Strengthening a credit which ought to be
the bcs. in the world, and will ultimately
enable US 10 replace the debt with bonds
bearing less interest than We now pay.
j To this should be added faithful collec.
, tion of the revenue, strict accountable
:. IL to treasury for every dollar collected
and tho greatest practicable retrcnchmen.
, in the expenditure in every department
Of the Government. When We compare
the paying capacity of the country now,
with the States still in poverty from the
effects Of the war, but soon to emerge !
I, , trust into greater prosperity than ever be.
, fore, with It's paying capacity twenty. five
years ago, and to calculate what it proba-
: bly, will be twenty-five years hence, who
i can doubt the feasibility of paying every
dollar then with more case than We now
pay for useless luxuries! Why. 1t looks
as though providence has bestowed upon
us strong box Of the precious metal
! locked up in the sterile mountains of the
far west, which we are now forging the
, key to unlock, TO meet the very contin
:, gency that is now upon US. Ultimately
!. it may be necessary that tic General Gov
= ernmcnt should give its aid to secure
. this success, but that should only be when
4 n dollar Of obligation TO pay secures pre-
ciscly the same obligation to US now, ant
e not before. While the question of specie
, payment is in abeyance the prudent bust
= ness man is careful about contracting
. debts payable in the distant future. The
nation should follow the same rule
PROSTATE commerce is to be rebuilt, ant
,s all industries encouraged. The younl
: men Of the country, those who from
their ages must be its rulers twenty-five
. years hence, have particular interest il
= maintaining the national honor. A mo
!, ment's reflection as to what will be ou
a commanding influence among the nation
of the earth in their day if they are on
ly true to themselves, should inspir,
p them with national pride. All divisions
D, geographical, political and religious, con
d cur in this common sentiment. How tn
n public debt is to be paid or specie pay
:, ment resumed is not so important as tina
- plan should be adopted and acquiescet
IS in. A united determination to do it i
worth more than divided counsels upol
the method Of doing it. Legislation up
Of on this subject may not be necessary now
Of or even advisable but it will be when tn
le civil law is more fully restored in al
&c parts Of the country and trade resume
a its wonted channel 1t will be my en-
IN deavor to execute all laws in good faith
Is collect all revenues assessed and to hav
H. them properly accounted for and cconom
ly ically disburscd. 1t will be for me, t
= the best of my ability, to appoint to Of
D. fee those only who, will carry out thi
ID design. In regard to foreign policy
n would deal with nations as equitably a
IL the law requires individuals to deal wit
+ each other, and I would protect ever
law-abiding citizen, whether of native Q
foreign birth, wherever his rights ar
,g jeopardized or the flag of our countr
II. floats / would respect the rights of a
it nations, demanding equal respect for ou
own. If others depart from this rule j
. their dealings with us we may be compelle
re to follow their precedent The prope
10 treatment of the original occupants {
this land (the Indians) is deserving {
n great care and study. I will favor an
n course towards them which tends to the
civilization, Christianity and ultimate cit
zenship. The question of suffrage is or
lot which is likely to agitate tho public {
q 4 4 a