Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1869-03-11
General Grants Inaugural Address


CI,issgs ofhe United States;
Your suffrage having elevated me to the Of
fee 81 President Of the United States, have,
ia conformity with the Constitution Of our
courtry. taken the oath cf Office prescribed
therein. have taken this oath without men
tll reservation and with the determination to
d. % the best OF my ability all that Il requires
The responsibilities Of the position feel, but
accept them without fear The Office has come
% me uns0ught-I commence its duties I'M
irammeled. bring toita conscientious desire
AMI determination 20 an il 10 the best Of my
ability and % the satisfaction Of the people
On al. the leading questions agitating the pub
lc mind will always express my views %
Congress and urge them according 20 nv udc-
meHt and when I think Il advisable will exer-
else the constitutional privilege Of interposing
q veto On defeat measures which oppose -
Eutall laws viii be faithfully executed, whether
they meet my approval or not. shall on
an. subjects have policy o. recommend. but
none o. enforce against the viii Of the people.
Laws are to govern all aIke-th0so opposed 10
as vel rs those who favor them. I know no
method % secure the repeal q bad o. obnox-
i1us laws So effective as their stringent cxecu-
ton. The country having Just emerged from
a great rebellion, many questions viii come be-
fore 10 Tor settlement iu the next four years
which preceding Administrations have never
had % deal with In meeting these 4, is desir-
abis thew should be approached calmly. with
-ut ureudicp. hate or sectional pride, remem-
berir- that the greatest good 10 the greatest
number S the object o. be attained. This re-
quires security of person, property, and for re-
ECi7Us and political opinion IN every part Of
orr common country without regard % local
pre'uiices. All laws o. secure the ends viii
receive my beat efforts ir their enforcement
a great debt has been contracted In securing
Oh Us anil orr post eritv che Union. The pay
rlent ~ this. principal and interest. "a wei as
the return On a specie basis ~ soon as 10 can
he accomplished without material dctrimert o.
the debt, or class. OF o. the country at large
mus. be provided for. To protee, the national
honor every dollar Of Government indebtedness
should De paid in gold. unless otherwise ex-
rrcss'v stipulated in the contract.
Let 6, 20 understood that no repudia,or Of
one fartlinZ IS our public debt VIII be trusiediu
public place. and lt viii 60 far toward,
strengthening a credit which ouCh, o. be the
hes. In the world, and viii ultimately enable
us 70 replace the debt with bouds bearing less
interest than we now paw To this should he
s1Iei A hithful collection II tie rcveuue. a
s.ric. accountability 70 the Treasury flr every
dollar collected, and The greatest practicable
rs.rerc'nent IN expenditure I'd every depart
r,ent Of Government When we compare The
rsviu- capacity ~ the country nov-wi,t zen
St1tss still in poverty from the effects NJ Nar
bns saaa 20 emerge. 7 trust into greater pros
perity tlsn eFr bct'rc-vi;h is paving ca
r,.;tv fwcntv-fre wears ago and calculate
What # probably viii BE- tveutv-fte wears
Lsr,s vh0 can .fdrht che feasibility Of paying
.,e-y dollar thes zitb more case than we no'T
,,r IN useless igEuues Why i looks rs
.,t.,,L p-,,i1c-ra Ind bestowed upon uS
.,-,1o bav. The precious metals loeSea op m
-. ~, -,mriairs IT 'hs f.r West. which
.-..r.- 8 = Kos fa url,gi f.'.