The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1869-03-11

country having just emerged from
a great rebellion, many question
will como before il for sottlemen
in the next four years which pre-
ccding administrations have ncve
had TO deal with In meeting
these it is desirable that thcy
should be approached cIamly. with
out prejudice, hate or scctiona
pride. remembering that the great
est good TO the greatest number il
the object 10 be obtained. Thii
requires security Of person, anC
property, and FREQ religious anC
political opinion in every, part
Of our common country, with
ont regard 10 local prejudice. Lawl
to secure these will receive my
best efforts for their enforcement
A great debt has been contract
ed in securing TO us and our pos
rerity the Union The payment
Of this. principal and interest. u.
yell as the return to O specie bas 4
soon az il. can be accomplished
without material dctriment to the
debtor class or 10 the country at
large, must be provided for. To
protect the National honor, every
dollar of Government Indebtedness
should be paid in gold. unless other
wise expressly stipulated in the
contract. Let il be understood that
no repudiator of one farlhiDg Of
our public debt will be trusted in
public place, and il will 90 far
toward strengthening q credit
which ought 10 be the best 10 the
world, and will ultimately enable
Us to replace the debt with bonds
bearing less interest than we now
pay.
To this should be added faith.
fol collection Of the revenue, a
strict accountability TO the Trea.
sury for every dollar collected, and
the greatest practicable retrench-
ment in expenditure in every de.
partment Of the Government.
When we compare the paying 2
capacity Of the country now, with
the ten States still in poverty from
the effects of the war, but soon to
emerge. | trust into greater pros
periiy than ever before, with its
paying capacity twenty FIVE years
ago. and calculate what it proba
bly, will be twenty FIVE years hence,
who can doubt the feasibility of
paying every dollar then with
more ease tnan we now pay for
useless luxuries? Why, it looks as
though Providence had bestowed
upon US a strong box. the precious
metals locked up in the sterile
mountains of the far West, which
we are now forging the key to IN.
lock, to meet the very contingen
cy that is now upon US.
Ultimately it may be necessary
to increase the facilities TO reach
these riches, and it may be neces
sary also that the General Govern
ment should give it's aid to secure
this access. but that should only
be when u dollar of obligation to
pay secures precisely tho same
sort of dollar 10 use now, and not
before.
Whilst the question of spec''
pay yment is in abeyance, the prn
dent business man is careill abou
contracting debts payable in the
distant future. The nation shOulG
follow the same rule. A prostrai,
commerce is to be rebuilt. and ali
industries encouraged.
The young men of the country
those who from their age, must
DO IFS rulers twenty five years
hence, have a peculiar interest in
maintaining the national honor
A moments reflection as to what
will be our commanding influence
among the nations OF the earth 10
their day, il they are only true to
themselves, should inspire them
with national pride. All divisions
geographical. political and relig-
ious- can join in this common sem
timent.
How the public debt is to be
paid or specie payments resumed.
Is not so important as that a plan
should be adopted and acquiesced
in. A united determination to do.
IL worth more than divided couH
cils upon the method of doing
Legislation upon this subject may
not be necessary now, or even ad
visabIe, but it will be when the
civil law is more fully restored in
all parts Of the country, and trade
resumes its wontod channels.
Ii will be my endeavor to exc
cute all laws in good faith; to col.
lect all revenues assessed, and to
have them properly accounted
for and economically disbursed. =
| will. to the best of my ability.
appoint to office those only who
will carry out this design.
10 regard to our foreign policy,
| would deal with nations as
equtably as the law requires indi-
vidualE TO deal with each other.
and | would protect law abiding
citizens. whether of native or foreign
birth, wherever their rights are
jeopardized, or the flag OF our
country floats. l would respect
the rights Of all nations. demand
ing equal respect for our own. If
others depart from this rule in
their dealings with US we may be
compelled to follow their preced,
ent.
The proper treatment of the
original occupants Of the land. the