The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1869-03-11
Grants Inaugural Address.


Your sufIrages having elevated me 10
the office of President of tho United
States, l have, in conformity with the
Constitution of our country, taken the
oath of office provided therein have
taken this oath without mental reserva-
ton, and with the determination to DO,
to the best of my ability, all that 10 re-
quired of me. The responsibilities OF
the position l feel, but accept them
without fear. The Office has come to
| me unsOught. l commence it's duties
untrammelsd. 1 bring to ita conscien'
tiOus desire and determination to fill 1t
to the best of my ability, and to the sat-
isfactiOn Of the people.
On all leading questions agitating the
public mind, will always express my
views to Congress, and urge them nc
cOrding to my Judgement, and when
think It advisable will exercise the
constitutional privilege of interpreting
veto to defeat measures which l oppose;
but all laws will be faithfully executed,
whether they meet my approval Or not.
/ shall Oh oil subjects have = policy to
recommend, none to enforce against the
will of the people; laws are to govern all
alike, those opposed to, As Well Us those
who favor them. know no method to
laws so effective rs their stringent exc
cution. @.@.
The country having just emerged
frop, great rebellion, many questions
will come before it for settlement in tho
next four years, which the preceding
Administrations have never had to deal
with. In meeting these it will DO de-
sirable that they should be approached
calmly, without prejudice, hate or sec
tional pride, remembering that the
greatest good to the greatest number is
the object to be attained. This requires
the security of person and property and
liberation for religious and political
opinion in every part of our common
country, without regard 10 local preju-
dice Laws to secure these will receive
my best efforts for their enforce
ment.
A great debt has been contracted in
securing to us and our posterity the
Union. The payment of this, principal
and interest, rs well rs the return to a
specie basis, AS soon ~ 1t can be accom-
plished without material detriment to
the debtor class or the country vt large,
must be provided for.
We must protect tho national honor.
Every dollar of the Government indebt-
edness should be paid in gold, unless
otherwise expressly stipulated in tho
contract. Let it he understood that no
repudiator of one farthing of oul public
debt will be trusted in public place, and
1t will 90 far toward strengthening q
credit which ought to be the best in the
world, and will, ultimately, enable US
to replace the debt with bonds bearing
less interest than we now pay. 70 this
should be added a faithful collection Of
the revenue, q strict accountability to
the Treasury for every dollar collected,
aud the greatest practicable retrench-
ment in expenditure in every Depart
msnt of the Government. When We
compare the paying capacity Of the
country now, with ten State. still in
poverty from the effects Of the war, but
soon to emerge, trust, iu,o greater
prosperity than ever before, with it's
paying capacity twenty five years ago,
and calculate what it will lie twenty
five years hence. who can doubt the
feasibility Of paying every dollar then
with more ease than we now pay for
useless Injuries!
Why, it looks "a though Providence
had bestowed upon us the strong box
the precious metals locked up in tho
we are now forging the ley to unlock
to meet tho very contingency that is
now upon Us. Ultimately it may DO
necessary to increase the facilities 10
reach these riches. and it may b. neces-
sary, also, that the General Govern
ment should give its aid 10 secure this
access, but that should only be when \
dollar OF obligation to pay secures precise
~ the same sort Of dollar to use NOW
Dad not before.
! While the question Of specie payment
i Is in allegiance, the prudent business
! man il careful about contracting deb,,
payable in the future. The nation
should follow the same rule. A pros.
trate commerce is to he rebuilt and all
| industries should be encouraged. The
young men of the country-those who
from their age, must be its rulers TWEEN.
~ five years hence, have y peculiar in
terest in maintaining the national
| honor. A moments reflection ~ t.
what will be our commanding influence
among the nations Of the earth in thel,
day, if.hey are only true to themselves
/ should inspire them with national
! pride. All divisions, geographical, 20.
/ iitIcai and religious, can join in thi.
common sentiment.
foW the public debt il to be paid OF
! specie payment resumed, is not 40 i'm.
! portant rs that plan should be adopted
and aepu!eseed in. 4 united deternin.
alton To do, is worth more han divided
counsel upon the method of doing
Legislation upon the subject may not b.
necessary now. or even advisable, bat il
will be when the civil law is more full,
restored III all parts of the country, ana
trade resumes its wonted chan.
nels.
II will be my cndeavor to execute al
laws in good faith, collect all revenue
| assessed, aud to have them properly ac
counted Tor, and Economically di,burssd
shall, to the best of my ability, appoin
to office those only Who will carry on
this design.
In regard to foreign policy, I woul
deal with sections epuitably, AZ the Law
requires individual. to deal with eac.
other. and would protect a law-abid
ing citizen, whether Of native or of for
eign birth, wherever his rights ar
jeopardized or the flag Of our countr,
floats. | would respect the rights of al
nations, demanding equal respect 70
our own. If Others depart from Thu
rule ia their dealings with us. we ma,
be compelled to follow their prece
dent
The proper treatment of the oririua
occupants Of this Iand--the indians
one deserving of careful study, and
VIII favor any course towards then
| which tends 10 their civilization. chris