The Republican journal., 1869-03-11
The Inaugural Message.

The inaugural Message.
Citizens VI the United States -:
Your suffrage having elevated me to the office
of President of the United States, have IN
conformity with the Constitution of our coun-
lry taken the oath of Office prescribed therein.
/ have taken this oath without mental reserNa-
ton and with the determination to 90 TO Ihs
best of my ability all that it requires OF me.
The responsibilities Of the position 1eei, out
accept them without fear. The Office has come
to me upsought. l commence its duties untram
melled. bring to it a conscientious desire and
determination to fill it to the best of my ability
to the satisfaction OF the people.
ON all leading questions agitatng the public
mnd | viii always express my views 10 Con
-sress and urge them according to my Judgment
and when think it advisable, will exercise the
constitutional privilege of lnterposing veto
10 defeat the measures which l oppose, but all
the laws will be faithfully executed whether
they meet my approval or not. ! Shall on all
such have policy to recommend, but none to
enforce against the will of the people. Laws
are to govern ell alike those opposed TO as well
as those who favor them. l know Of no method
TO secure the repeal OF bad or obnoxious laws
so effective as their stringent execution. The
country having just emerged from great re-
bellion, many questions will come before it for
settlement, in the next four years, which the
preceding administration have never had to
deal with In meeting these it is desirable that
they should be approached calmly, without pre-
ndice, hate, or sectional pride; remembering
that the greatest good to the greatest number
s the object to be attained. This requires
security OF person and property, and free re-
giOuS and political opinion, in every part OF
our common country without regard to local
prcjudices. All laws to secure these ends will
receive my best efforts for their enforcement.
great debt has been contracted in securing
I TTni.. No
payment of this, principal and interest, as we'll
IS the return to specie basis as soon as it can
ne accomplished without material detriment to
the debtor class Of the country at large, must
be provided for To protect the national honor
very dollar Of government Indebtedness should
be paid in gold unless otherwise expressly
stipulated in the contract Let it be under
stood that no repudiator of one farthing of our
pahle debt would be trusted in public place,
and il will go far toward Strengthening credit
which ought to be the best in the world, and
viii Immediately enable US to replace the debt
with bonds bearing less interest than we now
pay. To this should be added faithful collec
non of the revenue, strict accountability to
The Treasury for every dollar collected, and the
greatest practicable retrenchment In expendl-
tuTe in every department of government.
When we compare the paying capacity of the
country now, with ten States Still in poverty
from the effects of the war, but soon to emerge
trust with greater prosperity then ever before,
with its paying capacity twenty five years ago.
and calculate what itprobably will be twenty
live years hence, who can doubt the feasibility
Of paying every dollar then with more ease
than we now pay for useless luXures! Why
1t looks as though Providence had bestowed
upon Us "StroD9 box, in the precious metals
locked up in the sterile mountains of the far
West, which we are now forging the key to I'M
lock, to meet the very contingency that is now
4. 81
increase tile facilities to reach these riches and
It may be necessary also that the general GOV
eminent should give its aid to secure this &C
cess; but that should be only when a dollar of
Litigation to pay secures precisely the same
sort Of dollar to use now, and not before.
While the question Of specie payments IS in
allegiance, the prudent business man is careful
ABOUT contracting debts payable In the distant
future; the nation should follow the same rule
PROSTATE commerce is to be rebuilt and all
Industry encouraged. The young men Of the
country, those who from their age must be its
voters twenty-five years hence, have Il peculiar
interest in maintaining the national honor A
moments reflection as to what will be our COM
handing influence among the nations of the
earth in their day if they are only true to them
selves, should inspire them with national pride
NU divisions, Typographical political and rclisi-
Gus, can join in this common sentiment How
iar the public debt is to be paid, or specie pay
uents resumed, is not SO important as that
plan should be adopted and acquiesced in. A
united determination to do SO Is worth more
than divided councils upon the method of doing
Legislation upon this subject may not be ncces-
larry now nor even adyiSable but 1t will be,
when the civil law Is more fully restored in all
parts Of the country and trade resumes its
Wonjed channels. 1t will be my endeavor to
execute all laws In good faith, to collect all
revenues as imposed, and to have them proper
ly accounted for and economically disbursed l
viii, to the best OF my ability, appoint to Office
those only who will carry out this design.
In regard to foreign policy, would deal with
nations as enquitably as the law requires in
IlVi(luals todea with each other, and would
protect the law abiding citizen, whether of ma
i've or Of foreign birth, wherever his rights
are eopardized or the flag of our country floats
/ would respect the rights OF all nations, de-
handing equal respect for our own. If Others
depart from this rule In their dealings with u.s.
we may be compelled to follow their precedent
The proper treatment OF the original &C.
rdpants OF This land, the indians, is one desery-
in@ Of careful study. | will favor any course
towards them which tends to their civilization
thrlsLianization and ultimate citizenship.
lie question OF suffrage is one which is like
~ 10 a9itate the public so long as portion OF
The citizens Of the nation are excluded from its
PRIV .egeS in any State. 1t seems to me very
desirable that this question should be settled
now, and entertain the hope and express the
desire that It may be by the ratification of the
fifteenth article Of amendment to the Constitu-
SION.
In conclusion, l ask patient rorbearance one
toward another throughout the land, and de-
tcrmined effort on TIE part Of every citizen TO
10 his share toward cementing happy Union
and ask the prayers of the nation to Almigh-
" God in behalf of this consummatiop.
The Death Penalty in Maryland.