Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-03-12
President Grants Inaugural Ad-
dress.
ottisen. Of The U,ited g.ases .


walton, and with the determination t
do, to the best Of my ability, all that j
REQUIRES of me. The responsibilities O
the position feel, but accept them witt
out fear. The ONCE has come 70 me un
sought. I commance its duties un
trammeIed. I bring to it a conseien
tious desire and determination to fill
to the best Of my ability aud tO the sat
isfaction OF the people. On all leading
questions agitating the public mind,
Will always express my views to Con
gress and urge them according TO my
Judgment, and when think Is advisa
| Die, viii exercise the constitutions
privilege of interposing veto to defea
measures which I oppose. But all laWi
VIII be faithfully executed, whether
they meet my approval or not. shall
have no policy TO recommend, and none
to enforce, against the viii Of the peo-
pie. Laws are TO govern all alike =
those who favor them. I know of nC
method to secure the repeal of bad oI
] obnoxious laws 50 effective as th0iI
stringent execution. The country hRv.
ing just emerged from great rebellion
| many questions will s0tae before It ROI
settlement in the next four years which
| preceding administrations have never
had to deal with. It meeting these il ia
desirable that they shoEld be approach
ed calmly, without prejudice, hate OF
sectional pride, remembering that the
| greatest good to the greatest num-
Der is the object to be attained.
This requires security OF person
| and property, and free religious and
| political opinion in every part of our
| common country, without regard to To-
cal prejudice. Laws to secure these
will receive my best efforts for their en-
A great debt has been contracted in
securing to US and our posterity the
| Union. The payment Of this, principal
| and interest, as well as the return to a
specie basis as soon as il can be accom-
| plished without material detriment to
the debtor class or to the country at
large, must be provided for. To pro-
tect the National honor, every dollar of
the Government Indebtedness should be
paid in gold, unless otherwise express
| ly stipulated in the contract. Let it be
Understood that no repudiator of one
farthing of the public debt will be
trusted IN public place, and 1t Will go
| far toward strengthening 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.
To this should be added a faithful
collection of the revenue a strict ac-
countability to the Treasury for every
dollar collected, and the greatest prac-
ticable retrenchment in expenditure in
every department Of the Government.
When we compare the paying capac-
1ty Of the country now, with the ten
States still in poverty from the effects
of the war, but soon to emerge, trust,
into greater prosperity than ever before,
with its paying capacity twenty i've
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 than
il looks as though Providence had be-
slowed upon US a strong box, the pre-
ciOus metals locked up in the sterile
mountains Of the far West, which we
are now forging the key to unlock, to
meet the very contingency that is now
upon US.
Ultimately it may be necessary to in
riches, and it may be necessary also
that the General Government should
give its aid to secure this access but
that should only be when dollar of
obligation to pay secures precisely the
same sort of dollar in use now and not
before.
Whilst the question OF specia pays
ment is in allegiance, the prudent busi-
ness man is careful about contracting
debts payable in the distant future.
The nation should follow the same rule.
A PROSTATE commerce Is to be rebuilt,
and all industries encouraged.
The young men OF the country, those
who, from their age, must be its ru-
lers twenty years hence, have peculiar
interest in maintaining the national
honor. A moments reflection as to
what will be our commanding in
6uence among the nations of the
earth in their day, If they are only
true to themselves, should inspire
them with a national pride. All
divisions - geographical, political, and
religious can join in this common
sentiment.
How the public debt is to be paid, or
specie payment resumed, is NOT so inn
portant as that plan should be adopt
ed and acquiesced in. A united de
termination to do, is worth more than
divided councils upon the methods of
doing. Legislation upon this subject
may not be necessary now, or even adj
visa BILE, but il will be when civil law Is
more fully restored in all parts OF the
country, and trade resumes its wonted
channels.
1t will be my endeayOr to execute all
laws in good faith to collect all reve-
nues assessed, and to have them prop
erly accounted for and economically
disbursed. 1 will, to the best of my
ability, appoint to Office those only who
will carry out this design.
In regard to our foreign policy,
would deal with nations as equitablY as
the law requires individuals 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. 1 would respect the rights of ali
nations, demanding equal respect for
our own. If others depart from this
rule in their dealing with us we may
be compelled to follow their precedent.
The proper treatment OF the original
occupants of this land, the Indians, is
one deserving careful study. will
favor any course towards them which
tends to their ChristianizatioD, civiliza-
ton, and ultimate citizenship.
The question of suffrage is one which
is likely to agitate the public SO long a.
a portion of the citizens of the nation
are excluded from its privileges in any
State. It seems to me very desirable
that this question should be settled
now. I entertain the hope and express
the desire that it may be by the ratifi-
cation to the 18th article of amendment
In conclusion, ask the patient ior-
bearanee of one toward another
throughout the land, and determined
effort on the part of every citizen TO do
his share toward cementing q happy
Union; aud ask the prayers Of the ma
ton to Almighty God in behalf OF this
consuui IN ttson.