The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-03-11
golitits and Melrs,
GEN. GRANTS INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

suffrage having elected me to the office o.
President of tho United States, have, in
conformity with the Constitution OF oul
country, taken the oath of office prescro
ed theiein have taken this oath with
out mental reservation, and with the do
Termination to do, to the best of my ability
all that it requires of me. The responsi
biiilies of the position l feel, but accept
them without fear. The office has come
TO me unsought. l commence its duties
untrammcled. l bring to it a consclentl'
ous desire and determination to till 1T, to
The best of my ability, to the satisfaction
of tho people. On all leading questions
agitating the public mind, l will always
express my views to Congress, ana urge
them according to my judgment; and,
when think it advisable, will exercise
the constitutional privilege of interposlng
n veto to defeat measures which oppose.
But all laws will be faithfully executed,
whether they meet my approval or not.
l shall on all subjects have policy to
recommend, but none to enforce against
the will of the people. Laws are to gov
ern all alille-thosc opposed to, as we'll as
those who favor them. l know no better
method to secure the repeal OF bad or OBJ
noxious laws than their stringent execu-
ton. The country having just emerged
from great rebellion, many questions
will come before it for settlement in the
next tour years which preceding admins
trations have never had to deal with. In
tho meantime, it is desirable that they
should be approached calmly, without
prejudice, hate or sectional pride, remcm-
boring that the greatest good to the great
est number is the object to be attained.
This requires security of property and OF
political opinion in every part OF our COM
mon country, without regard TO local
prejudice. All laws to secure these ends
will receive my best efforts for their en-
forcement.
A great debt has boen contracted in Sc
curing to us and posterity the Union.
The payment Of this principal and inter
est as well as the roturn to specie basis
as soon as it can be accomplished, with
ont material detrimcnt to the debtor class,
or to the country at large, must be pledg-
ed. 10 protect the national honor every
dollar of the Government Indebtedness
should be paid in gold, unless otherwise
expressly stipulated in the contract. Let
it be understood that no reputation OF
one f,rthing of our public debt will be
entertained, and it will go far towards
strengthening a credit which ought to be
the best in the world, and we will ulti-
mately be able to replace The debt with
bonds bearing less interest than We now
nav. To this should be added faithful COL
lection of the revenue, a strict account;-
bility to the Treasury for every dollar
collected, and the greatest possible re-
trenchmcnt in expenditures in every de-
partment of the Government. When we
compare the paying capacity of the conn-
try now with ten States still in poverty
from tho effects of war, but soon to
emerge, we trust, to greater prosperity
than ever bcforc,) with its paying capac-
itv twenty-five years ago, it is incalcula-
bio what it probably will be twenty five
Years hence. Who can doubt, then, the
feasibility of paying every dollar with
more case than VIC now pay Tor useless
luxuries? Why, it looks rs though Provl-
,,ence had bestowed upon us strong box
nfprecious metals locked up in the sterile
mountains of the far West, which We are
now forging the key to unlock TO meet
tho very contingency that's now upon us'
Ultimately it may be necessary to in
crease the facilities 10 reach these riches,
and it may be necessary, also, that the
General Government should give its aid
to secure this access. But that should on
" be when dollar of obligation to pay
secures the dollar to us now, and not be-
fore. Whilst the question OF specie-pay-
ments is in allegiance, the prudent bus-
ness man is careful about contracting
debts, payable in .he distant future: The
nation should follow the same rule. A
nrostratc commerce is now to rebuild,
and all inducements to encourage the
vonno men of the country-those. who,
from their age, mast be it's rulers twenty
Ave wears hence demand greater inter-
est in maintaining the national honor. ~
moments reflection as to what will be our
commanding influence among the nations
of the earth, in their day, if they are only
true to themselves, should inspire them
with national pride. All divisions, geo
graphical, political and religious can join
IN this common scntiment-how the public
debt is to be paid or specie payments re-
sumed Legislation upon this subject may
NOT be necessary now. nor even advisable,
but it will be when the civil laws are more
fnllv restored in all parts of the country,
and trade resumes it wonted channels. 1t
I'LL be nv endeavor to execute all laws
in rood faith, to collect all revenues as
scssed. and to have them properly ae-
nonntcd for, and economically disburscd.
will. to the best of my ability, appoint
TO office those only who will carry out
In regard to foreign policy, l would
deol with nations as equitable law requir-
w.. LII. 20 deal xiih each other.