The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-03-09
THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.
PRESIDENT GRANTS INAUGURAL

On reaching the platform the-Pres-
ident elect took the seat which had been
provided for him, directly in front of
the center. Vice President Colfax and
the Sergent at arms in charge of the
ceremonies sat on his right, and the
Chic f Jus tice of the Supreme Court on
his left. The Senate Committee of
Arrap gements we're near at hand, and
next in the rear The associate JUS
tices of the. Supreme Court occupied
seats on the left, and the members and
/ Secretary OF the Senate on the right.
The Dilnlomatic Corps we're to have
occupied seats rext in the rear of the
Supreme Court, but were not sufficiently
alert to prevent themselves from being
crowded into the back ground by mem
bers OF the House of Representatives,
and others, who secured foremost pla.
.ces remaining, and left the dplomates
to take their chances with the officers
OF the army and navy, and others, on
the steps OF the portico, where, perhaps,
they Jared better, being less crowded,
scene.
The shouts and bursts of music from
a dozen bands subsidized as the Presi.
dent-el and Chief Justice of the Uni
ted States rose, simultaneously. and the
latter commenced, in clear and solemn
tones, to recite the formula Of the Pres
| idential oath Of Office, when General
Grant reverentially took. The boom of
cannon and shouts of the vast multitude
then busst forth, but, partial quiet hav
| ing been restoredt the President rose
rnd proceeded to read, from manuscript,
his inaugural address.
CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES:
Your suffrage having elevated me TO
the office of President of the United
States, have, in confor nifty with the
Constitution Of our country, taken the
oath of Office prescribed therein l
ha> taken this oath without mental res
ervation, and with the determination to
do the best of my ability all that it re-
quires OF me. The responsibilities of
the position / feel, but accept them
1 without fear. The office has come to
me unsought. I commence its duties
untrammeled. bring to it conscien
tious desire and determination to fill i.
to the best of my abi ity, to the salts
faction Of the people. On all leading
questions ae itating the public mind, l
will always expr ess my views to Con-
congress, and urge them according to
my judgement; and when think it ad
visable will exercise the constitutional
| privilege Of interposing veto to defdat
measures which 1 oppose; but all laws
will be faithfully executed whether
they meet my approval or not. 1 shall
on all subjects pursue the policy of en-
| forcing laws that are enacted, but will
recommend none to be enforced against
| the will of the people. Laws are to
govern all alike-those opposed to, as
well as those who favor them. l know
of no method to secure the repeal of
bed or obnoxio is laws SO effective as
their stringent execution.
The country having just emerged
from q grea1 rebellion, many question 8
will come before it for settlement in the
next four years, which preceding ad-
ministrations have never had to deal |
with. In meeting there it is desirable |
that they should be approached camly. |
without prejudice, hate, or sectional |
pride. remembering that the greatest |
good to the grestest number is the OBJ
curity of person and property, and free
dom Of religious and political opinions
in every part of our common country, |
without regard to local prejudice,
Laws to secure these will receive my
best efferts for there enforcement.
A great debt has been contracted in
securing us and our posterity the Union.
The payment of this, principal and in
terest, as well as the return to specie
basis, as soon as it can be accomplished
without material detriment to the deb
tor class or to the country at large, must
be provided for. To protect the ma
tional honor, every dollar of Govern
ment Indebtedness should be paid in
gold, unless otherwise expressly stipu
lated in the contract. Let it be under.
stood that no repudiator of one farthing
of our public debt, will be trusted in
public place, and it will go far toward
strengthening a credit which ought to
be til best in the world, and will ulti-
mately enable US to replace the debt with
bonds bearing less interest than we now
paw. To this should be added faith