Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-03-12
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
President Grant.
WASHINGTON, March 4th 1869.

WASHINGTON, March 4th 1869.
Citizens Of the United States:
Your suffrage having elevated ne to the
Office of President of the United States [
have, in conformity with the constitution of
our country. taken the oath of Office pre-
scribed therein I have taken this oath
without mental reservation and with the de-
termination to do, to the best Of my ability,
all that it requires of me.
The responsibilities Of the position I feel,
but accept them without fear The Office
has come to me unsought, and I commence
its duties untrammeled. I bring to it a
conscientious desire and determination to fill
#, to the best Of my ability, and to the salts
faction Of the people.
On all leading questions agitating the
public mind, I will always express my views
to Congress and urge them according to my
judgment, and when think it advisable
will exercise the constitutional privilege Of
interposing veto to defeat measures which I
oppose. But all laws will he faithfully exc
cuted, whether they meet my approval or
not shall, on all subjects, have policy
to recommend, but none to enforce against
the will of the people. Laws are to govern
all alike, those opposed to, as well as those
who favor them. know no method to Sc
cure the repeal of bad or obnoxious laws so
effective as their stringent execution.
The country having just emerged from a
great rebellion, many questions will come be-
fore it for settlement in the next four years,
which preceding administrations have never
had to deal with. In meeting these, it is
desirable that they should be approached
calmly without prejudice, hate Or sectional
pride, remembering that the greatest good to
the greatest number is the object to be OBJ
tanned. This requires security of persons,
property, and for religious and political
opinion in every part of our common coun-
try, without regard to local prejudice.
Laws, to secure these ends, will receive
my best efforts for their enforcement.
A great debt has been contracted in Sc
curing to us and our PROSPERITY the union.
The payment of this, PRINCIPAL and INTER
EST, as we'll as the return to a specie basis as
soon as it can be accomplished, without ma
terial detriment to the debt Or loss to the
country at large, must be provided for
To protect the national honor, every dol
lar of government Indebtedness should be
paid in gold unless otherwise expressly tipu-
lated in the contract. Let it be understood
that no repudiator of one farthing of our
public debt will be trusted in public place !;
and it will 60 far towards Strengthening a
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
accountability to the Treasury for every dol
lar collected, and the greatest practicable re-
trenchment in expenditure in every depart
ment of government.
When we compare The paying capacity of
country now, with ten States still in poverty
from the effects of war, but soon to emerge
I trust in greater prosperity than ever be-
fore, with its paying capacity twenty-five
years ago, and calculate what it probably
will be twenty ave years hence, who can
doubt the feasibility Of paying every dollar
with much more ease than we now pay for
useless Injuries. Why, it looks as though
Providence had bestowed upon U.s. strong
box, the precious 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 which is now upon US.
Ultimately it may be necessary to increase
the facilities to reach these riches, and it
may be necessary also that the general gov
ernment should give its aid to secure this
access. But that should only be when a
dollar Of obligation to pay secures precisely
the same sort Of dollar to use now, and not
before While the questions of specie pay
ments is in allegiance, the prudent business
man is careful about contracting debts pay
able in the distant future. The nation
should follow the same rule. A PROSTATE
commerce is to be rebuilt, aad all industries
encouraged.
The young men Of the country-those,
who, from their age, must be its rulers
twenty-five years hence, have peculiar in
terest in maintaining the national honor. A
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 ma
tional pride All divisions, geographical,
political and religious, can join in this COM
mon sentiment.
How the public debt is to be paid, or
specie payments to be resumed is not so i'm
portant as that plan should be adopted and
acquiesced in A united determination to
do is worth more than divided counsels upon
upon the method of doing. Legislation up
on this subject may not be necessary now,
nornncyen advisable; but it will be when the
civil law is more fully restored in all parts Of
the country, and trade resumes its wonted
channels.
It will be my endcayor to execute all laws
in good faith, and to collect all revenues as
sessed, and to have them properly accounted
for, and economically dishursed.s will 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 equitable law requires in
diyiduals to deal with each other, and |
would protect the law-abiding citizen, vheth-
er Of native or of foreign birth, wherever
his rights are jeopardized, or the flag of cur
country floats. would respect the rights
of all nations demanding equal respect for
our ovn. # others depart from this rule
in their dealings with US, ggc may be com
PEELED to follow their precedent.
The proper treatment Of the original &C.
cupants Of this land, the Indians, is one
deserving of careful study. I will favor
anv course towards them which tends to
their civilization, ctristianigation and ulti-
mate citizenship.
The question of suffrage is one which is
likely to agitate the public so long as a por
ton Of the citizens Of the nation are excluded
from it's privileges in any State; It seems
to me very desirable that this question should
be settled now, and entertain the hope and