Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-03-05

secure tho repeal Of bad or obnoxious
lava 40 effective as their stringent execu.
ton. The country having just emerged
from great rebellion, many questions
will come before il for settlement 10 the
NEXT four wears which preceding admin
variations have never had 10 deal with,
md In meeting these it is desirable that
thew should be approached calmly and
without prejudice, hate or secuonal p.ide,
remembering that the greatest gooa 70
the greatest number Is the object to De
obtained. This requires security OF per-
son. property, and for religious and po-
litical freedom of opinion in every part
of our common country, without regard
| 10 local prejudice, and laws to secure
these will receive my best efforts for their
enforcement.
A great debt has been contracted IN
securing us and our posterity the Union,
and the payment OF this, principal and
interest, as we'll as the return to q specie
basis, as soon as it can be accomplishing
without material detriment to the debtor
class, or to the country at large. This
must be provided for in order to protect
the national honor. Every dollar of the
Government Indebtedness should be paid
in gold, unless otherwise expressly stlpu-
lated in the contract Let it be under
stood that no repudiator OF one tarthing
of our public debt will be trusted in
public place, and it will 90 far toward
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 g faithful collec-
ton of the revenue, strict accounta-
bility to the Treasurer for every dollar
collected, and the greatest practicable
retrenchment in the expenditures in
every department of the Government.
When we compare the paying capacity
of the government of the country 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
FIVE years ago, and calculate what 1T will
probably be twenty five years hence, who
can doubt the feasibility Of our paying
every dollar then with more ease than
we now pay for useless luxuries. Why,
It looks as if Providence had bestowed
upon us a strong hox, while the precious
metals locked up in the sterile noun
tains of the far West is the key to unlock
il, to meet the very contingency that Is
now upon US. Ultimately it may be
necessary to increase the facilities to
reach these nucleus, and 1t may be
necessary, also, that the general Gov
ernment should give its aid to Sc
cure this access, but that should
only be when dollar of obliga-
ton to pay secures precisely the same
sort Of dollar to use now as before.
Whilst the question of specie payment is
| in allowance, the business man is careful
about contracting debts, payable in the
distant future, and the nation should fol-
low similar rule. A prostraied CON.
merce to rebuild, aud with all the indus
tries encouraged, the young men OF the
country, those who from their age must
be its rulers twenty-one years hence, have
| a peculiar interest in maintaining the
| national honor. A moments reflection
as to what will be our com handing IN
| huence among the nations OF the earth IN
their day, if they are only true to them.
selves, should inspire them with national
pride. All divisions, geographical,
political and religions, coDjoin In
this common sentiment. How
the debt is to be paid, or
| specie payment resumed?" is not SO
| i'm portsnt, as that plan shonld be adopt
ed and acquiesced in. A united deter
| minstiou TO do is worth more than a
divided council. A method OF doing this
by legislation msy not be necessary now,
or even admissible, 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 endeavor to execute all
the laws in good faith, to collect all the
revenues assessed, and to have them pro-
perly. accounted for and economically
disbursed. | will. to the best of my abb
lity, appoint to Office those only who will
carry out this design.
In regard 10 our foreign policy, ! would
deal with nations as equitably as the law
requires individuals to deal with each
other; and / would protect ell law.
abiding citizens, whether Of native or
foreign birth, wherever his rights are
jeopardizsd or the flag of our country
floats would respect the rights of all
nations, demanding equal respect for
our own, and if others depart from this
rule in dealing with us, we may be COM
PEELED to follow their precedent.
The proper treatment of the original
occupsnts of this land, the Indians, is one
deserving careful study. / will favor any
course towards them which tends TO their
| civilization, Christianizing and ultimate
citizenship,
| The question Of suffrage is one which
| is likely to agitate the public SO long as
portion of the citizens of the nation are
excluded from its privileges in any State.
Il seems to me to be very desirable that
this question should be settled now. /
| entertain the hope and express the hope
that it may be by the ratification of the
18Th amendment to the Constitution.
In conclusion, ask the patient for
besrance Of one toward another thrangh,
out The land, and determined effort on
the part Of every citizen to do his share
toward perpetuating happy Union, and
ask the prayers of the nation to
Almighty God in behalf of thia eonsum.
nation.
The Inaugural having been read and
listened to with attention, Grant pro-
eeeded to the White House, the Senate
returned TO its chamber, and the crowd
dispersed, On reaching the White House
President Grant found General sOhofeld
in charge, Mr.. johnson and the rest Of
bis Cabinet having previously lett. There
was no general reception.
A dispatch from Bismarck to Grant
was read. II was as follows: