The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1869-03-11

The Inauguration of the President.

The Inauguration Of the President.
I The inaugural procession, as 1t left the
Seuatc Chamber en- route to the eastern
porticn, was composed as follows, The
Marshal of the Supreme Court; the Chief
Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme
Court; the Sergeant-Arms OF the Senate;
President-elect Grant, with the members OF
the Committee OF Arrangements; the vice.
President-elec,, and the Secretary OF the
Senate; the members Of the Senate; the
Diplomatic Corps; ex,membsrs of the House
OF Representatives and members elect to The
XLlst Congress; heads of Departments;
Governors Of States and Territories, and the
aforementioned officers of the army and
navy. On reaching the platform Gen. Grant
gazed for some little time at the scene be-
fore him with evident astonishment, and he
may well haze done so, for not even the most
enthusiastic expected such a spectacle. He
then took his seat between the Sergeant-at-
Arms Of the Senate and Chef-Justi Chase.
The Committee Of Arrangements occupied
the place President Johnson would have used
had he been present. The Associate Justices
/ of the Supreme Court, and e-President
CoiEa<, ard TIE Secretary and members of
the Senate, were seated still further to the
rear. The Diplomatic Corps were assigned
seats next in order, and the remainder of
the procession was disposed about on the left
and right.
/ The rain had ceased and the skies were
fair, and this fact seemed TO give new viva
city 10 the crowds, who cheered thunder
ous accompaniment TO the saIvos of artillery
as Grant appeared, The procession came
TO halt wita only half its serpentine length
rnwound around the Capitol, and, amid the
gradually dying noise of its components, the
future Chief Magistrate of the nation took
his oath of Office as administered by Chief
Justice Chase.
He than preceded to read his Inaugural,
which wls delivered in low voice, and was
only heard by those nearest him on the plat
form, but at every pause the satisfaction
panisfested by these who were near at hand
vas responded to by cheers and shouts from
the crowd more distant, and some CT the
points of the address were Quietly circulated
from mouth to mouth and made the occasion
for applause even some time after their Ut
terance.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
CITIZENS OF TIE UNITED STATES Your
suffrages having elected me TO the Office of Pres
ident of the United Stetes, l have, in conforni-
ty with the Constitution c. the country, taken
the oath of office prescribed therein. ! take
this oath without mental reservation, and with
the determination TO do TO the best of my abil-
ty I'll that it requires of me. The responsible
ities ofthe position l feel but accept them with
out fear. The Office has come to me unsought.
[ commence its duties untrsmmeled l bring
10 it e conscientious desire and determination
20 fll it. to the best of my ability, to the salts
faction OF the people. On all questions agita-
ting the public mind, I VIII always express my
views to Congress, and urge them according to
nv Judgment and when / think it advisable,
viii exercise the constitutional privilege Of in
terposing veto to defeat measures which /
oppose But all laws will be faithfully exc
cuted, whether they meet my approval or not.
shall on all subjects have policy to re-
commened-none to enforce against the will OF
the people. Laws are to govern all alike
those opposed TO as well as those in favor OF
them. l know no method to secure the repeal
of bad or obnoxious laws so effective as their
stringent execution.
The country having Just emerged from a
great rebellion, many questions viii come be-
fore it for settlement in the next four years
which preceding Administrations have never
had to deal with. In meeting these, il is de-
sirable that they should be appreciated calmly,
without preiuoice, hate, or sectional pride, re-
membering that the greatest good to the great
est number IS the object to be attained. This
requires security of person, property, and for
religious and political opinion in every part
of our common country, without regard to To-
cal rejudice. All laws TO secure this end will
receive nv best efforts for their enforcement.
A great debt has been contracted in secur-
ing to us and cur posterity the Union. The
payment Of this-principal and interests
well as the return to "a specie basis, as soon as
it can.be accomplished without material de
teriment to the debtor class or to the country
at large, must be provided for. TO protect the
/ national honor, every dolor of Government
!, Indebtedness should be paid in gold unless
otherwise expressly stipulated in the contract.
!, Let it be understood that no repudiatcr of one
farthing of our public debt will be trusted il
! public place, and it will go far towards streng
: thening credit which ought to be the best il
the world, and will ultimately enable us to re
place the debt with bonds bearing less interest
than we now pay. TO this should be added ;
: faithful collection of the Revenue, a strict ac
: countability to the Treasury for every dollal
collected, snd the greatest practicable reirench
ment in expenditure in every department o
Government. When we compare the paying
capacity of the country now-with ten States
+, still in poverty from the effects of war, bu
soon to emerge, l trust, into greater prosperit.
{ than ever before-with its paying capacity
0 twenty-five years ago, and calculate what l
probably will be twenty five years hence, wht
can doubt the feasibility of paying every dol
then with more ease than we now pay for use
less luxuries? Why, it looks as though Pro
l. yidence had bestowed upon us strong box
. the precious metals locked up in the steril
mountains of the far West-which We are nov
forging the key to unlock, to meet the Yer!
contingency that is now upon US. Ultimatel.
: it may be necessary to increase the facilities t
e reach these riches and it may be necessary s.
(; so that the General Government should Civ
= its aid to secure this access but that should on
= Iv he when dollar of obliration to nav secure