Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1869-03-06
GRANTS INAUGURAL AD-
DREss,-COxlPLErE.
wAsnISeroN, March 4.

Your suffrage having elected me 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. ! have taken this oath
without mental reservation, and with a de-
termination to do, to the best Of my ability,
all that it requires of nc.
The responsibilities of the position / feel, !
but do not fear. The office has come to me !
unsought. l commence its duties untram- |
meed. bring to it conscientious desire !
and determination to fill it to the best OF my |
| ability and to the satisfaction of the people, |
On all leading questions ngitating the pubic
mind l will always express my views to
| Congress and urge them according to my
| judgment and when think it is desirable,
! will exercise the constitutional privilege OF
interposing a 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.
commend, 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 secure
the repeal of bad o. obnoxious laws SO etfec-
tive as their stringent execution.
The country having just emerged from g
great rebellion, many questions will comd~
before 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 approach
cd calmly, without prejudice, hate or sec.
tional pride, remembering that the greatest
good to tue greatest number is the object to
be attained. This requires security of person
and property, ana free religious and political
opinions in every part of our common coun-
| a., 10 tonul ,,raiu1ipn md
all laws, to secure these ends, will receive
my best efforts for enforcement.
A great debt has been contracted in secur.
ing to us and our posterity the Union. The
payment of this, principal and interest, as
well us the return to specie payment as
soon as it can lie accomplished without ma
terial detriment to the debtor class or the
country ut large, must be provided for. To
protect national honor every dollar of gov
ernment Indebtedness should be paid in
gold, unless otherwise expressly stipulated
or the contract.
Let it be understood that no repudiator
of ,ne farthing of our public debt will be
trusted in public places, and it will go far
towards strengthing credit which ought
to be the best in the world and will ulti-
mately enable US to replace debt with bonds
bearing less interest than we now pay.
To this would be added faithful collec-
tion Of revenue, strict accountability to
the greatest practicable retrenchment in
expenditures in every department of the
Government.
When we compare the paying capacity Of
the country now, W it'll the ten States still in
poverty from the effects of war, but soon to
emerge, / trust, into greater prosperity than
ever before, with its paying capacity twenty
1--WE years ago, and calculate what it proba-
Jly will be twenty five years hence, who can
doubt the feasibility Of paying every dollarl
Why it looks as though providence had
bestowed upon us q strong box. The pre-
cious uetals locked up in the sterile noun
tains of the far west, which we are now
forging the key to unlock, will meet the
contingency now upon us. Ultimately 1t
may be necessary to increase the facilities to
reach their riches, and it may be necessary
also that the general government should
give its aid to secure this access, but this
should only be when dollar of obligation
to pay secures precisely the same sort Of
dollar to use.
While the question of specie payments is
, in allegiance, the prudent business man is
careful about contracting Cebts payable in
the distant future. The nation should fol
low the same rule.
A PROSTATE commerce is TO be rebuilt, and
MI luuuStll uC yOuuS
of the country, those who from their age
must be its rulers twenty five years hence,
,, have peculiar interest in maintaining the
: national homer
A moments reflection as to what will be
our commanding influence among the ma
! tions 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 sentiment.
How the public debt is to be paid or spe.
Gle payment resumed, is not so important,
as that plan should be adopted and ad.
hcrcd to. A united determination to do, is
= worth more than divided counscls upon the
. method of doings Legislation upon this
' subject may not 70 necessary now, or even
J, advisable, but it will be when the civil law
: is more fully r4tored in all parts of the
. country, and trade resumes its wonted chan.
. mel.
l. 1t will be my endeavor to administer the
- laws in good faith, to collect the revenues
: assessed, and to have them properly accoun-
ted for and discussed. l will, to the best ol
my ability, appoint to Office those only who
will carry out this design.
e In regard to foreign policy-I would deal with
- deal with each other, and would protect tho Law
r abiding citizens, whether of native foreign birth
=. wherever his rights jeopardzod or the flag o
> our country floats.
l. would respect the rights of all nations, demand
B. ing equal respect for If others depar
"a from this rule in their dealing with US, may be
"a compelled to follow their precedent.
= The proper treatment Of the original occupant Of
- these lauds-the Indans-is one deserving OF care
e full study. | will favor any course toward the
II civilization Contamination and ultimate citizen
~ ship.
- The question of suffrage is one which is likely t.
i engage the public attention SO long ms portion o.
e the citizens Of the nation excluded from its pr
J. yeges in any State.
.e Ii seems to me very desirable that this question
should be settled now, and | entertain the hope and
express the desire it may be, by the ratification o
the fifteenth article Of the amendment to the Const
tuition.
ei In conclusion, nsk patient forbearance one to
wards another throughout the land and determined
effort on the part of every citizen, to do his share
wards cemcntng happy union, and l AJAX th
prayers Of the nation to Almighty God in behalf o
this consummation.
9. FROM WASHINGTON.
% INTEREST IN THE INAUGURATION.
|. WAsHINGToH, March l.-Washington j