The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1869-03-10
Grants Inaugural Address.

YOUR suffrage having elevated me to
tthc office of. President Of the United
Suites, I have, in conformity with the
EConstitution Of our country, taken the
oath OF Office prescribed therein. ]
have taken this oath without mental
reservation, and with the dctcrmina-
ton to DO to the best OF my ability all
THAT it requires Of me. The RESPONSE
bilitics Of tho position feel, but &C
ccpt them without fear. The Office has
come 10 ME unsou.ht. commence its
duties umtrammelcd. | bring to it n
conscientious desire and determination
to fill it to the best Of my ability, to
the satisfaction OF tho people. On all
the leading qacstions aSitating the
public mind, I!will always express my
yloiys to Congress, and urge them &C
cordins to my Judgment; and when |
think it advisable will exercise the
constitutional privilege Of interposinS
. veto to defeat measures which | OPP.
nose; but all laws will be, faithfully
executed, whether they meet my ap-
proval or not. Shall on all subjects
pursue the policy Of enforcing laws
that arc enacted, but will recommend
none to be enforced against the will Of
the people. Laws arc to govern all
alikc-thoSe opposed to, rs well as
those who favor them. | know Of no
method to secure the repeal OF bad or
obnoxious laws so effective rs their
stringent execution.
The country having just emerged
from . great rebellion, many questions
will come before it for settlement i'll
the next four years, which preceding
administrations have, never had to deal
with. meeting these it is desirable
That they should be approached calm
| ", without prejudice, hate, or sectional
Erilr, remembering that the greatest
trool TO- the greatest number is the OBJ
;ect TO be attained. This requires Sc
curity Of person and property, and
freedom Of religious and political opin-
ions in every part Of our common
Ecountry, without regard TO local prcju-
dice. Laws to secure these will re-
cciyc nv best efforts for their enforce
Mcnt. 60
\ great debt has been contracted IN
securing: Us and our postcrIty, the
Union. The payment ofthis principal
and interest, us well as the return to a
specie basis, rs soon as it can be &C
complished without material dctri-
mcnt to the debtor class OF to the coHn.
try ut large, must be provided for. To
I protect the national honor, every dol.
Ter ofGovcrnmcnt Indebtedness should
be paid in gold. unless otherwise cx-
prc,slv stipulated IN tho cont.rct. Let
; it he understood that no 'rcputliator OF
one furthins Of our public debt, will be
, trusted in public place, and 1t will go
far toward strengthening = credit
, which ought to be the best in The
world. and will ultimately enable MS
, to replace tho debt with honda bearing
+. Hess interest 'thiM we now pay, IL
this should be added i faithful eollec'
, ton Of the revenue, . Strict .accodnta
Lility to the. Treasury for every dollar
t collected, anN,tlc greatest practicable
:: rctrcnchmentfn expenditure inIcrer
department. Of Government: -
, :When we. compare the. paying eapa'
city OF the countryhow. withtcit States
I stiii in'povcrty nom HE effect: Of wa
=; but soon, l.. trust, 10, emerge, 1ntt
!, greater prosperity than: !cysr:Ae5src-
!, |w1,h'ltE paylng capacity Nv CHI y-ily'
) Years sso, And c:.lcutate.wlmf it. prob
stalir:: gill:L!tS {wea'y:altt:xeafs. hence
) whp s4n:dsqIi (hs. !Esasihjlltx- of pay
, inu.tvory. tlolluasirr'YithG more case
!; than wcnos i@y tSf hsf4ess' stnr;e'
:, wlI,A looks. aS.lheQ&h ,rroyEaense!
n hail tes.owcd upon u.s. j. stropg: box
.. ttw p ,ncibus metals locicd up :iH: th'
s4$tErifc AniomitAhis' OF, 'tl,e" fars West
I Ew4lsStsMs Ws.:aa8s tstssll4s sc 81 u
/: Inuinsi,.p liilset ,tAs very so9tlnSe'nc!
5 that 6ix. il o.v3 upon nA.,'. Eiimstcg j
. maybe 'ntecssstyiro;hicreasc rhs facili
FiIiiiees 10 reach these raslIcs, end TINA!
= be necessary, also. fl.ati1Il,is GSncrs
!; Eta~ernin cnt, shoa+ti:" give liza ,aid 10 SO
:. cure this acccss; but that should oni!
ibc when y dollar OF obligation 10 la!