The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-03-06
PRECEDENT GRANTS
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Citisens Of the United SIates:

conformity with the consultation Of our country,
taken the oath Of Office provided therein. have
taken this oath without mental reservation, and
with the determination 70 do, TO the best of my
ability, all that il required of me. The respon-
abilities Of the position feel. bat accept them
without fear. The Office has come to me un-
sought. commence its duties untrammeled.
bring IN it , conscientious desire and determine
ton to fill it to the best Of my ability, and 70 the
satisfaction Of the people.
On ali leading questions sgitsting TIE public
mind l will always express my views to congress
aid urge them according to NY Judgment. and
WHEN think it advisable, / will exercise the
constitutional privilege Of interposing veto to
defeat measures which l oppose but all laws
will be faithfully executed. whether they meet
my approval or not. shall on all subjects have
. policy 70 reconmend, none to enforce against
the will Of the people. LAWS are to govern all
alike, those opposed 20 we'll as those who favor
them. / know no method to secure the repeal Of
bad or obnoxious laws so effective as their srin-
gent execution.
The country having just emerged from great
rebellion, many questions will Gene before it for
settlement in the next years, which the preced-
ing 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 " the greatest number is the OBJ
ject to DO attained This requires security of per-
son and property and liberation OF religious and
political opinion in every part Of our common
country. without regard TO local prejudice. Laws
to secure these will receive my best efforts for
their enforcement.
A great debt has been contracted in securing
70 Us ard our postsrity the Union. The payment
Of this, principal aud interest, well as the re-
turn TO specie basis, soon it can be accom-
Mi - dat ~ N, 1aht
class or to the country at large, must be pro-
vided for.
We must protect the national honor. Every
dollar Of the Government. indebtedness Should be
PAID in geld, unless otherwise expressly stipu-
lated in the contract. Let is be understood that
no repudiator Of one farthlng OF our public debt
will be trusted ia pablo place, and it will 20 far
toward strengthening credit which ought to be
the best in the world, and will, ultimately, ena-
bic to replace the debt with bonds bearing less
interest than we now pay. To this should he
added faithful collection Of the revenue, a strict
accountability to The Treasury for every dollar
collected, and the greatest practicable rereneh-
meat in expenditure in every Department of the
Government When we compare the paying
capacity Of the country now, with 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 OF twenty
Eve years ago, and calculate what it will be
twenty five years hence, whs can doubt the fess-
Utility Of paying every dollar then with more
ssethsn we nov pay for useless Injuries.
Why, it looks as though Providence Lad be-
slowed upon the strong box--the precious
netais locked up in the sterile moustains of the
far West, which we are nuw forging the key to
unlock--tO meet the very contingency that is
now upon u.s. Ultimately it may be necessary
10 increase the facilities 20 reach these riches,
and il may be necessary, also. that the General
Government should give its aid to secure this
scceSs. but that should only be when dollar Of
obligation to pay secures precisely the same sort
Of dollar to use now, aud not before.
While the question Of specie payment is in
absyxnce, the prudent business man is careful
about contracting debts payable in the distant
future. The nation should follow the same rule.
4 PROSTATE commerce is TO be rebuilt and all in
dustries should be encouraged. The young mon
Of the country-those who, frsm their age, must
be its rulers twenty five years hence, haye Pc.
euliar interest in maintaining the national hon-
OF. A momsnt's reflection a. 70 what will be our
commanding influence among the nations Of the
earth in their day, if they are only true 70 them
selves, should inspire them with national pride.
All divisions geographical, political and reli.
gious, can join in this common sentiment.
How the public debt Is to be paid, or specie
plan should be adopted and acqsiesced in. A
united determination to do ID worth more than
divided counsel upon the method of doing. Leg
islation upon the subject nsy not be necessary
now. Or even advisable, bat il will BE- when the
civil Law is more fully festorsd in oil parts Of the
country, and trade resumes it, wonted channels
It will be my sndeavsr TO execute all laws in
COED faith, collect al revenues sssessed, and to
have them properly accounted for, and economi.
cally disbursed. shall, to the best Of my abili.
~, appoint to office those only who will carry
out this design.
In regard to foreign policy, would deal
dividuals to deal with each other, and l would
protect law-sbidiug citizen. whether Of native
or Of foreign birth, wherever his rights are jeop-
srdized OF the flag OF our country floats / would
respect the rights OF all nations, demanding
equal respect for our own. If others depart
from this rule in their dealings with us, we may
be compelled to follow their precedent.
The proper treatment Of the original occupants
Of this land-.-thc Indians---is one deserving Of
careful study. and will favor any course to-
wards them which tends TO their civilization,
Contamination ard ultimate citizenship.
The question OF suffrage is one which is likely
citizens of the nation are excluded from its priv.
ileges in any state. 1t seems to me very desira.
bic that this question should be settled now
entertain the hope, and express the desire that
IL may be by the ratification of the 18th of article
If amendment to the constitution.
In conclusion, I ask patient forbcaranee one
toward another throughout tho land aud de-
termined effort the part of every citizen to do
his share towards oomcnting happy Union,
and ask tho prayers Of tho nation to Almighty
God in behalf Of this contamination.