The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-03-19
National Affairs.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF PRESI-
DENT GRANT.

" ANhANNAtEN
throngcd the streets to view the procession,
which started Mt II o'clock, from the Army
Headquarters TO the Capitol. The first Iii
vision, composed OF military, acting as es-
cort to Grant mud Collar. They were
greeted with tremendous cheering on the
whole Ipute. After taking the oath, Presi-
dent Grant delivered his inaugural rom the
central pottico Of the Capitol, AZ follows:
Gtifeas of the United Sales
Your suffrage having elevated me to the
Office of President Of the United States,
have m conformity with the Constitution
OF our country. taken the oath OF office
presented therein. | have taken this oath
without mental reservation, aud Wit the
determination TO DO, 10 the best OF my
ability, all hat It requires. The re-
aponsibilities of the position feel, but
accent them without fear. The
Office has come 20 me unsought.
Icommence its duties untrammeled. l
bring 10 II u conscientious desireand deter
mination to NIL It TO the best Of my ability
aud the satisfaction of the people on all
leading questions agitating the public
mind. | will always express my views to
Congress, antturge them according TO my
iudement: and, when | think IL advisable,
viii exercise the constitutional privilege OF
i~uterposinp n veto to defeat measures which
[ oppose but all laws will be faithfully ex-
ecuted whether they meet my approval or
not. / shall un all subjects have q policy
to recommend, none to enforce against tho
will Of the people. The laws are to gov
ern all alke-those opposed To az wen ms
those who favor them.
l know no method TO secure the repeal Of
bad or obnoxious laws, SO o%ffcctual as their
stringent execution. Our country having
lust emerged from a great rebellion, many
questions will come before It for settlement
in the next -four years, which the proceeding
administrations have never had 70 deal
with. In meeting those IL IL de8irnble that
thoy should be approached calmly, without
preiudice. hate, or sectional pride, remem-
boring that the greatest good to the great
est number ia the object to be attained.
This requires security OF p rson ana prop
crty, and tor religious and political opin'
ions, in every part Of our country, without
regard to color or prejudice. Laws to Sc
cure these will receive my best efforts for
their enforcement.
A great debt has been contracted in Sc
curing us and our posterity against dis.
union. The payment Of this principal and
interest, az well as the return TO a specie
basis rs soon as il can be accomplished
without material detriment TO the debtor
class or TO the country at large, must be
provided for.
To protect the national honor every dol
lar Of the government Indebtedness should
be paid ia gold unless otherwise expressly
stipulated in the contract. Let II be re-
membered that no |repudiator Of one tarth-
ing of our public debt will be tru It'd in
public place, and it will 60 far towards
Strengthening a credit which ought
TO be the best in tue world,
and will ultimately enable US
to replace the debt with bonds
bearing leGs interest than We now
pay. To this should be added n faithful
collection OF the revenue aud strict ac-
countability to the Treasury for every dol.
lar collected, and the greatest practicable
retreuchlnent in expenditures IN every de-
partment of the Government. When We
compar the paying capacity ofthe country
now, with ten states still iupoverty from the
effects of the war, but soon TO emerge, |
trust, into greater prosperity than ever
before, with its paying capacity twenty
five wears ago, and calculate what II proba-
bly will he twenty-five years hence, who
can doubt the feasibility Of paying every
dollar then with more ease than We now pay
fol- useless l~uxuries. Why IL looks az though
Providence has bestowed upon US the strong
boS-of the precious metals lockedup IN the
sterile mountains ofthe far West which we
are now forging the key to unlock TO meet
the very contingency that Is now upon us.
Ultimately it may be necessary 10 increase
the facilities To reach these riohea. aud 4
may hc necessary, also, Tint the general
government 7hould give It's aid 10 secure
this access, but they should only when a
dollar OF obligation TO pay secures precise
" the same sort, the dollar TO use, then
and not before. Whilst the question Of
specie payments Is in allegiance, the bust
ness man IL careful about contracting debts
payable in the distant future the nation
should follow the same rule.
A prostmte commerce isto he rebuilt n
all industries encouraged. The young men
of the country, those who fom their age
must DO its rulors twenty-five years hence,
have o peculiar interest in maintaining tho
national honor. A moments reflection as
20 what will be- our command
ing influence among the nations OF the
earth in their day, II they are only true 20
themselves, should inspire them with ma
tional pride. All divisions OF geographic
cal, political and religious character can
Join IA this omunon sentiment How the
public debt ls 10 be paid or specie payments
resumed Is not so important as that a plan
should be adopted and aequiesced in. A
united determination TO do, Is worth more
than divided counselH upon the method OF
doing. Legislation upon this subject may
not be necessary now, or even advisable,
bat il viii DO when the civil law is more
fully restored IN all parts Of the country
and trade resumes its wonted channels. -
II will be my endeavor TO execute all laws
in good faj.h, and TO collect all revenues
assessed and 10 have them properly ac-
counted for and economically discussed -
l shall, to the best OF my ability, appoint
to office those only who will carry out this
design.
In regard to a foreign policy / woulG
deal with nations equitably, M the law re-
quires individuals TO deal with each other
and / would protect %law-abiding c%itizens,
whether OF native or Of foreign birth,
wherever their rights are jeopardized or
the flag OF our country floats. / would re-
epect tho rights OF nations, demanding
equal respect for our own. II others de-
part from this rule in dealing with us, we
may DO compelled 10 follow their prece-
dent The proper treatment Of the origi-
nal occupants OF this island, the Indians,
is one deserving careful study, l will favor
any course towards them which tends to
their civilization, christianization, and Ill
innate citizenship,
The question Of suffrage ia one which is
likely 10 agitate the public no long as u
portion OF the citizens Of the nation are
exempted from its privileges in any of the
states. II seems 10 me very desirable that
this question should be settled now /
entertain the hope and express the desire
that it may be by the ratification of the
18th article Of the amendment TO the Con-
stitution.
In conclusion, | ask your forbearance
one towards another throughout the land
and a determined effort on the part OF
every citizen TO do his share towards ce-
mentinR a happy union, and / ask the
prayers OF the nation TO Almighty God in
behalf of this contamination.