The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-03-09
Grants Inaugural Address.
He is In Favor Of Gold for the
BOndhOiders and Votes Tor the
Negroes. 80
AND IAN OC OCCAsIONAL.vETO

CITIZENS OF TIE UNITED STATES:
Your suffrage having elevated me to
the office of President of the United
States, have, in conformity with the
Constitution of our country, taken the
oath Of office presented therein. l have
taken this oath without mental reserva-
ton, and with the determination to do
to the best of my ability all that it re-
quircs of me.
d The responsibilities of the position l
feel, but accept them without fear. The
office has come to me unsought; COM
mence It's duties untrammeled; / bring
to it q conscientious desire and determ-
nation to fill it to the best of my ability
and the satisfaction of the people. On
all the leading questions agitating the
public mind ] will always express my
views to Congress, and urge them accor-
ding to my judgment, apd when 1 think
it advisable, will exercise the constitu-
tional privilege Of interposing veto
to defeat measures which l oppose, but
all laws will be faithfully executed, wheth-
er they meet my approval or not.
l shall on all subjects pursue the pol
icy of enforcing laws that are enacted,
but will recommend the passage of none
the enforcing of which will be against
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 ba1 or OBJ
noxious laws 50 effective as their strin-
gent execution.
The country having just emerged
from q great rebellion, many questions
will come before il. for settlement in the
next four years which preceding Admin
istrations have never had to deal with.
In meeting these, it is desirable that
they should be approached calmly, with
out prejudice, hate or sectional pride,
remembering,,that the greatest good tothe
greatest number is the Object to be at
tanned This requires security of person
and property,and for religious and polit-
ical 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 us and our posterity the Union
the payment of this, principal and inter
est, as well as the return to specie,
basis as soon as it 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 dollar of the Government
Indebtedness should be paid in gold un
less otherwise expressly stipulated in
the contract.
Let it be understood that no repudia-
tor of one farthing of our public debt
will be trusted in public place, and il
will 60 far toward strengthening a cred
it which ought to be the best in the
world, and will ultimately enable us to
replace the debt, with bonds bearing less
interest than we now pay. To this should
be added q faithful collection of. the rev
enue, strict accountability to the Treas
ury for every dollar collected, and the
greatest practicable retrenchment in ex
penditure in every department of the
Government. When, we compare the
paying capacity of the country nov
with the ten States still in poverty from
the effects of war, but soon to emerge
l trust, into greater prosperity than
ever before, with its paying capacity
twenty y-fve years ago, and calculate what
it probably will be. twenty-five year:
hence, who can doubt the feasibility o
paying every dollar then with more cas-,
than we now pay for useless luxuries.-
Why, it looks as though Providence ha(
bestowed upon us a strong box, tn,
precious metals locked up in the ster
lie mountains of the far West, which W,
are now forging the key to unlock t.
meet the very contingency that is nov
upon US ultimately it may be necessary
to increase the facilities to reach these
riches, and it may be necessary also tha
the General Government should give it
aid to secure this access but that shoulC
only be when dollar of obligation tt
pay secures precisely the same sort o
dollar to use now, and not before Whil
the question of specie payments is il
allegiance, the prudent business man il
careful about contracting debts payable
in the distant future. The nation shoult
follow the same rule. A PROSTATE com
merce to be rebuilt,a t,and all the industrie
encouraged; the young men of the coun
try-those who, from their age, must b,
its rulers twenty five years hence-hav,
peculiar interest in maintaining the Ma
tional honor. %5
A moments g reflection as to what viii
be our commanding influence among th'
nations of the earth in their day, if they
are only true to themselves, should in
spire them with National pride All di
visions-geographical, political and re
| ligious-can join in this common sen
timent. How the public debt is to b.
paid, or specie payments resumed, is no
so important as that plan should be
adopted and acquiesced in; united de
termination to do is worth more than di
vided councils upon the method of do
ing. Legislation upon this subject may
not be necessary now, or even advisable
but it will be when the civil law is more
fully restored in all parts of the country
and trade resumes it's wonted chan
nels
1t will be my endeavor to execute al
laws in good faith, to collect all revenues
assessed, andto have them properly ac
counted for and economically disbursed
Twill, to the best Of my ability, appoint
to office those only who will carry ou'
this design.
In regard to our foreign policy,
would deal with nations as equitably as
the law requires individuals to deal with
each other, and would protect law abid
ing citizens, whether of native or of for
eign birth, wherever his rights are jeop
ardized, or the flag ofour country floats
l would respect the rights OF all nations
demanding equal respect for our own