The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-03-12
GEN. GRANTS INAUGURAL ADDRESS

0sVs 0UNUt " sUNSoSUNs NSSusSS
Citi.tns Of he United Siatcs.-Your suf-
frages 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 prescrib-
ed therein. I have taken this oath with
out mental reservation. and with q deter
mination TO do. to the best Of my ability,
nh that Is required Of me, By the respon-
sibillties Of the position. feel. but ac-
cept. them without fear. The Office has
come To me uns0u ht. commence IT.
duties untrammelled. bring to II con-
scicntiOus desire and determination TO
I'LL Il to the best OF my ability, TO the sat-
isfactlon of the people, on all the leading
questions agitating the public mind.
/ will always express my Views to Con-
gress aud urge them. according TO my
Judgment. and when think II alvisabl,
will exercise the constitutional privlleg,
Of interpOsing VETO tn defeat measures
which oppose; but all laws will be faith
fully executed, whether they meet my ap-
proyal or not. shall on all subjects
have no policy to recommend. none 70
enforce, against the will Of the people
The laws are to govern all alike, those op-
posed to, rs well rs those IN favor OF them.
! know no method to secure the repeal OF
bad or obnoxious laws SO effective as their
stringent execution.
The country having just emerged FROM
great rebellion. many questions VIII
come before II for settlement In the mex
four years, which preceding adminlstrn-
tions have never had to deal with. H.
meeting these. It Is desirable they shoult
be approached calmly. and without preju
dice, hate, or sectional pride, remember
ing that the greatest good to the greatest
number Is the object to be attained. TIL,
requires security OF person, property.
and for religious and political opinions.
In every part OF our common country
without regard to local prejudice. Al
laws to secure this end, will receive my
best efforts for their enforcement.
A great debt has been contracted In Sc
curing to US and our postcrity the Union,
The payment Of this. principal and inter.
est, ms well as the return to specie basis
as soon as II can be accomplished with.
out material detriment to the debtor class
or to the country at large, must be pro
yided for. TO protect the national honor
every dollar OF government indebtedness,
should be paid In gold, unless otherwis,
expressly stipulated In the contract. Lee
II be understood that no repudlator OF ont
farthing of our public debt will be trusted
In public place and Il will go far towards
strengthening credit which ought to b,
the best In the world. and will ultimately
enable us to replace the debt with bond
bearing less interest than we now pay
To this should be added faithful collec
tion Of the revenue. n strict accountable
ity to the treasury for every dollar collec.
ed, and the greatest practicable retrench.
ment expenditure In every department OF
government. .... ...
When we compare the paying capacity
Of the country now, with ten States still
In poverty from the effect OF war but soon
to emerge, trust, Into greater prosperity
than ever before, with It's paying capacity
twenty-five years ago and calculate wha
1t will probably he twenty-five years
hence, who can doubt the feasibility o.
paying every dollar then with more cas-,
than we now pay for useless luxuries
Why, IL looks as though Providence ha,
bestowed upon us q strong box In th,
precious metals locked up In the sterill
mountains of the far West, which We ar.
now forging a key to unlock to meet tn
very contingency that isnow upon us. III
timately Il may be necessary To increas,
the facilities to reach these riches and I
may be necessary also that the genera
government should give It's aid to secur
this access. But that should only b.
when dollar Of obligation TO pay secure
precisely the same sort Of dollar In US,
now and not before.
While the question Of specie payment
is In allowance the prudent business MAJ
Is careful about contracting debts payabl,
In the distant future. The nation shoulG
follow the same rule. A PROSTATE com
merce Is to be rebuilt aud all lndustrie.
encouraged. The young men OF the coun
try. those who form this age and must b,
It's rulers twenty-five years hence. have {
peculiar interest In maintaining the na.
tional honor.
A moments reflection rs to what will b
our commanding influence among the na
tions Of the earth In their day, II they ar
only true to themselves, should insp!r
them with national pride. All division
geographical, political and religious, ca
]oin In this common sentiment. How IN
public debt Is TO be paid or specie pa,
plan should be adopted and acquiesce,
more than divided councils upon the meth
cd Of doing. Legislation upon this sub
ject may not be necessary now, not eve
advisable, but Il will be when the civ
law Is more fully restored In all parts @
the country. and trade resumes It's wonte,
channels. It will be my endeavor to ex,
cute all laws In good faith, to collect al
revenues assessed, aud TO have them prop
erly accounted for aud economically di
burse,l. will, to the best Of my ability
appoint TO Office only those who will car
ry out this design. -. ... ~.
In regard to foreign policy, ] wou.,
deal with nations as equitable law require
individuals to deal with each other, and
would protect tho law-abiding citizen
whether OF native or Of foreign birth
wherever his rights are jeopardiLed or tn
day Of our country floats. would rcspec
the rights Of all nations, and demand equa
respect for our own. II others depar
from, this rule In their dealing with u,
we may be compelled to follow their pr,
cedent. H y...l. fr- sH-s 49,. a..
The proper treatment of the origins
occupants OF this land, the Indians. Is on
deserving OF careful study. ! VIII favo,
any course towards them. which tends
their civilization, Christianiration and ul.
innate citizenship. -
the question OF suffrage Is one which 4
likely TO agitate the public so long ass
portion OF the citizens OF the nation ar,
excluded from It's privileges In any States
4 seems TO me very desirable that thi
question should be settled now, and en-
ertnin the hope and express the desir
hat Il may be, by the ratification OF Oh
9Th article OF amendment to the Constitu
lon. HsH,'. .i- 80 '0f7 ~
In conclnxIon, ask patient forbearanc.
me towards another, throughout the land
Ind determined effort on the part O
very citizen TO do his share toward,
,emcntIng happy union, and ] asl