The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1869-03-13
Grants Inaugural Address.

nave III CONFORMITY With TIE
Constitution of our country,
taken the oath Of Office pre-
scribed therein. | have taken
this oath without mental reser-
vation to do to the best Of my
ability all that it requires of me.
The responsibilities of the posi-
ton | feel, but | accept them
without fear. The office has
come to me unSought; I COM
mence its duties untrammeled,
and | bring to it a conscien-
tious desire and determination
to fill it to the best of my abili-
ty, and 10 the satisfaction of
the people.
On all leading questions aei-
tating the public mind, l will
always express my views to
Congress and urge them accor-
ding to my judgment, and
when | think it advisable will
exercise the constitutional priv
ilege of interposing a veto to
defeat measures which [ OPP
pose; but all laws will be faith
fully executed, whether they
meets my approval or not. [
shall on all subjects have a pol
icy to recommend, but none to
enforce against the will Of the
people. Laws are to govern
all alike, those opposed to as
we'll as those who favor them.
| know no method to secure
the repeal OF bad or obnoxious
laws SO effective as their strin-
gent execution.
The country having Just
emerged from a great rebellion,
many questions will come be-
fore it for settlement in the
next four years, which preced-
ing administrations 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 to the greatest
number is the object to be at
tanned. This requires security
of person, property and for re
ligious and political opinion in
every part Of our common
country, without regard to 10.
cal prejudice, and laws to sc.
cure these ends, will receive
my best efforts for their en-.
forcement.
A great debt has been con
tracted in securing to lis ant
our posterity the Union. The
payment of this principal ant
interest, as well as the return
to a specie basis as soon as i
can be accomplished, withou
material detriment to the debt
or class Of the country at large
must be provided for. 10 pro
: tect the national honor ever,
: dollar Of government indabt
: edness should be paid in gold
unless otherwise expressly slip
, ulated in the contract. Let i
be understood that no repudia
tor of one farthing of our pub
lie debt will be trusted in pub
lie place, and it will go far to
; wards strengthening a credi
which ought to be the best il
! the world, and will uItimatel,
: enable us to replace the deb
: with bonds bearing less inter
est than we now pay. To thi
should be added faithful col
> lection of the revenue. a stric
: accountability to the Treasur
e for every dollar collected, an
the greatest practical retrencI
ment III expenditure in ever
department Of the Govern
h ment. When We compare tn
y paying capacity of the countr
) now with ten States still i
; poyery from the effects of wa
> but soon to emerge, [ trust, il
d to greater prosperity than eve
before, with tspaying capacit
twenty-five years ago, and ca
D culate what it probably will b
; twenty-five years hence, VIII
It can doubt the feasibility of pa,
e ing every dollar then wit
u mora noco 4hovD r.v.> - T.