Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-03-09
Inaugural Address.

the Office of President of the United
States, | have, in conformity with the
Constitution of our country, taken the
oath of office prescribed therein.
have taken this oath without men,
tai reservation and with the determin-
alton to do to the best ofmy ability all
that it requires of me. The respon-
sibilities of the position feel, but &C
cept them without fear. The office
has come to me unsought. | com
mencc its duties uutrammeled. |
bring to it a conscientious desire and
determination to fill it to the best Of
my ability to the satisfaction Of the
people.
On all leading questions agitating
the public mind, will always express
my views to Congress and urge them
according to my judgment, and when
| think it advisable, will exercise the
Constitutional privilege Of interposing
a veto to defeat the measures which L
oppose; but all the laws will be faith
fully executed, whether they meet my
approval or not shall en- all SUBJ
jects have a policy to recommend,
but none to enforce against the will
of the people.
Laws are to govern all alike: those
opposed to as well as those who ia
vor them. | know of no method to
secure the repeal Of bad or obnoxious
laws so effective as their stringent eX-
ecutiOn.
The country having just emerged
from a great rebellion, many que5-
tions will come before it for settle
ment, in the next four years, which
the preceding administration have
never had to deal with. In. meeting
these it is desirable that they should
be approached calmly, without preju-
dice, hate, or sectional pride; remem-
boring that the greatest good to the
greatest number is the object to be
attained. This requires security of
person and property, and free reli-
giouS and political opinion in every
part of our common country without
regard to local prejudiceS. All laws
to secure these ends will receive my
best efforts for their enforcement.
A great debt has been contracted
in securing to US and to our pOstcri-
| ty the Union. The payment Of this
principal and interest, as well as the
return to a specie basis, as soon as ii
can be accomplished without material
detriment to the debtor class. or the
country at large, must Oc provided for
To protect the national honor every
dollar of government Indebtedness
should be paid in gold unless other
wise expressly stipulated in the con
tract. Let it be understood that nc
repudiator of one tarthing OF our pub
lie debt would be trusted in public
place, and it will go far ;owarC
Strengthening credit which ought tC
be the best in the world, aud will i'm
mediately enable us to replace tn,
debt with bonds bearing less interes
than we now pay. To this should b,
added a faithful collection OF the rev
enue, a strict accountability to tn,
Treasury for every dollar collected
and the greatest practicable retrench
ment III expenditure in every depart
ment Of Government.
1t will be my endcavor to execute
all laws in good faith, to collect al
revenues as imposed, and TO hav,
them properly accounted for and eco
nomically discussed. | will, to tin
best of my ability, appoint to ofhc
those only who will carry out this dc
sign.
When We compare the paying ca
pacity OF the country now, with tie
states still III poverty from the effect
of the war but soon to emerge, trus
with greater prosperity than ever UC
} fore, J with its paying capacity twer
ty-five years ago, and calculate wha
it probably will be twenty-five year
hence, who can doubt the teasibiIit
of paying every dollar then with NOR
ease than we now pay for useless luz
: uries ? 1t looks as though Prov
dence had bestowed upon US "StrOn
box, in the precious metals locked u
in The sterile mountains of the ia
West, which we are now forging tn
key to unlock to meet the very COZ
tingency that is now upon us. Ult
mately it may be necessary to increas
the facilities to reach these riche
and it may be necessary also that tn
General Government should give it
aid to secure this access; but tina
should only be when a dollar of Dbl
CATION to pay secures precisely tn
same sort Of dollar to use now, an
not before. Whilst the question O.
specie payments is in allegiance, tn
prudent business man is careful abou
contracting debts payable in the dis
tant future. The nation should 70
low the same rule.
How fast the public debt is to b
paid, or specie payments resumed,
, not so important as that a plan Shout
be adopted and acquiesced in. j
united determination to do so is wort
, more than divided counseis upon tn
, method of doing. Legislation upo
+ this subject may not be necessary no,
+ nor even advisable; but it will b,
, when the civil law is more fully +,
: stored in all parts of the country an
trade resumes its wonted channels.
A PROSTATE commerce is to be r,
r built and all industry encouraged
, The young men of the country, thOs
who from their age must be its voter
h 20 years hence, have a peculiar int
est In maintaining the national homo
A moments reflection as to what wi
. be our commanding influence amor
s the nations of the earth in their .da
/" if they are only true to themselve
should inspire them with nation
r pride. All acknowledgements
a political and religious-can join
/. this common sentiment.