North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-03-03
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Below is the brief Message of our new
President. tits not very striking in any
aspect. For its brevity wc like it.; for its
VIC admire it Z; for its Originate
ty, we almost lore it. We await the cause
Of human events. Comment on such a
State Paper as this, is not in order now.
Read it, all Of you, and do your own
criticism.
Citizens of the United States: .E
Your suffrages having elevated me to
the Office of President of the United States,
l have, in conformity with the Constitu-
ton Of our country, taken the oath of
office presented therein. l have taken
this oath without mental reservation, and
with the determination to Go, to the best
Of my ability. all that is required of me.
The responsibilities Of the position feel.
but accept them without fear. The Office
has come to me unsought. / commence
its duties untrammelcd. | bring to it n
conscientious desire and determination to
Fill it to the best of my ability, and to the
satisfaction Of the people. IN
On all leading questions agitating the
public mind, l will always express my
views to congress, and urge them accord
ing to my judgement, and when think it
advisable will exercise the constitutional
privilege interposing a veto to defeat
measures which oppose but all laws
will be faithfully executed, whether they
meet my approval or not. shall on all
subjects have a policy to recommend, none
to enforce against the will of the people ;
laws are to govern all alike, those opposed
to, as well as those who favor them l
know no method to secure the repeal Of
bad or obnoxious. Jaws SO effective as their
stringent execution.
The country having just emerged from
great rebellion, many questions will
come before it for settlement in the next
four years, which the preceding Admins
trations have never had to deal With. In
meeting these, it is desirable that they
should DO approached calmly, without
prejudice, hate or sectional pride. rca.em-
bering that the greatest good to the great
est number is the object to be attained
This requires security of person, property,
and for religious and political opinion in
"
out regard to local prejudice. Laws to
secure these will receive my best efforts
for their enforcement.
A great debt has been contracted in
securing to us and our postcritv the
Union. The payment Of of this, principal
and interest, as well as the return to a
specie basis, as soon as it can DO accomp-
lishcd without material detriment to the
debtor class or to the country at large,
must bc provided for.
We must protect the. nation,l honor.
Every dollar of the Government indebted
ness should he paid in gold, unless otherwise
expressly stipulated in the contract. Let
it be understood that no rcpudiator of one
farthing of our public debt will be trusted
in public place, and it will 90 far toward
Strengthening credit which ought to be
the best in the world, and Sill, ultimately,
enable US to replace the debt with bonds
bearing less interest than VIC now pay.
To this should lie added faithful collect
ion Of the revenue, a strict accountability
to the Treasury for every dollar collected,
and the greatest practicable retrenchmrnt
on expenditure in every Department of the
Government. When we compare the
paying capacity Of the country now, with
ten States still in poverty, from the effects
of war, but soon to emerge, trust, into
greater prosperity than ever before, with
its paying capacity twenty-five years ago,
and calculate what it will be twenty-five
years hence, who can doubt the feasibility
Of paying every dollar then with more ease
than W. now pay for useless luxuries?
Why, it looks as though Providence had
bestowed upon US the strong box-the
precious metals locked up in the sterile
mountains OF the far West, which we arc
now forging the key to unlock-to meet
the very contingency that is now upon us.
Ultimately it may be necessary to increase
the facilities to reach these riches, and it
may be necessary, also, that the General
Government should give its aid to secure
this access, but that should only be when
a dollar of obligation to pay secures pre-
cisly the same sort Of dollar to use now,
and not before.
While the question of specie payment
is in abeyancc, the prudent business man
is careful about contracting debts payable
in the distant future, the nation should
follow the same rule. A PROSTATE CON-
merce, to be rebuilt and all industries en-
couraged, the young men of the country
those who, from their age, must be its
rulers twenty-five years hence, have a
peculiar interest in maintaining the ma
tional honor. A moments reflection as
to what will be our commanding influence
among the nations Of the earth in their
day, if they are only true to themselves,
should inspire them with national pride
All divisions, geographical, political and
religious, can join in this common sent;-
ment.
How the public debt is to be paid, or
specie payment resumed, is not so import
ant as that plan should be adopted and
acquiesccd in. A united determination to
do, is worth more than divided counsel
upon the method of doing. Legislation
upon the 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 its wonted channel.
1t will be my emdeayor to execute ali
laws in good faith, collect all revenues as
sessed, and to have tn m properly sc-
counted for, and economically disbnrscd.
l shall, to the best Of my ability, appoint
to Office those only who will carry out this
design.
In regard to foreign policy, l would
deal with fections cquitably, as the law
requires individuals to deal with each
other, and would protect law-abiding
citizen, whether of native or of foreign
birth, wherever his rights are jeopardized
or the flag Of our country floats. | would
respect the rights of all nations, demand
ing equal respect for our own. If others
depart from this rule in their dealings
with us, we may be compelled to follow
their precedent.
The proper treatment of the original