The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-03-12
GRANTS INAUGURAL.

WARRINGTON, March k.-Gen. Grant
said: Your suffrage having elected me
to the Office Of President Of the United
States, l have in conformity with the
Constitution of our country taken the
oath of Office prescribed therein. 1
have taken the oath without mental re-
servation, and with the determination
to do to the best of my ability all that
1t requires Of me. The responsibilities
Of the position feel, but accept them
without fear. The Office has come to
me unsought; ! commence its duties
untrammeled. bring to It a conscien.
tious desire and determination to fill 1t
to the best of my ability to the satisfac.
ton of the people. On all leading
questions agitating the public mind, I
will always express my views to Con-
gress, and urge them according to my
Judgment and when I think 1t advisa-
bic will exercise the Constitutional
privilege of interposing veto to de-
feat measures which opposes but all
laws will be faithfully executed, wheth.
er they meet my approval or not. shall,
on all subjects, have policy to recon-
mend, but none to enforce against the
will of the people. Laws are to gov
ern 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 A. their
stringent execution. The country hav-
ing just emerged from q great rebel
lion, many questions will come before
it for settlement in the next four years
which preceding administrations have
l,n hol en- IAo1 NTH In ss,notss,.p
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 obtained.-
This requires security of person, pro-
perty, and for religious and political
opinion in every part of our common
country, without regard to local preju-
dice. All laws to secure these ends
will receive my best efforts for their en-
forcement. -......, .,...t ... .......,5
A great debt has been contracted in
securing to us and our posterity--the
Union. The payment of this. principal
and interest, as we'll as the return to a
specie basis as soon as it can be accom-.
plished, without material detriment to
the debtor class or to the country at
large, must be provided for. TO pro-
tect the national honor every dollar of
the governments indebtedness should
be paid in gold unless otherwise cx-
pressly stipulated in the contract. Let
it be understood that no repudiator Of
one farthing of our public debt will
ever take place, and it will 60 far to-
wards strengthening credit 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 faithful collection of the reve-
nue. and strict accountability to the trca-
sury 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 now
with ten States still in poverty from the
effects of war, but soon to emerge, !
trust, into q greater prosperity than
ever beforc-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 moro ease than
we now pay for useless luxuries? Why,
~ lOOhH do auouSu AloNtocHCC uuu UC"
slowed upon us strong box-the pre-
cious metals locked up in the sterile
mountains of the Far West-into which
we are now forcing the key to unlock
to meet the very contingency that is
upon us. Ultimately it may be ne
cessary to increase the facilities to reach
those 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 dollar
of obligation to pay secures precisely
the same sort of dollar to use, and not
before. Whilst the question of specie
payments is in allegiance, the prudent
business man is careful about contract
ing debts payable in the distant future.
The nation should follow the same rule.
| A PROSTATE commerce is to be rebuilt
and all industries encouraged. The
young men of the country, those who
from their age must be its rulers twcn-
ty-five years hence, have a peculiar in
terest in maintaining the national hon.
or. A moments reflection as to what
will be our commanding influence a.
mong the nations of the earth in their
day, If they are only true to themselves,
should inspire them with national pride,
and induce them to strive for period
when all divisions, geographical, polit-
ical and religious can join in common
sentiment. ..rA ...,.s... .L,.
How the public debt is to be paid or
specie payments resumed, is not so inn
portant as that plan should be adopted
and acquiesced in. A united detcrmi-
nation to do, is worth moro than divided
counscls upon the method of doing.
Legislation upon this subject may not
be necessary now, nor even advisable ;
but it will be when the civil law is more
fully restored in all parts of the coun-
try, and trade resumes it's wonted char
acter. 1t will he my cndeavor to exc
cute all laws in good faith, TO collect all
revenues assessed, and to have them
properly accounted for and economical
iy disbursed. I will, to the best Of my
ability, appoint to Office those only who
will carry out this design.
In regard to foreign policy I would
deal with nations as equitable law re-
quires individuals to deal with each 9TH
er, and / would protect tho law abiding
citizen, whether of native or Of foreign
birth, wherever his rights are jeopardiz-
ed or the flag of our country floats. !
would respect the rights of oil nations,
demanding equal respect for our own.