The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1869-03-12
Clinton, La, Jan. 4th, 1869.
GENERAL GRANTS INAUGURAL AID
'H.t '~a DRESS.


WAsniNGToN, March An his In
augural Gen. Grant said:
"Your suifragcs having elected mo to
tho Office of President OF tho United
States, have, in conformity with the
Constitution of orr country taken the
oath of Office prescribed therein. have
taken this oath without mental reserva-
ton, with the determination to do to the
best Of my ability all that it requires Of
me. The responsibilities ofthc position
| feel, but accept them without fear
The office has come to me unsought. ]
commence its duties uptrammellcd, and
bring to it conscientious desire
and determination TO FIJI it to the best of
my ability and to the satisfaction Of the
people. On all leading questions, agitat-
ing the public mind, will always OK
press my views to Congress, and urge
them according to my Judgment, and
when ] think it advisable, vii! exercise
the Constitutional privilege of intcrpos-
ing veto to defeat measures which |
oppose. But all laws will be faithfully
executed Mhcthcrtllcy meet my approx
al or not. i shall, on all subjects, have
a policy to recommend, but none to en-
ferce against the will Of the people.
Laws are to govern all alike-thosc who
are opposed to as well as those who favor
them. know no method to secure the
repeal of bad or obnoxious laws so effect
i've rs thcr stringent. execution. The
country having just emerged from a
great rebellion, many questions will come
before ii for settlement in the next four
years, which the preceding admins
tration have mover had to deal with; in
meeting these it Is desirable that they
should be approached calmly, without
prejudice, iiates Of sectional pride, re-
Numbering that the greatest good TO the
greatest number is the object to DO at
tanned. This requires security of person
and property, and for religious and po-
litical opinions inevery part Of our COM
mon country, without regard to local
prejudice; all laws to secure these ends
viii receive my best efforts for their en-
forcef1eiit.91 S}A1#'t
-o"' Aigreat debt has been contracted in
securing TO MS aud odr posterity, the
Uhion! i1'lc payment Of this, principal
and interest, rs we'll as the return to a
specie basis, as soon as it can be accom-
pliBAsd without material detriincnt TO
tlte debtor class or to the country at
large, must be provided for. To pro-
tect the national honor, every dollar Of
the Government indebtedness should be
paid in gold, unless otherwise expressly
stipulated in the contract. Lett be I'M
derst6od THAT norepudiator Of one farth-
ing Of our public debt will.bc trusted in
public places, and that will go far to-
wards strengthening credit which
ought to be the best in the world, and
viii ultimately enable us to replnce the
debt with bends bearing less interest
than we now pay. To this Should be
added faithful collection Of tic rcyc-
nue., strict accountability to the Treas
ury for every dollar collected, and the
greatest practicable retrcnchment in ex-
pcndityres in every department of the
Govcfffhent. When we compare the
paying capacity Of tho 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 Eroba-
bly, viii be twenty-five years beI &C,
who can doubt the feasibility of paying
every dollar then with more ease than
we now ray for useless Injuries =