The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-04


presence.
PRESIDENT GRANTS INAUGURAL AD.
DRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE
UNITED STATES.
CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES:
Your suffrage having elevated me TO the Office
of President of the United States have, iu
conformity with the Constitution of our coun
try, taken the oath of Office prescribed therein
have taken this oath without mental reserva.
tion, 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. 1 com
mence its duties untrammelled. bring to 1t
conscientious desire and determination to fll
1t to the best of my ability, to the satisfaction
of the people. On all the leading questions
agitatlpg the public mind will always express
my views to Congress, and URGE them according
TO my judgment, aud when think 1t desirable
will exercise the constitutional privilege OF in
terposng 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, but none to enforce against the
win of the people. Laws are to govern all
alike, those opposed to as well as those who
favor them. know no method to secure the
repeal OF bad or obnoxious laws SO effective
their stringent executions. The country having
Just emerged from q great rebellion, many ques-
lions will come before 1t for settlement in the
next four years which preceding administra-
trations have never had to deal with.
In meeting these 1t 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 oe attained. This requires security Of
person and property and free religious and
political opinions in every part of our common
country, without regard to local prejudice, aud
all laws to secure these ends will receive my
best efforts for enforcement
A great debt has been contracted in securing
to us and our posterity the Union. The pay
| ment of this principal and interest, as well as
the return to specie basis as soon as it can be
accomplished, without material 1etriment to
the debtor class or the country at large, must
be provided for. t1
To protect the national honor, every dollar OF
| Government Indebtedness should be paid IN
gold, unless otherwise expressly stipulated in
| the contract.
Let 1t be understood that no repudiator of
one farthing of our public debt will be trusted
in public places, and 1t will go far towards
strengthening a credit which ought to be the
best in the world, and it will ultimately enable
us to replace the debt with bonds bearing less
interest than We now pay
| To this would be added q faithful collection
Of the revenue; a strict accountability to the
treasury for every dollar collected, aud the
greatest practicable retrenchment in the ex-
penditures in every department of the Govern
| nanf Ua hA
of the country now, with the ten States
still in poverty from the effects of war,
but soon to emerge, 1 trust, into
greater prosperity than ever before, with its
paying capacity twenty-five years age, and cal.
culate what it probably will be twenty-five
years hence. who can doubt the feasibility of
paying every dollar we now pay for useless
luxuries? Why, it looks as though Providence
had bestowed upon us q strong box.
The precious metals locked up in the sterile
mountains of the Far West, which we are now
forging the key to unlock, will meet tue very
contingency that Is now upon us. Ultimately
1t may be necessary to increase the facilities to
reach their riches, and it may be necessary,
also, that the General Government should give
its aid to secure this access, but this should
only be when a dollar OF obligation to pay
secures precisely the same sert Of dollar to use
now, and not oefore.>
Whilst the question of specie payments is In
allegiance, the prudent business man is careful
about contracting debts payable in the distant
future. The nation should follow the same
rule. 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 twenty-five years hence--have
peculiar interest in maintaining the national
honor.
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,
aud religious, can join IN this common senti-
ment
How the public debt is to be paid or specie
payment resumed, is not 80 important as that o
| plan should be adopted and adheredlo Alunited
determination TO do is worth more than divided
| counsels upon the method Of doing.
Legislation upon this subject may not be
| necess ary now, nor even advisable but 1t will
| be when the civil law is more fully restored in
all parts of the country, and trade resumes Its
wonted channels. 1t will be my endeavor to
administer the laws in good faith, to collect the
| revenues assessed, aud to have them properly
| accounted for, and economically 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, would deal with
natlons as equitable law requires individuals to
i deal with each other, and would protect the
q Ion ahidina citizen whether of native or forAi0u