Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-03-24
llational Affairs.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF PRESl-
DENT GRANT.

Headquarters to the Capitol. The hrst III
vision, composed of military, acting rs es-
cort To Grant and Coliax. They Wore
greeted with tremendous cheering on the
whole route. After taking the oath Presl-
dent Grant delivered his inaugural from the
central porticO of the Capitol, az follows:
Citizens Of The United States;
,- Your suffrage having elevated me to the
office of President Of tho United states,
have, IN conformity with the Constitution
of our country, taken the oath OF once
presented therein. i have taken thls oalh
without mental reservation, and with the
determination TO do, to the best OF my
ability, all that it requires. Ihe re-
sponsibiliieS of the position feel, but
accept them without fear me
office has come to me unsought.
commence its duties untrammeied.
hiring to il n conscientious desireand deter
mination to fill it to the best Of my ability
and the satisfaction of The people ON all
Leading questions agitating the public
mind / will always express my views to
Conpreas. md urge them according to my
iudonent, and, when | think 1t advisable,
will exercise the constitutional privilege OF
interposinp a vetotO defeat measures which
I oppose, but all laws vii be iaithiuLy ex-
ecuted whether they meet my approval OF
not. / shall on all subjects have II pollcy
to recommend none to enforce against the
will of the people. The laws are TO gov
ern all alike e-those opposed to as well NJ
those who favor them. =
know no method to secure the repeal OF
bad on obnoxious laws, so eiiectual as tnelr
stringent execution. Our country having
lust emerged from a great rebellion, many
questions will comebefore it for settlement
in the next four years, which the preceding
administrations have never had to deal
with. In meeting those it is desirable that
they should be approach ed calmly without
nreiudice. hate. or sectional pride, remeln-
berinp that the greatest good to the great
est number is the object to be attained
This requires security of p rson and prop
ertv. and for religious and political opln-
ions, in every part of our country, without
regard to color or prejudice. Laws to Sc
cure these will receive my best efforts Tor
their enforcement.
A great debt has been contracted in Sc
curing us and our posterity against dls,
union. The payment of this principal and
interest, as well as the return to specie
basis as soon as it can be accomplished
without material detTiment to the debtor
class or to the country at large, must be
provided for.
To protect the national honor, every doll
lar of the government Indebtedness should
be paid in gold unless otherwise expressly
stipulated in the contract. Let it be re-
membered that no repudiator of one tarth-
ING OF our public debt will be ru' ted In
III % yxyfl m fnr towards
STRENGTHENING credit which ought
to be the best in tue 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 revenue and stllct ac-
countahlity to the Treasury for every dol
lar collected, and the greatest practicable
retrenchment IN expenditures IN every de-
partment of the Government When we
compare the paying capacity ofthe country
nov, with ten states still IN poverty from the
effects of the war, but soon to emerge, l
trust, into greater prosperity than ever
before, with It's paying capacity twenty
five years ago, and calculate what 1t proba-
bly will be twenty-five years hence, who
can doubt the feasibility of paying every
dollar then with more ease than we now pay
for useless Injuries Why itlooks as though
Providence has bestowed upon us the strong
box-of the precious metals locked up III the
sterile mountains of the far West which VIZ
are 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 II
may be necessary, also, that the general
government should give its aid to securC
this access, but they should only when q
dollar OF obligation to'pay secures precise
ly the same sort, the dollar to use, then
and not before. Whilst the question OF
specie payments il in allegiance, the bust
ness mau is careful about contracting debts
payable in the distant future; the nation
should follow the same rnle.
A PROSTATE commerce Is to he rebuilt and
all industries encouraged The yonng men
of the country, those who from their age
must he Its rulers twenty-five years hence,
have peculiar interest i'll maintaining the
national honor. A moments reflection as
to what will be our command
ing influence among the nations of the
earth in their day. if they are only true to
themselves, should inspire them with ma
tional pride. All divisions of geogaphi-
cal political and religious character can
Join IN this common sentiment How the
public debt il to be paid or specie payments
resumed il not 80 important as that plan
should be adopted and acquiesced in. A
united determination to do IL worth more
than divided counsels upon the method OF
doing Legislation upon this subject may
not be necessary now, or even advisable,
bat it 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 execute all laws
in good faith, and to collect all revenues
assessed and to have them properly ac-
counted for and economically diBbursed -
| shall, to the best Of my ability, appoint
to Office those only who will cany out thit
design.
In regard to q foreign policy, ! would
deal with nations equitably, as the law re
quires individuals to deal with each other
and would protect law-abiding citizens
whether of native or OF foreign birth
wherever their rights are jeopardi2ed o.
the flag of our country floats / would re
spect the rights OF nations, demanding
equal respect for our own. II others de
part from this rule in dealing with us, W,
may be compelled to follow their prece
dent. The proper treatment Of the origi
nal occupants of this island the Indians
is one deserving careful study ] will favo
any course towards them which tends Il
their civilization, christianization, and ul
innate citizenship.
The question of suffrage is one which j
likely to agitate the public so long as
portion OF the citizens Of the nation ar
exempted from it's privileges in any Of tn
states. II seems to me very desirable tha
this question should be settled now.
entertain the hope and express the desir,
that it may be by the ratification Of th
18th article of the amendment to the Con
stitution.
In conclusion, l ask your forbearanC
one towards another throughout the Liant
and determined effort on the part o
every citizen TO do his share towards CO
menting happy union, and / ask tn
rrovaru oF fha NATHAN IN lmighty God II