The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-03-10
Gen. Grants Inaugural.

dent Grant at IL O'Clock to-day. @
In his Inaugural address, President Grant said:
= FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES =
Your suffrage having elevated me to the
office of President. of the United States,
l have, in conformity with the Constitu-
tion of our country, taken the oath of
office prescribed therein. l have taken this
oath without mental reservation and with the
determination to do, to the best of my ability, all
that it requires of me- The responsibilities of the
position feel but accept them without fear. The
Office has come to me unsought, and commence
its duties untrammelled. 1 bring to it consci-
entious desire and determination to fill it to the
best of my ability, and to the satisfaction of the
people, and on all leading questions agtating the
public mind, I will always express my views to
Congress, and urge them according to my judg-
ment, and when 1 think it advisable will eXer
else the constitutional privileges OF iuterposing
veto to defeat measures which oppose But
all laws will be faithfully executed wheth-
er they meet my approval or not.
shall, on all subjects, have policy to re-
commend but none to enforce against the will of
the people. Laws are made 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 as their
stringent execution. The country having just
emerged from great rebellion many questions
will come before me for settlement in the next
four years, which preceding administrations
Lave never had to deal with. In meeting 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 attained
This requires security of person,-property and
for religious and political opinion in every part
of our common country, without regard to local
prejudice Laws to secure these ends will re-
ceive my best efforts for their enforcement
A great debt has been contracted in securing
to US and our posterity the Union. The payment
of this, principal and interest," as well as the re-
turn to specie basis as soon as it can be ac
complished without material detiiment to the
debtor class or to the country at large, must be
provided for to protect the national honor.
Every dollar of government Indebtedness should
be paid in gold unless otherwise expressly stip-
ulated in the contract. Let it be understood
that no Reputation of one farthing of our pub
lie debt will be trusted in public places and it
will go far towards strengthening a 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, and to this should be added a faithful
| collection of the revcnue-a strict accounta-
bility to the Treasury for every dollar collec-
| ted and the greatest practicable retrenchment
in every department of government. When
| we compare the paying capacity of the coun-
| try now, with ten States 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 ago,
and calculate what it probably will be twenty
five years hence, who can doubt the feasibili-
| ty of paying every dollar then with more ease
than We now pay for useless luxuries. Why
| it looks as though Providence had bestowed upon
US a strong box. The precious metals locked
| up in the sterile mountains of the far west, for
which we are now forging the key to I'M
lock to meet the very contingency that is now
| upon us-ultimately it may be necessary to in
crease the facilities to reach these riches and it
| may be necessar, also that the General Govern
ment should give its aid to secure this access :
but that should only be when dollar of obliga-
dollar 10 use now 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. pros
trate commerce is to be rebuilt and all industries
encouraged. The young men of the country
those who, from their age, must be the rulers
twenty-five years hence, have peculiar
interest in maintaining the national 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 the common sentiment.
How the public debt is to be paid, or specie
payments resumed, is not SO important as that a
plan should be adopted and acquiesced in. A
united determination to do, is worth more than
divided councils upon the method of doing
Legislation upon this subject may not be neces-
sary now. nor even advisable; but it will be
when the civil law is more fully restored in all
parts of the country, and trade resumes its Won
ted channels. 1t will be my endeavor to execute
all laws in good faith, to collect all revenues
sessed, and to have them properly accounted for
and economically disbursed. 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
nations as equitable law requires individuals to
deal with each other, and l would protect
the law-abiding citizen, whether of native or
of foreign birth, wherever his rights are jeof-
ardized or the flag OF our country floats.
would respect the rights of all nations demaud-
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. e4
! The proper treatment of the original occu-
pants of this land-the Indians subject de-
serving of careful study. will favor any course
to wards them which tends to their civilization
| christianization and ultimate citizenship,
! The question Of suffrage is one which, is likely
10 agitate the public so long as portion of the
citizens OF the nation are excluded fromits pri-
vileges in any State. 1t seems to me very desi-
ruble that this question should be settled now !;
| and entertain the hope and express the desire
that it may be by the ratification of the fifteenth
article of amendment to the Constitution. ss
In conclusion, ask patient forbearance one
| towards another throughout the land, and de-
termined effort on the part of every citizen to do
his share towards cementing happy Union,
| and ask the prayers of the nation to Almighty
God in behalf of this contamination.
.