Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-05-05
The President at IndianapOlis-Sena.
tor Morton's Speech.

the public reception of President Grant
at Indianapolis on the evening of April
22d. A welcoming speech was made by
Governor Baker, to which the President
responded as follows:
Indies and Gentlemen, /. l thank you
heartily for this cordial greeting, for as.
sure you it is unexpected. When l left /
Washington, 1t was with view OF going |
TO st. Louis, without stopping by the way ; |
but on meeting your distinguished Senator |
(Morton), at Pittsburgh, he request, d me |
to remain here during this day, and con- |
sented to do so. Expecting to see you, |
the people of indianapolis, turn to greet |
your Senator and not expecting a greeting |
to me, leave him to thank you in more
appropriate terms than l could do, If
were to try. lApplausel.
Senator Morton, spoke, substantially, as
follows:
Ladies' and Gentlemen
This meeting, to night, Is wholly unex
pected to myself, as it was to the Pre- sident
of the United States. Yesterday, at noon,
while at Pittsburgh, he accepted an invi-
tation to spend day at the capital of In
diana The vast audience assembled to
night to meet him is evidence, stronger
than any words that could be uttered, of
the distinguished esteem and regard In
which he is held by the people of In
diana, and such evidence as believe greets
him wherever he goes. The people of
this country are interested in good gov
eminent. It is not so important to them
who administers the government, as that
| it ls well administered, and the good and
| faithful servant will receive the word of
appreciation and praise from the people,
and that appreciation will not be contineu
by party limitation. Whatever may be
said in the heat of partizan zeal, it must be
confessed by all that the government of
the United States is we'll administered
administered with ability, administered
with integrity, administered with patriot
ism. Not that l would say that every
body will agree with every measure or
every opinion of the Executive, or his Cab
met, or Congress, but that the administra-
ton, as a whole, is conducted with great
ability and patriotism, is fact that will be
conceded by the historians who will write
the history of this administration and the
time The President has, to-day, gone
about the city somewhat, and expressed
surprise and qualification at the great
change that has taken place since he went
about this city before. Indianapolis in
eleven years has grown from about $4,000
to 80, 900 inhabitants, an almost unprece
dented increase Perhaps there is but one
other city that has grown so rapidly, con.
sidering the number with which 1t started
in 1862 and the prosper rity of Indianapo-
lis is but representation of the general
prosperity of this great and glorious State
of ours-a State which, under circum-
stances somewhat difficult and trying, did
her whole duty in the war for the suppress
sion of the rebellion and the preservation
of the Union (Applause).
1t might not be improper to refer to-
night to some leading features Of the ad.
ministration of President Grant and the
conduct of the government within the
last two years, or twenty-five months.
shall not detain you by anything like de-
, tailed account of what has been done, nor
is that necessary. This people is a read
, ing people, and they are familiar with the
! facts and details as they trsnspire from
day to day, and cannot be instructed by
? me or any one else upon that subject, fol
nothing is done that is not made public
But yet may call attention to few of the
! leading incidents in the political his
| tory of the twenty-five months. We have
r debt-a debt brought about by war, {
debt, the creation of which was made
O necessary for the preservation of the re
. public. Under this administration, within
twenty-five months and a half two hun
o dred and ten millions of that debt ha
i been paid more than one twelfth part o
. the entire debt. How has it been paid, a
. compared with the last administration
n Not by increasing taxation, not by increas
:. ing the burthen, but by a faithful, homes
r collection of the revenues, and by a re
y trenchment and economy in every depart
ment of the government. In paying OF
that two hundred and ten millions of tn
public debt, we have saved more thai
: | 4 n H,If -. 10
I interest, a saving that is to be continual
/ been taken off, and, if this administrator
continues successfully, and the laws ar
well and faithfully administered, furthe
|" reduction of taxes can and will be made
:. 1t cannot all be done at once. 1t must b
~ done considerably. 1t must be all don
with reference to the debt II has got h
y be paid at the same time. 1t must be don
with reference to the carrying on of thi
70 government. 1t must be successfully aC
ministered. 1t must be done with refel
IS ence to perfect preservation of the ms
e tional faith, and, as things are going nov
IS it will be in the power of Congress, at tn
p next session, to make another large II
d duction in the public taxation.
If Referring to the Indian policy, he sal
It we were more nearly at peace with tn
& Indian tribes than at any time In the hi
y tory of the government The administrs
g. tion has been successful in this by tn
l. adoption of the wise and humane polio
ID arst introduced by Penn.
10 In referring to the future policy OF tn
20 party, ho said the Republican party coul
Ds not AFFORD 10 'sn off upon any one issue
ut to the abandonmehs of others II was n,
ed tionsl, aud its policy m.-t embrace th
- good OF the whole country. N.oould M
the naval service, or any other indiVidi
ID issue. The policy of the Democratic par
m. was TO denounce all the Republican par
no did, and the better the act done the mo-
he bitterly 1t was denounced. Congress hs
mt lust passed bill for the protection of lii