Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-03-08
THE INAUGURAL SPEECH
The Presidents Review Of His First Tetm
and His Promises for the Second,

and His Promises for the Second,
President Grants inaugural addr,s.
upon taking the oath of office on Tuesdn,
was as follows -
FELLOW CITIZENS Under Providence
have been called second time to act as
Executive over this great nation. lth
been my endeavor In the past to maint IN
all the lava, and 30 far as lay in mypow r
to act for the best interests Of the VIII, Il,
people. My b IT etioits will be given n
the same direction IN the future, aided
tiusi, by my four years. experience in Tia
Office. When my fret term of the of,e
of chief Executive began, the countryhad
not recovered from the effects Of gre
inleinal revolution, and three of the iorur
States Of the Union had not been iestolrd
10 their Federal relations. II seemed 10
me wise that no new questions should he
raised so long as that condition of affairs
existed. Therefore the past four year,
so far as | could control events, have bun
consumed in the effort TO restore harmony,
public credit, commerce, and all The ans
of peace and progress. 1t Is my firm con.
viction that the civilized world is tending
towards repub iCanism, or government IN
the people through their chosen rtpIes,n.
tatives, and that our great republic
destined 10 be the guiding star 10 all
Others Uhdcr our republic we suppmt
an army lees than that of any European
power of any standing, and a navy liz.
tnan that Of either Of At least five Of thea.
There could be no extension OF Territory
on this continent which would call for 40
, incrt ase of thls force, but rather mig,t
such extension enable vs. TO diminish IT,
! The Theory of Government changes wta
the general progress. Now that the tie.
graph is made available for communlci.
/ ting thought, together with rapid transit
by steam, all parts Of a continent are ina
! contiguous for all purposes Of GOyemmcul
= aud communication between the extreme
r limits of the country made easier thar it
4 was throughout the old ,thiTteeu States at
: the beginning of our national existence
4 Tue effects of the late civil strife have
v been 10 free the slave aud make BIN d
! ciitzen' He Is not possessed Of the civil
c rights which citizenship should carry with
: il. This is wrong and should be corrected
e To this correction stand committed 10
a far as executive influence can avail. So.
N vial equality Is not a subject TO be leg.
i lated upon, nor shall ask that anything
l. be done TO advance tie social status Of Il,e
d uolOred man EXCEPT 10 give him u I lr
chance to develop what there Is good 10
Is him. Give him access to SCHOOL,, and
m when he travels let him feel assured t,aI
% his conduct will regulate the Treatment
4. and fare he will receive. The States la,ry
n ut war with the General Government ne
lie now happily rehabilltaied, and no exec4'
be- tive control il exercised in any one Of them
I'd that would not be exercised In any olher
81 Stale under like circumstances.
A In the aist year Of the past admnisla-
of ton, the proposition came up for The nd.
h, inissiou OF santo Domingo as territory Of
" the Union.
lie IL was not question of my seekp-,
n but was proposition from people Of
he santo Domingo, and which | entertain d.,
he | believe now, Us did then, thai II q
liz for the best interests of this country, lor
n. the pyOIle of Sante- Domingo, aud all tnA'
Id cer,cd, that the proposition should be
a received fayorably. IL was, hoWey r, le-
of ietted eousttutionally, and therefore . e
ID subject was never brought up ngalh Wy
as me.
lie In future, while hold my present otliee
IN. the subject of acquisition ot territory mus
LIS have the support of the people before
,st will recommend any proposition looknl
lie to such acquisition. say here, howeN'f
that do not share in The appfehensl' Fl
d. held BY many as to the danger ol govern
ID, ments becoming weakened and deslroyA
ne bv reason of their extension of territory.
On Commerce, education, and rapid tran'l
Fir of thought and matter by Telegraph an
nd steam, have changed all this. Rather d
m believe that our Great Maker is prepsi
ing the world in Ills own good time to be
lc- come one nation, speaking one langua-e
.he and when armies ana nayles VIII by u
,ur longer required.
Inc MY efforts in the future will be direcIe
m. to the restoration Of good feeling hetNee
err, the different sections of our common
ec, country, to the resi- oration of our cuirel 6
md to II liked value 40 compared WIN lu
worlds standard Of values, gold. and
- possible, to par with it TO the eonsliu'
ton Of cheap routes of transit lhiuughou
- the land, 10 the eud that the products O
..r all sections may find Il market ana leave
living remuneration 10 the producer
the maintenance of friendly relations NlI
$40 all our ncighburs and with the dlslai
W. nations to the re-establlshment Of gu
o. commerce and share in the carrying trad
N up II the ocean to the encouragement O
40 such manufacturing Industries as can
* economically pursued in THIS country
az the end that the exports Of home product
~ and industries may pay for our lmpoH
IN the only sure method of returning 10 ~
III permanent maintaining specie pasl'
* to the elevation of labor, and by human
"a course to bring the aborigines OF the eoul
]
s''e tion and civilization. 1t is either this or
a. war OF determination. Wars Of extern
nation, engaged in by people pnrsWi
a. commerce and all Industrial ursul'5, q
exp nsye even against the weakest poop
~ and are dcmOralizing aid wicked. U
az superiority of strength and advantages
ss.m civilization should make lis lcnienl to~a
SO the Indian. The wrongs already inllct
90 upon him should be taken into accoM
D." and the balance placed To his credit. !
moral view Of the question shond be co
sidercd and the qgcstlon asked, Cam
the Indian be made "a useful and prodl
tive member of society hy proper teach
ma and treatment II the cllort IS MADE
Sf5 good faith, we will stand better before
~; civilized nations of the earth and in q
2 q; own cOnscicnces, for having made il.
end these things are not 10 he accomplished
Iirk- any one individual, hut they will recc
iofe. my support and such recommendations
l.s0 Congress rs will, in my judgment, b
= e sw serve to carry them into cillct. beg yG
FL, support and encouragement.
II has bean and is my earnest desire
0'"' correct ABUSES that have grown up IN {
9lsys civil service of the country. TO seen
ny Al this reformation rules regulating metho
of appointment and promotion were estg
ada lished and have bceu tried My efforts
such reformation shall be continued to I
best OF my Judgment. The spirit OF
n for rules adopted will he maintained.
msSs l acknowledge before this asscmh
Sta. representing, us il does, every section
our country, the Obligation | am under
luesr my countrymcn for the great honor Il
:, Nd; have conferred on me by returning me
VIII the highest olicc within their gift, a
Z. the further obligation resting on me
mt render to them the best services viii
WILL. my power.
FIiiTIu THIS | promise, looking forward "
tho greatest anxiety TO the day whel
,. shall be released from responsibilities d
eAH' at times are almost overwhelming, q
Ts en-. from which | have scarcely had rrsl
= sta. since the eventual firing upon Fort sur
aG T. ter, in Arril, 1851, TO the present day.
AB services wcr3 then rendered and accep
fRSn y under the INST call for troops growing
: ~ of that event. did not ask for place
Esai position, AID was entirely without intlue
aa.is or the acquaintance of parsons Of iuiluul
xsoS, but was resolved to perform my part
~ struggle Threatening the very existence
Iertf ,he nation, conscientious duty, with
ir99s, asking promotion or command, and WI
S"AN out a rcvengtful feeling toward any