The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1873-03-14
u. y. Grants Inaugural Address.

time to act rs. Executive over rms
great nation. IL lMs been my enleay-
or IN the past TO maintain all che laws.
and so far as lay in my power to act
for the best Interests oftlle whole peo-
ple. NV best efforts will be given in
The same direction In the future, allied.
trust, by my past experience IN Office.
When my first term of the Office of
Chief Executive began, the country
had not recovered from the effects of a
great internal revolution. and three of
the former States of the Union had not
been restored to their Federal relations.
II seemed to me wise that no new
questions should be rise,l while that
condition of affairs existed; therefore.
the last four years, so far as | could
control events, have been consumed
in the effort to restore harmony. public
credit, commerce, and nll the arts of
peace and progress. tits my firm CON
virtion that the civilized world Is tend-
ING toward republicanism--g govern
ment by the people through their clo-
sen representatives, and our own great
Republic Is destined to be
TIE GUIDING STAR TO ALL OTHERS.
Under our Republic we support an
army less than that of any European
Power of any standing, and a navy
less than that of at least five Of them.
There should be no extension OF terri
tory on this continent which would
call for an increase of this force, but
rather such extension enables us to di-
minish it. The territory Of the Gov
ernment changes with the general pro-
gress. Now. that the telegraph is
made available for communicating
thought, together with the rapid tran
sit bv steam. all parts of the continent
are made contiguous for all purposes
of government, and communication
between the extreme limits OF the
country made easier than it was
throughout the old thirteen States at
the beginning ofo national existence.
The effects of the late civil strife
have been to free the slave and make
citizen of him, yet he is not possess
ed of the civil rights which citizenship
should carry with it. This i wrong,
and should be corrected, and to this
correction I stand committed. so far us
Executive influence can avail.
SOCIAL EQUALITY
is not n subject to he legislated upon,
nor shall ask that anything be done
to advance the social status of the col
ored man, except to give him fair
chance to develop what there Is good
In him. Give him access to schools,
and when he travels let him feel as
slred that his conduct will regulate the
treatment he will receive. The States
lately at war with the General Gov
eminent are now happily rehabilitated
and no Executive control is exercised
in any one of them that would not be
exercised in any other State under like
circumstances.
On the first year of the past admin
istration the proposition came up for
the admission of San Domingo as a
Territory Of this Union. 1t was not a
question of my seeking, but was a
proposition from the people of San
Domingo, and which entertained.
believe now, as | did then. that it was
for the best interests of this country,
for the people OF
SAN DOMINGO,
and all concerned, that the proposition
should be received fivorably. 1t was,
however, regarded differently, and
therefore the subject was never brought
up again by me. In the future, while
hold my present office, the subject OF
acquisition of territory must have the
support of the people before ! will rec
ommend any proposition looking to
such acquisition. / say now here,
however, that | do not share in the ap-
pnhension felt by many as to the dan
yer of the Government becoming weak
eued and destroyed by reason of the
extension of territory. Commerce, ed
ucation and rapid transit of thought
and matter by telegraph and steam
have changed this belief. ! rather be-
lieve that our Great Maker is prepar.
ing the world in His own good time
for one great nation. speaking one Ian,
guage-when armies and navies vii
Be no longer required. My efforts y
the future will be directed to
THE RESTORATION OF GOOD FEELING
between the different sections Of ON
common country to the restoration 9
our currency to a fixed value as com
pared with the worlds standard o
values Of gold, apdi if possible to pa
with 1t /; to the construction Of cheaI
routes OF transit throughout the land
to the end that the products of ell sec
IionS may find a market and give
living remuneration to the producer
to the maintenance Of friendly reia
tions with all our neighbors and will
distant nations; to the establishment
of our commerce and share in the car
rying trade upon the ocean ; TO tn
encouragement of such manufacturing
industries as shall be economically pur
sued in the country, to the end that tn
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